Not so long ago, London could genuinely lay claim to lead the world.
It was top for global finance, ahead of New York (admittedly, it was a close-run contest with Wall Street but the City was number one).
Where London went, others followed. Its music constantly pushed the boundaries; Britpop was everywhere. As the undisputed capital of the EU and with that, Europe, it was a forever buzzing, dynamic, urgent powerhouse of commerce and creativity.
Abu Dhabi is forward-thinking whereas London appears to be heading backwards
Everyone, be they a business or person, craved to be in London. Or at least that how it seemed. It was special. Just to walk around the centre was to breathe in the magic.
The high point was the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony in 2012. Then, everything wonderful about Britain and London, in terms of achievement, history, pageant, charm and humour, came together in one vibrant, spectacular display.
Since then, something has undoubtedly slipped. It’s largely intangible but there are some hard facts. New York has regained its hegemony in banking. Post-Brexit, Berlin, arguably, has grabbed London’s EU pole position. Post-Brexit, too, London has become a more difficult place for young people from the EU to study and work.
In music, London’s once world-beating reputation for live performances has suffered, as the Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has clamped down on late night venues.
Sad to report then, but all too typical, that Mr Khan had the opportunity to restore some of that lost lustre and blew it.
The British city had been earmarked for the second giant Sphere entertainment complex after Las Vegas. The 300ft-high glowing orb-like structure set new standards when it opened last year, combining the latest sound and light technology and high-resolution LED to deliver a wholly immersive, awe-inspiring experience.
It features an Exosphere with a 580,000-square-foot display, the largest LED screen in the world. Performers and audiences said they were knocked sideways by what they’d witnessed.
Seating 21,500 people, the London Sphere would automatically become a favourite for the world’s major performers and, symbolically, would have done much towards restating London’s Number One status.
Even the chosen site resonated – in Stratford, east London, home of those feted 2012 Olympic Games.
It’s not to be. Having declared his delight that London had been selected by James Dolan, creator of the original Sphere and executive chairman of Madison Square Garden and owner of the New York Knicks basketball team and New York Rangers ice hockey team, Mr Khan has backtracked.
That initial euphoria seemingly gave way to concerns about light pollution and energy use. It’s true the Sphere would be seen from all over London but where’s the real harm in that? Other cities have illuminated iconic buildings and monuments, why not London? Mr Khan’s short-sightedness makes you want to get hold of him and demand if he’s ever seen the Manhattan skyline at night? That’s polluting all right, but it’s also impressive and instantly recognisable.
Michael Gove, jumped in when he was Environment Secretary, to try to right the wrong but to no avail: Mr Dolan said he wasn’t prepared to allow his iconic ball to become a political football. He was probably correct: there would have been a back and forth dispute between central and local government, lost in the middle of which was his Sphere.
Central government, now with Keir Starmer at the helm, has had a torrid summer. Mr Starmer has been fighting fires, some of his own creation. The Sphere probably fell by the wayside.
Too late. Either London wanted it or it didn’t. The Mayor said not, so Mr Dolan has taken his spellbinding creation elsewhere, to the UAE and Abu Dhabi.
London’s undoubted loss is Abu Dhabi’s gain. It can’t be a coincidence that the UAE is fast gaining a world reputation for getting things done, for being a ready and willing partner for those with vision and money to invest. It’s already home to numerous landmark towers and developments. Abu Dhabi was chosen to partner the Louvre and Guggenheim. Now, it’s getting the next Sphere.
Abu Dhabi is forward-thinking whereas London appears to be heading backwards. Another prestige project has received the go-ahead, the expansion of the grounds for the Wimbledon tennis championships. On its face that would seem to be a signal that London can move with the times, that Nimbyism is not bound to prevail. But the Wimbledon approval only came after years of protest and fighting, which did not augur well for Mr Dolan and his Sphere.
Anyone could be forgiven for believing it did not wish to hold the premier tennis competition at all, let alone one with much-improved facilities.
Perhaps Mayor Khan will not rest until the lights have well and truly gone out, until London’s celebrated life has all but vanished, because that is how it feels. Londoners will be watching Abu Dhabi with envy. Doubtless they will visit the Sphere and be suitably awestricken. It could have been us, but not now.
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Third-place play-off: New Zealand v Wales, Friday, 1pm
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
Children who witnessed blood bath want to help others
Aged just 11, Khulood Al Najjar’s daughter, Nora, bravely attempted to fight off Philip Spence. Her finger was injured when she put her hand in between the claw hammer and her mother’s head.
As a vital witness, she was forced to relive the ordeal by police who needed to identify the attacker and ensure he was found guilty.
Now aged 16, Nora has decided she wants to dedicate her career to helping other victims of crime.
“It was very horrible for her. She saw her mum, dying, just next to her eyes. But now she just wants to go forward,” said Khulood, speaking about how her eldest daughter was dealing with the trauma of the incident five years ago. “She is saying, 'mama, I want to be a lawyer, I want to help people achieve justice'.”
Khulood’s youngest daughter, Fatima, was seven at the time of the attack and attempted to help paramedics responding to the incident.
“Now she wants to be a maxillofacial doctor,” Khulood said. “She said to me ‘it is because a maxillofacial doctor returned your face, mama’. Now she wants to help people see themselves in the mirror again.”
Khulood’s son, Saeed, was nine in 2014 and slept through the attack. While he did not witness the trauma, this made it more difficult for him to understand what had happened. He has ambitions to become an engineer.
Brief scoreline:
Liverpool 5
Keita 1', Mane 23', 66', Salah 45' 1, 83'
Huddersfield 0
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Results:
6.30pm: Handicap (Turf) | US$175,000 2,410m | Winner: Bin Battuta, Christophe Soumillon (jockey), Saeed bin Suroor (trainer)
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (Dirt) | $100,000 | 1,400m | Winner: Al Hayette, Fabrice Veron, Ismail Mohammed
7.40pm: Handicap (T) | $145,000 | 1,000m | Winner: Faatinah, Jim Crowley, David Hayes
8.15pm: Dubawi Stakes Group 3 (D) | $200,000 | 1,200m | Winner: Raven’s Corner, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
8.50pm: Singspiel Stakes Group 3 (T) | $200,000 | 1,800m | Winner: Dream Castle, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor
9.25pm: Handicap (T) | $175,000 | 1,400m | Winner: Another Batt, Connor Beasley, George Scott
Four-day collections of TOH
Day Indian Rs (Dh)
Thursday 500.75 million (25.23m)
Friday 280.25m (14.12m)
Saturday 220.75m (11.21m)
Sunday 170.25m (8.58m)
Total 1.19bn (59.15m)
(Figures in millions, approximate)
Results:
First Test: New Zealand 30 British & Irish Lions 15
Second Test: New Zealand 21 British & Irish Lions 24
Third Test: New Zealand 15 British & Irish Lions 15
The years Ramadan fell in May
The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE
Price, base / as tested Dh274,000 (estimate)
Engine 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder
Gearbox Nine-speed automatic
Power 245hp @ 4,200rpm
Torque 500Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.4L / 100km
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MWTC
Tickets start from Dh100 for adults and are now on sale at www.ticketmaster.ae and Virgin Megastores across the UAE. Three-day and travel packages are also available at 20 per cent discount.
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Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Rio de Janeiro from Dh7,000 return including taxes. Avianca fliles from Rio to Cusco via Lima from $399 (Dhxx) return including taxes.
The trip
From US$1,830 per deluxe cabin, twin share, for the one-night Spirit of the Water itinerary and US$4,630 per deluxe cabin for the Peruvian Highlands itinerary, inclusive of meals, and beverages. Surcharges apply for some excursions.
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
The Intruder
Director: Deon Taylor
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Michael Ealy, Meagan Good
One star
