DUBAI // It has become a tradition at golf tournaments around the world for the media to play the course on the Monday after the tournament finishes to get some kind of feel of what the winning professional went through over the previous four rounds.
Leisurecorp broke with that tradition yesterday and let the golfing press loose on their magnificent new Earth course before any of the cream of the European Tour had struck a ball in anger.
It was a message to the cynics who had suggested that the Dubai World Championship (DWC), the exciting finale to the Race to Dubai, would be a flop and might even move from Jumeirah Golf Estates to nearby Emirates Golf Club, which has an infrastructure in place to host big tournaments.
Earth is undoubtedly a setting to rival Emirates and Abu Dhabi National, the other UAE stopping off point for the European Tour.
The Middle East will now have four attractive men's professional tournaments to show off to the watching world when the DWC roars into action on Thursday.
The organisers treated the media as professionals yesterday, putting personal names on lockers and name plates on the driving range, where close by, Camilo Villegas, the charismatic Colombian, was weaving his magic with a five iron.
Then it was on to the putting green, rubbing shoulders with Ross Fisher, the Englishman who is a threatening fourth place in the Race to Dubai.
"I can't wait to get out there to see what it's really like," he said. Well Ross, it is wonderful.
I was particularly looking forward to what Norman calls his "Golden Mile" - the demanding last four holes on the course. By the time our wilting fourball got there, we were not in the best shape to deal with the difficult run-in.
When we saw the signature 17th hole, however, we got an adrenaline surge. Norman has based this spectacular hole on the iconic Island Hole at Sawgrass, but he has made it longer and more difficult.
Hitting the green, albeit from the forward tee, and then making par was the highlight of a memorable preview to what looks sure to be a memorable tournament.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
How to tell if your child is being bullied at school
Sudden change in behaviour or displays higher levels of stress or anxiety
Shows signs of depression or isolation
Ability to sleep well diminishes
Academic performance begins to deteriorate
Changes in eating habits
Struggles to concentrate
Refuses to go to school
Behaviour changes and is aggressive towards siblings
Begins to use language they do not normally use
Changing visa rules
For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that's changing.
Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.
It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.
The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.
The first batch - 20 finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.
SERIES INFO
Schedule:
All matches at the Harare Sports Club
1st ODI, Wed Apr 10
2nd ODI, Fri Apr 12
3rd ODI, Sun Apr 14
4th ODI, Sun Apr 16
UAE squad
Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Zimbabwe squad
Peter Moor (captain), Solomon Mire, Brian Chari, Regis Chakabva, Sean Williams, Timycen Maruma, Sikandar Raza, Donald Tiripano, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chatara, Chris Mpofu, Craig Ervine, Brandon Mavuta, Ainsley Ndlovu, Tony Munyonga, Elton Chigumbura
BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP
Group A
Paraguay
Japan
Switzerland
USA
Group B
Uruguay
Mexico
Italy
Tahiti
Group C
Belarus
UAE
Senegal
Russia
Group D
Brazil
Oman
Portugal
Nigeria
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Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.