It is an often told tale that ahead of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2009, officials at Yas Marina Circuit said their goal was to have a local driver in Formula One within 10 years. Four years on and their goal could be about to be realised - although not in the way they would have imagined.
Heikki Kovalainen, Caterham's consummate Finn, is planning on calling Abu Dhabi home. The 31 year old told The National this week he and his partner, Catherine Hyde, are house-hunting in the emirate and hope to buy a villa on Saadiyat Island. They will then split their time between the UAE capital and their permanent home in Geneva, Switzerland.
The former McLaren-Mercedes driver, who will compete in this weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, has been visiting the city regularly ever since Hyde's parents moved here last year and he sees it as the perfect base for him during F1's winter break, as well as between the 20-race calendar's eight Asian events.
"Normally, I spend the winters in Finland doing a lot of cross-country skiing," he said. "I still plan to do that, but we start the F1 season in Australia and Malaysia, then we go to Bahrain as well, so being in the heat would be better.
"Location-wise, it is not that far from Europe, so you can come here even for a shorter period of time. How long exactly would I get to spend here is still kind of up in the air, but if we can find a place, I can see me spending many, many weeks here."
When Roger Federer, the world No 1 men's tennis player, announced a few years ago he was buying an apartment and setting up a second home in Dubai, one of the key factors he cited was the quality of the training facilities. Kovalainen is in agreement.
"It's a great place to do fitness training and to play golf," he said.
"It is just perfect really - especially over the winter when it cools down a little bit. Last week, I twice cycled the track at Yas and also did a lot of gym work and running in the heat at Etihad Plaza. It's pretty flat, but obviously very, very hot."
Kovalainen also enjoys being able to operate without hassle. When he took part in Yas Marina's weekly Train Yas open-track night, he was greeted by a smattering of fans, but otherwise was left to his own devices. He filled out the registration, got it stamped and went out on track. "I joined a group of cyclists who were clearly better than me; I was hanging on," he said. "I doubt they knew who I was. They just treated me like anyone else and I kind of like that."
It is the same scenario when he explores the city. Kovalainen and Hyde both celebrated their birthdays this month while in the capital, going for dinner at Hakkasan in Emirates Palace. "We tend to go out most nights to have a look around. It's really a modern city and very international. People think Abu Dhabi is very closed, yet everything is available. People know me here and often I get recognised, but it's nice. The Emiratis I have met have all been very friendly and enthusiastic about Formula One."
Track racing aside though, it is golf that is Kovalainen's passion. He can often be found - invisible club in hand - practising his swing in Caterham's travelling motorhome, while he is also friends with European Tour players such as Retief Goosen and Ian Poulter. When he visits Abu Dhabi, he enjoys the privilege of playing for free at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
It was there, on the morning of last season's race at Yas Marina and before heading to the track, that he enjoyed a relaxing round with Lewis Hamilton, his former McLaren teammate. Kovalainen won the round, but Hamilton went on to win the grand prix in the afternoon. The Finn has ruled out a repeat of such preparations this coming Sunday.
"Abu Dhabi Golf Club is closed for seeding, so we can't play there this week and Lewis hasn't played for a long time now anyway - he has given up," Kovalainen, who plays off a 5.4 handicap, said. "He had a few bad rounds and wasn't enjoying it as much; getting quite frustrated.
"Golf is so psychological. He didn't practice at all and then when you don't play well, it's obviously frustrating."
Having gone out on the course three times last week, on Tuesday he scheduled a round with Matteo Manassero, the 19 year old Italian, who is a global ambassador for Abu Dhabi. He also hopes to take part in the Pro-Am for next year's Abu Dhabi Golf Championships, alongside Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods.
Much depends on what lies ahead on the racetrack, however. After struggling during two years with McLaren, although he did win the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2008, Kovalainen joined Team Lotus - now Caterham - in 2010 and has spent much of the past three seasons rebuilding his reputation from the back of the grid.
Such has been his admirable performances, he was linked earlier this season with a return to McLaren and also saw his name paired with Ferrari.
With Tony Fernandes, the Caterham team owner, still undecided, Kovalainen is naturally keeping his ear to the asphalt.
"We are looking, of course," he said. "I'm not stressed about it. I just keep my eyes open and my performance level as high as possible. I'm sure I have proved myself more here than I did at McLaren, but it's more difficult to convince people from where we are on the grid."
Fernandes says he will make a decision on his driver line-up soon, but it has been reported that if the marque miss out on the lucrative 10th place in the constructors' championship, Caterham might have to revert to employing drivers who can pay for their seats next season, instead of paying Kovalainen to drive for them.
"I'm sure that's a possibility," Kovalainen said. "It's a big deal for the team. They know that I don't bring money - they need to pay me, that's what I do. If my hands are not good enough here then that's how it is, but I don't ever really fancy looking for money."
When it is put to him that perhaps there could be potential for him to follow in the footsteps of Manassero and become an ambassador for the UAE capital, he smiles.
"If Abu Dhabi wanted to back me, I think suddenly a lot of the teams towards the front of the grid would be calling," he said. "But I don't like to see myself as a pay driver. It would need to be more like the partnership Fernando Alonso has with Santander. It's not something I'm even thinking about at the moment to be honest."
For now, Kovalainen's focus remains on achieving the best results possible with Caterham in the final three races of the season, starting with what he might, one day soon, be able to call his home grand prix.
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
CREW
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERajesh%20A%20Krishnan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETabu%2C%20Kareena%20Kapoor%20Khan%2C%20Kriti%20Sanon%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
Pearls on a Branch: Oral Tales
Najlaa Khoury, Archipelago Books
Match info
Karnataka Tuskers 110-3
J Charles 35, M Pretorius 1-19, Z Khan 0-16
Deccan Gladiators 111-5 in 8.3 overs
K Pollard 45*, S Zadran 2-18
Racecard
%3Cp%3E1.45pm%3A%20Bin%20Dasmal%20Contracting%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(PA)%20Dh50%2C000%20(Dirt)%201%2C200m%3Cbr%3E2.15pm%3A%20Al%20Shafar%20Investment%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(TB)%20Dh60%2C000%20(D)%201%2C200m%3Cbr%3E2.45pm%3A%202023%20Cup%20by%20Emirates%20sprint%20series%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh84%2C000%20(D)%201%2C200m%3Cbr%3E3.15pm%3A%20HIVE%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh68%2C000%20(D)%201%2C400m%3Cbr%3E3.45pm%3A%20Jebel%20Ali%20Mile%20Prep%20by%20Shadwell%20%E2%80%93%20Conditions%20(TB)%20Dh100%2C000%20(D)%201%2C600m%3Cbr%3E4.15pm%3A%20JARC%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(TB)%20Dh60%2C000%20(D)%201%2C600m%3Cbr%3E4.45pm%3A%20Deira%20Cup%20by%20Emirates%20Sprint%20series%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh76%2C000%20(D)%201%2C950m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face
The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.
The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.
Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.
"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.
Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.
The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Cricket World Cup League 2 Fixtures
Saturday March 5, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy (all matches start at 9.30am)
Sunday March 6, Oman v Namibia, ICC Academy
Tuesday March 8, UAE v Namibia, ICC Academy
Wednesday March 9, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy
Friday March 11, Oman v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Saturday March 12, UAE v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri, Muhammad Waseem, CP Rizwan, Vriitya Aravind, Asif Khan, Basil Hameed, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Karthik Meiyappan, Akif Raja, Rahul Bhatia
LOVE%20AGAIN
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Jim%20Strouse%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Priyanka%20Chopra%20Jonas%2C%20Sam%20Heughan%2C%20Celine%20Dion%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
New Zealand T20 squad
New Zealand T20 squad: Tim Southee (captain), Finn Allen, Todd Astle, Hamish Bennett, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway (wicketkeeper), Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Will Young
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
Match info
Deccan Gladiators 87-8
Asif Khan 25, Dwayne Bravo 2-16
Maratha Arabians 89-2
Chadwick Walton 51 not out
Arabians won the final by eight wickets
Venom
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed
Rating: 1.5/5
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.
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
