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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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
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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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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.
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
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
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6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
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8pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
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