DUBAI // Germany is still buzzing over the spectacular elevation of Sebastian Vettel to the peak of the motorsport world.
Martin Kaymer knows that his chances of being voted sportsman of the year in his homeland ended the moment the chequered flag came down at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as Vettel won to become Formula One world champion.
But the man who has also triumphed in the UAE capital is determined to be regarded as the closest of runners-up in the German poll.
Kaymer is on the verge of winning the Race to Dubai, which is European golf's equivalent to the year-long drivers' championship.
He finds himself in pole position going into the season-ending Dubai World Championship (DWC) and has only Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell blocking his path.
Unlike Vettel, who came storming through in the last race of his campaign, Kaymer has seen the winning post for over a month now.
He surged clear of the chasing pack thanks to a stunning purple patch of form which saw him capture the US PGA Championship and follow it up with two more victories. "After that spell I was thinking that I would arrive in Dubai with a big lead," said Kaymer, who was almost €1 million (Dh4.92m) clear before McDowell started chipping away at that advantage by winning last month's Andalucia Valderrama Masters.
Now the gap is €290,000 and Kaymer admitted to being disappointed that the third of his three career goals - winning a major and playing in the Ryder Cup were the other two - is back in the balance.
"It's been a fantastic season for me," Kaymer said.
"To win my first major and to be part of the winning Ryder Cup team is way above my expectations to be honest.
"Obviously when you win a major you know that you can win any tournament in the world.
"I've played very well the last few months and going into this week I feel confident about my game. Hopefully I can play well and make sure that I win the Race to Dubai somehow."
But he would have liked to have finished the Race earlier.
"Of course I wish that the Race was already over but it's good for the European Tour, good for Dubai and good for the spectators that it's not over.
"One or more of the guys had to play fantastic to make sure that it wasn't over and Graeme has certainly done that.
"It is a lot more interesting now and it will be fun."
Kaymer, who enjoys playing in the Middle East, having twice triumphed in Abu Dhabi, has a different mindset this week than the one he had 12 months ago.
A year ago, he was an outsider behind Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy in the battle to top the money list.
Now he is hot favourite.
That creates a different kind of pressure - pressure that he was unable to cope with in the Ryder Cup and pressure that overcame him when the opportunity to snatch the world No 1 ranking from Westwood came his way earlier this month.
"Yes, there will be more pressure on me here than in normal tournaments," he said.
"But the same applies to Graeme. It is tough to say which of us will feel it more. I have got to try to feel the same way as I do at the start of any other event."
Kaymer maintained that last year's winning aggregate of 23-under-par posted by Westwood was a one-off.
"I was not expecting that," he said. "I think if I can get it to 16, 17-under that should be enough."
Details
What: Dubai World Championship
When: Tomorrow-Sunday
Where: Earth Course, Dubai
Who: Competitors of Race to Dubai
Timing: 7.30am start
Tickets: Register for free admission for the whole event at www.dubaiworldchampionship.com
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.0L twin-turbo V8
Gearbox: eight-speed automatic
Power: 571hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,000-4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.4L/100km
Price, base: from Dh571,000
On sale: this week
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
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Full Party in the Park line-up
2pm – Andreah
3pm – Supernovas
4.30pm – The Boxtones
5.30pm – Lighthouse Family
7pm – Step On DJs
8pm – Richard Ashcroft
9.30pm – Chris Wright
10pm – Fatboy Slim
11pm – Hollaphonic
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The years Ramadan fell in May
Scoreline
Saudi Arabia 1-0 Japan
Saudi Arabia Al Muwallad 63’
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?
Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
