DUBAI // Moments before the start of this weekend's 32nd Dubai International Rally, one driver received an unexpected incentive.
Nasser al Attiyah learned that his home country of Qatar had won its bid to host the Fifa 2022 football World Cup.
He said he was determined to mark the news with victory in a tournament that organisers hope will spur interest in motorsport as well as raise publicity for charities.
Today, 27 drivers from 12 Middle Eastern countries compete in the final round of the 2010 FIA Middle East Rally Championship, which ends tomorrow.
The event is organised by the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE, whose president, Mohammed ben Sulayem, aims to bring motorsport closer to the community.
The ceremonial start kicked off at Downtown Dubai last night with the cars promoting the Dubai Autism Centre and the UAE Down Syndrome Association.
"It is important that motorsport in the modern era branches out and delivers much more than competitive events," said Mr Sulayem, who is also the vice president of the FIA, motorsport's world governing body. "In our role as the national motorsport authority and rally organisers, we have to move with the times, recognise our responsibility to consider and embrace the local community when we stage events, and play our part in helping to improve the lives of those less fortunate."
Hundreds of spectators waited to catch a glimpse of the drivers as they left the Souk Al Bahar car park.
The honour of being first away went to the only lady driver in the rally, Jordan's Ahed Eid, who is partnered by Feras Allowh in a Group N Mitsubishi Evo 9. Just before she got into her vehicle, the 19-year-old driver said that racing was her biggest joy.
"This is my second year in the championship and I have loved this sport since I was much younger," said Ahed, who was also the youngest driver. "The fact I am a woman has not even been a challenge, I have received much support."
Al Attiyah followed in a Super 2000 Ford Fiesta alongside his Italian co-driver, Giovanni Bernacchini. Although the Qatari driver was determined to win, he has to face off serious local competition.
"I'm not here just to participate or settle for a place on the podium," said Sheikh Khalid al Qassimi, the Team Abu Dhabi driver. "I want to win my home event on National Day weekend, not just for myself, but for all the people of the UAE."
Khalifa al Muhairi represented Dubai along with his co-driver, Ali Mirza. The rally was the first time al Muhairi has raced after a break of almost 15 years.
"This is my dream," he said. "The reason I stopped for so long is due to lack of sponsorship, this is a very expensive sport, but I am hopeful for 2011."
Where to rally round
Today’s Leg 1 can be followed in the Malaiha and Shawka area and can be located from the Sharjah-Kalba Road.
Stages on tomorrow’s Leg 2 are in the Al Dhaid area and can be located from the Sharjah-Kalba Road or the Al Dhaid Road. The rally finishes at Dubai’s Old Town Island around 4.30pm tomorrow.
melshoush@thenational.ae
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
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 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
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
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The 10 Questions
- Is there a God?
- How did it all begin?
- What is inside a black hole?
- Can we predict the future?
- Is time travel possible?
- Will we survive on Earth?
- Is there other intelligent life in the universe?
- Should we colonise space?
- Will artificial intelligence outsmart us?
- How do we shape the future?
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
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Andor
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tony%20Gilroy%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDiego%20Luna%2C%20Genevieve%20O'Reilly%2C%20Alex%20Ferns%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%205%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
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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.
The specs: 2018 Renault Koleos
Price, base: From Dh77,900
Engine: 2.5L, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 170hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 233Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.3L / 100km