Precisely 17 days since bidding adieu to the Olympics, Paris will be back in the spotlight as its maiden Paralympic Games begins at Place de la Concorde.
An estimated 65,000 spectators are expected on the evening of August 28 when up to 4,400 medal hopefuls parade along the Champs-Elysees to the French capital’s largest public square.
A total of 549 medals are up for grabs across 22 sports as 11 days of action illuminate the City of Light. France’s only previous hosting of Paralympic competition came in 1992.
Leading the 13-strong UAE team in the Games – that finish on September 8 – will be star shooter Abdullah Sultan Al Aryani who will be looking to win his third gold medal following his triumphs at London 2012 and Tokyo 2020. Al Aryani also secured three silvers at the Rio Games in 2016.
Here is the full list of UAE competitors taking part in the Paris Games.
Al Aryani made his Paralympic debut at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and heads to Paris for his fifth Games. He struck gold in his second attempt at London 2012 and followed it up with three silvers at Rio and another gold in Tokyo.
He will be one of the favourites once again and is expected to add to his medal collection in Paris.
Hopes to be third time lucky after Rio and Tokyo, where he finished a creditable sixth. He also qualified for London 2012 but had to drop out due to personal reasons.
Obaid Al Dahmani (Shooting)
Returns after missing out on the Tokyo Paralympics. He wasn’t successful in reaching the medal rounds in his two attempts in London and Rio but is aiming for a podium finish in Paris.
Ayesha Al Muhairi (Shooting)
As the first Emirati female Paralympian in shooting, she is hoping to use the experience gained in Tokyo to good effect this time around. Al Mehairi is aiming for a top-eight finish in Paris. “Shooting is not only a game, it’s in my blood, it gave me a chance,” she said in an interview with The National in July.
Ayesha Al Shamsi (Shooting)
An athlete with Tetra-Amelia syndrome, a rare disorder characterised by the absence of all four limbs, Al Shamsi tugs a cord attached to her toe to release the trigger. “I want Arab people to see me. I want them to see they also can shoot, they can do archery, they can do everything," she said in an interview with The National.
Mohammed Othman (Wheelchair racing)
Is understudy to Al Hammadi and competes in the same category as his more illustrious teammate in the 100m and 800m after qualifying from the Nottwil Grand Prix earlier this year.
Mohamed Al Hammadi (Wheelchair racing)
Was successful in his Paralympic debut, securing a silver and bronze in the T34 category in the 200m and 100m, respectively, at London 2012. He then won gold in the 800m at Rio and returned with another silver (800m) and bronze (100m) at Tokyo. UAE's flag-bearer in Tokyo is expected to increase his medal tally at Paris.
Ahmed Al Badwawi (Cycling)
Inspired by Ahmad Al Mansoori as the first Emirati cyclist to qualify for a Paralympic Games at Tokyo 2020, Al Badwawi will be looking to raise the bar in the men’s individual road time trial.
Mohammed Al Kaabi (Shot Put)
Confident of making an impact on his Paralympic debut. Having made his international appearance in the IPC Athletics World Championship in Lyon in 2013, Al Kaabi has come a long way to earn the ticket in the shot put in his Paralympic Games debut.
Thekra Al Kaabi (Shot Put)
Making her Paralympic Games debut in the shot putt F32 category having won a bronze medal at the Asian Para Games in China.
Maryam Al Zeyoudi (Shot Put)
She earned a direct qualification after winning the women’s F40 shot put at the Kobe Para Athletics World Championships earlier this year. For Al Zeyoudi, it’s her second Paralympic Games after Tokyo, and she will be aiming for a medal.
Noura Al Ketbi (Shot Put)
A silver medallist in the shot put F32 in Rio 2016, Al Ketbi just failed to replicate that effort when finishing fourth at Tokyo. She is confident of bringing home another medal.
Maryam Al Dhanhani (Judo)
Is the first Emirati female to represent in judo at the Paralympics after collecting enough ranking points from six competitions. She won silver in Finland in June followed by fourth spot at the Asian Para Games in China, seventh in Azerbaijan, fifth in Japan, and eighth in Georgia to book her place in Paris.
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The biog
Favourite hobby: taking his rescue dog, Sally, for long walks.
Favourite book: anything by Stephen King, although he said the films rarely match the quality of the books
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Favourite music: “I have a wide and varied music taste, so it would be unfair to pick a single song from blues to rock as a favourite"
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The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
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The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
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PSA DUBAI WORLD SERIES FINALS LINE-UP
Men’s:
Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY)
Ali Farag (EGY)
Simon Rosner (GER)
Tarek Momen (EGY)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
Nick Matthew (ENG)
Women's:
Nour El Sherbini (EGY)
Raneem El Welily (EGY)
Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
Laura Massaro (ENG)
Joelle King (NZE)
Camille Serme (FRA)
Nouran Gohar (EGY)
Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
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Results
United States beat UAE by three wickets
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UAE v Scotland – no result
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Scotland beat United States by four wickets
Fixtures
Sunday, 10am, ICC Academy, Dubai - UAE v Scotland
Admission is free
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
