Qais Al Dhalai, president of Asia Rugby and vice president of of the UAE Rugby Federation, believes it is time for the Rugby World Cup to return to Asia. Victor Besa / The national
Qais Al Dhalai, president of Asia Rugby and vice president of of the UAE Rugby Federation, believes it is time for the Rugby World Cup to return to Asia. Victor Besa / The national
Qais Al Dhalai, president of Asia Rugby and vice president of of the UAE Rugby Federation, believes it is time for the Rugby World Cup to return to Asia. Victor Besa / The national
Qais Al Dhalai, president of Asia Rugby and vice president of of the UAE Rugby Federation, believes it is time for the Rugby World Cup to return to Asia. Victor Besa / The national

Qais Al Dhalai: Rugby World Cup needs to evolve as a global show - the joint Gulf bid can deliver


Amith Passela
  • English
  • Arabic

The next two years are crucial for the Gulf region in its bid to fulfil the lofty ambition of staging a future Rugby World Cup, either in 2035 or 2039, according to the head of Asia Rugby.

The region has already staged a number of top sporting events, including the Fifa World Cup, while major boxing title fights, Formula One grands prix and international cricket tournaments are near annual events.

Qais Al Dhalai boldly claimed that the Gulf is capable of staging “the most successful event in the history of rugby” and believes the time is right for rugby union's showpiece event to be held on these shores

The Emirati is the driving force preparing a joint bid from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar to host the Rugby World Cup for only the second time in Asia, after Japan in 2019.

Al Dhalai, who is also vice president of the UAE Rugby Federation, believes it’s time for the quadrennial championship to return to the continent, spreading the sport beyond its traditional heartlands of Europe and the southern hemisphere and provide teams and fans with a new experience.

“The sport should travel around and I feel Western Asia and South America are two deserving host for the Rugby World Cup at some point of time,” Al Dhalai told The National after returning from a private meeting with World Rugby in Hong Kong last week.

“The Gulf joint bid [works] because of the infrastructure and the best facilities for an event of this calibre. Obviously there is a lot of work to be done, particularly over the next two years, if we want to be successful in our bid.

“People forget South America. Argentina is the fifth-ranked team in the world and they had Uruguay and Chile from that part of the world in the 2023 World Cup. And imagine, Chile went into that World Cup having beaten USA and Canada.”

With the next two World Cup hosts already decided – Australia will stage the 2027 event and the USA in 2031 – Al Dhalai believes the Middle East should be the next stop in 2035 or 2039.

“The Rugby World Cup needs to evolve as a global show, and I believe the joint bid by the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar has the experience, expertise and the means of staging several world-class events should be considered,” he said.

“Qatar were hosts of the 2022 Fifa World Cup and they are bidding for the 2036 Olympics, while Saudi Arabia has successfully won the bid to stage the 2034 Fifa World Cup. The UAE is a hotspot for several world-class sporting events.

“They will have all those infrastructure and everything that you need to host a Rugby World Cup either in 2035 or 2039.”

For the bid to be successful, World Rugby would most likely need to change its rules on allowing UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar to play at the World Cup as hosts. None of the three prospective hosts have ever participated at a Rugby World Cup. At 48, the UAE are the highest-ranked side of the three. Qatar are 87th while Saudi Arabia are unranked.

Every World Cup host has played at the Rugby World Cup since the first edition in 1987.

I’m in favour of co-hosting that allows fans to visit two or three match venues in different countries
Qais Al Dhalai

Al Dhalai is hoping to prepare a bid to impress all member nations.

“It’s too early to reveal many details as we are still in a very early stage but we’ll have a presentation bid prepared to befit our actions,” he added.

The Rugby World Cup has a history of joint hosts with Australia and New Zealand co-hosting the inaugural event in 1987 followed by France, England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland in the next edition.

“I’m in favour of co-hosting that allows fans to visit two or three match venues in different countries and a change of environment for the participating nations,” Al Dhalai added.

“So, we’ll seek the support of the world governing body for the sport and member countries to garner the support for this exciting project. Hopefully, we’ll achieve our objective.”

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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

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Man of the match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)

TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

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The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

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Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

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Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

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Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Company profile

Name: Thndr

Started: October 2020

Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: FinTech

Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000

Funding stage: series A; $20 million

Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC,  Rabacap and MSA Capital

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
It’ll be summer in the city as car show tries to move with the times

If 2008 was the year that rocked Detroit, 2019 will be when Motor City gives its annual car extravaganza a revamp that aims to move with the times.

A major change is that this week's North American International Auto Show will be the last to be held in January, after which the event will switch to June.

The new date, organisers said, will allow exhibitors to move vehicles and activities outside the Cobo Center's halls and into other city venues, unencumbered by cold January weather, exemplified this week by snow and ice.

In a market in which trends can easily be outpaced beyond one event, the need to do so was probably exacerbated by the decision of Germany's big three carmakers – BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi – to skip the auto show this year.

The show has long allowed car enthusiasts to sit behind the wheel of the latest models at the start of the calendar year but a more fluid car market in an online world has made sales less seasonal.

Similarly, everyday technology seems to be catching up on those whose job it is to get behind microphones and try and tempt the visiting public into making a purchase.

Although sparkly announcers clasp iPads and outline the technical gadgetry hidden beneath bonnets, people's obsession with their own smartphones often appeared to offer a more tempting distraction.

“It's maddening,” said one such worker at Nissan's stand.

The absence of some pizzazz, as well as top marques, was also noted by patrons.

“It looks like there are a few less cars this year,” one annual attendee said of this year's exhibitors.

“I can't help but think it's easier to stay at home than to brave the snow and come here.”

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The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index

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Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.

The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.

“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.

“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”

Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.

Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.

“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

The Old Slave and the Mastiff

Patrick Chamoiseau

Translated from the French and Creole by Linda Coverdale

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Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

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Global institutions: BlackRock and KKR

US-based BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager, with $5.98 trillion of assets under management as of the end of last year. The New York firm run by Larry Fink provides investment management services to institutional clients and retail investors including governments, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, banks and charitable foundations around the world, through a variety of investment vehicles.

KKR & Co, or Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, is a global private equity and investment firm with around $195 billion of assets as of the end of last year. The New York-based firm, founded by Henry Kravis and George Roberts, invests in multiple alternative asset classes through direct or fund-to-fund investments with a particular focus on infrastructure, technology, healthcare, real estate and energy.

 

Fund-raising tips for start-ups

Develop an innovative business concept

Have the ability to differentiate yourself from competitors

Put in place a business continuity plan after Covid-19

Prepare for the worst-case scenario (further lockdowns, long wait for a vaccine, etc.) 

Have enough cash to stay afloat for the next 12 to 18 months

Be creative and innovative to reduce expenses

Be prepared to use Covid-19 as an opportunity for your business

* Tips from Jassim Al Marzooqi and Walid Hanna

RESULTS

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Winner: AF Tathoor, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
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Winner: Dahawi, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
Winner: Aiz Alawda, Fernando Jara, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
Winner: ES Nahawand, Fernando Jara, Mohammed Daggash
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Winked, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: Al Ain Mile Group 3 (PA) Dh350,000 1,600m
Winner: Somoud, Connor Beasley, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
8pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Al Jazi, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel

Updated: April 08, 2025, 3:26 AM`