The first rule about Fight Island is you do not walk about Fight Island.
The second rule about Fight Island is: you DO NOT walk about Fight Island.
Well, for the first two weeks, at least. Not until you’ve quarantined for 14 days, taken three Covid-19 tests (they don’t get any more bearable, each one an excavation of the brain), been scanned daily for a high temperature, and hand-washed every piece of your clothing – some more than once. Look, mum!
And so it was from that momentous phone call on Friday, June 19. It came at 2.28pm, a sort of call to arms if you will. Basically, if you really wanted to cover Fight Island, to be part of this historic event that marks in part Abu Dhabi's emergence from the coronavirus crisis, you had to be on Fight Island by midnight. That night.
The action was more than three weeks away, with UFC 251 kicking off a four-event series, on July 12. Yet, y’know, 2020: These Are Unprecedented Times.
Rumours swirled from the very moment Abu Dhabi was announced on June 9 as host of the inaugural UFC fight bonanza. Some suggested a 45-day adventure for those media wishing to provide onsite coverage. That would take in quarantine and the four UFC shows, which run to July 26.
Thirty days was soon mooted and immediately felt infinitely more reasonable, however extreme this whole commitment probably should have felt. Then it was maybe 14, then perhaps a simple test administrated on the ground, a couple of days beforehand. Easy.
But the June 19 call came, and the frantic scramble to Abu Dhabi ensued. In short: lobbing stuff indiscriminately from wardrobe to suitcase; transferring contents of entire fridge to an entirely-too-small freezer; co-ordinating with editors and photographers and other event personnel; sorting permits to travel from Dubai to Abu Dhabi (turned down and then granted, at 10pm); the revised 9pm deadline to arrive at the Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi (but permit!); and the uncertainty as to what lay next.
From there, via the sprayed-down luggage (unloaded ourselves) and the sanitised pens and the man at hotel reception behind the microbial shield and the staff in full PPE and goggles, lockdown began. No one in, no one out. Maybe for a few days, maybe more. Much like that Friday, it was a rapidly developing situation. In the end, it was 14.
Fourteen days confined to your room; 14 days of meals dropped off at your door with a knock (three times daily); 14 days of CNN reminding that you’re quarantining for a very valid reason. Fourteen days of the promise it’ll all be worth it.
Those lucky enough to exist in a room with balcony – and sturdy enough to brave the heat – would escape there for some release whenever possible, stiffly nodding towards or saluting the other fortunates, like fighter pilots going into enemy territory. Visor down, control stick gripped tight, engines launched. This was a collective cause despite the isolation, everyone in it together, the “sacrifices made” to “bring international sport back to Abu Dhabi”. We were “part of reopening our capital to the world”, as the circular delivered to the room reminded.
That said, you did at times yearn for face-to-face conversation (at, admittedly, a socially accepted distance), for a change of scenery (Zoom backgrounds don’t count. Ever.), for coffee that didn’t spill out from a sachet and taste not very much like coffee. Like an absolute trooper, you persevered, one cup at a time.
And it must be said, all this barely constituted real hardship. It was, much like Fight Island the concept, a once-in-a-lifetime experience, a little bit of history that you were contributing your little bit to.
And much like the entire event, dreamt up by the UFC in response to the coronavirus, a vaccine for the cessation of live sport, there were a number of personal watershed moments. Real ground was broken.
1) The week's worth of clothes was (wrung out and) stretched to twice the original time intended. Soap and warm water – who would've thought?
2) By some still-astounding feat of engineering, the laptop was hooked up to the hotel TV without serious injury sustained. From there, it beamed out whatever sport or movie or docu-series desired.
3) Three times one's body weight in croissants was consumed, or to use more appropriate verbiage, hoovered. No butter or jam, obviously. I'm no novice: told there's an official weigh-in on Friday.
To be fair, thanks to the genius of modern technology, boredom was largely kept at bay. Plus, there was still the odd sharp thrill to puncture any monotony. For example, the letter, slipped surreptitiously under your door at 10pm on Day 8 – that's how us quarantiners refer to blocks of 24 hours – that promised two more Covid tests, bringing with it that fleeting jolt of excitement that you'd escape your room for 15 minutes. On separate days.
The jolt was all-too fleeting, granted, quickly superseded by the realisation you had two more brain excavations to survive. Heavyweight UFC person Francis Ngannou, a man so mountainous he is considered the Eighth Summit, said in May that he would rather take a punch in the face. Quite.
Then there was that mid-afternoon call, enquiring what you’d like to eat for lunch and dinner the following day. The extremely pleasant room service employee would reel off a multitude of options for both, when you both knew the answer was, and forever would be, “THE BUTTER CHICKEN PLEASE”. It really was magnificent.
For the post-dinner detox, and for those with the luxury of a veranda that looked out to the back of the property, you could smell the grass on Yas Links, or the sea air blowing off the Arabian Gulf. All so near, yet so very far away.
As said, hardships they weren’t. But hey.
Also, it must be noted: the hotel staff was lovely, at times more a helpline than a service. The local organisers were superb, too, constantly checking in, offering support wherever needed (laptop already connected to TV, thanks!).
The closer it edged to 14 days, the more rumour swelled. Friday had been designated "Fight Island Freedom Day", then it was Thursday. Whisper it (or type discreetly on WhatsApp), it was Friday again. When the news finally came, the confirmation that this in-truth-not-greatly-taxing-at-all ordeal was over, the Crowne Plaza seemed to tremble in united exultation.
Ultimately, it did feel all worth it. For we are in this watertight bubble, safe and secure and provided lovely accommodation and ringside seats as almost 100 fighters give everything they’ve got across almost 50 bouts, featuring four world title fights, all unspooling over 14 fascinating days.
Let’s be honest, when all's said and done, those 14 days for the UFC athletes are the real test of character.
Wonder if they’ll forgo the croissants.
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Indoor Cricket World Cup
Venue Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE squad Saqib Nazir (captain), Aaqib Malik, Fahad Al Hashmi, Isuru Umesh, Nadir Hussain, Sachin Talwar, Nashwan Nasir, Prashath Kumara, Ramveer Rai, Sameer Nayyak, Umar Shah, Vikrant Shetty
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Vikram%20Vedha
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Gayatri%2C%20Pushkar%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hrithik%20Roshan%2C%20Saif%20Ali%20Khan%2C%20Radhika%20Apte%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Top%2010%20most%20competitive%20economies
%3Cp%3E1.%20Singapore%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Switzerland%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20Denmark%0D%3Cbr%3E4.%20Ireland%0D%3Cbr%3E5.%20Hong%20Kong%0D%3Cbr%3E6.%20Sweden%0D%3Cbr%3E7.%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3E8.%20Taiwan%0D%3Cbr%3E9.%20Netherlands%0D%3Cbr%3E10.%20Norway%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
WHAT%20IS%20THE%20LICENSING%20PROCESS%20FOR%20VARA%3F
%3Cp%3EVara%20will%20cater%20to%20three%20categories%20of%20companies%20in%20Dubai%20(except%20the%20DIFC)%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECategory%20A%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Minimum%20viable%20product%20(MVP)%20applicants%20that%20are%20currently%20in%20the%20process%20of%20securing%20an%20MVP%20licence%3A%20This%20is%20a%20three-stage%20process%20starting%20with%20%5B1%5D%20a%20provisional%20permit%2C%20graduating%20to%20%5B2%5D%20preparatory%20licence%20and%20concluding%20with%20%5B3%5D%20operational%20licence.%20Applicants%20that%20are%20already%20in%20the%20MVP%20process%20will%20be%20advised%20by%20Vara%20to%20either%20continue%20within%20the%20MVP%20framework%20or%20be%20transitioned%20to%20the%20full%20market%20product%20licensing%20process.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECategory%20B%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Existing%20legacy%20virtual%20asset%20service%20providers%20prior%20to%20February%207%2C%202023%2C%20which%20are%20required%20to%20come%20under%20Vara%20supervision.%20All%20operating%20service%20proviers%20in%20Dubai%20(excluding%20the%20DIFC)%20fall%20under%20Vara%E2%80%99s%20supervision.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECategory%20C%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20New%20applicants%20seeking%20a%20Vara%20licence%20or%20existing%20applicants%20adding%20new%20activities.%20All%20applicants%20that%20do%20not%20fall%20under%20Category%20A%20or%20B%20can%20begin%20the%20application%20process%20through%20their%20current%20or%20prospective%20commercial%20licensor%20%E2%80%94%20the%20DET%20or%20Free%20Zone%20Authority%20%E2%80%94%20or%20directly%20through%20Vara%20in%20the%20instance%20that%20they%20have%20yet%20to%20determine%20the%20commercial%20operating%20zone%20in%20Dubai.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How Alia's experiment will help humans get to Mars
Alia’s winning experiment examined how genes might change under the stresses caused by being in space, such as cosmic radiation and microgravity.
Her samples were placed in a machine on board the International Space Station. called a miniPCR thermal cycler, which can copy DNA multiple times.
After the samples were examined on return to Earth, scientists were able to successfully detect changes caused by being in space in the way DNA transmits instructions through proteins and other molecules in living organisms.
Although Alia’s samples were taken from nematode worms, the results have much bigger long term applications, especially for human space flight and long term missions, such as to Mars.
It also means that the first DNA experiments using human genomes can now be carried out on the ISS.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Scorecard
Scotland 220
K Coetzer 95, J Siddique 3-49, R Mustafa 3-35
UAE 224-3 in 43,5 overs
C Suri 67, B Hameed 63 not out
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
More on animal trafficking
The five pillars of Islam
Timeline
1947
Ferrari’s road-car company is formed and its first badged car, the 125 S, rolls off the assembly line
1962
250 GTO is unveiled
1969
Fiat becomes a Ferrari shareholder, acquiring 50 per cent of the company
1972
The Fiorano circuit, Ferrari’s racetrack for development and testing, opens
1976
First automatic Ferrari, the 400 Automatic, is made
1987
F40 launched
1988
Enzo Ferrari dies; Fiat expands its stake in the company to 90 per cent
2002
The Enzo model is announced
2010
Ferrari World opens in Abu Dhabi
2011
First four-wheel drive Ferrari, the FF, is unveiled
2013
LaFerrari, the first Ferrari hybrid, arrives
2014
Fiat Chrysler announces the split of Ferrari from the parent company
2015
Ferrari launches on Wall Street
2017
812 Superfast unveiled; Ferrari celebrates its 70th anniversary
Reading List
Practitioners of mindful eating recommend the following books to get you started:
Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life by Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr Lilian Cheung
How to Eat by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Mindful Diet by Dr Ruth Wolever
Mindful Eating by Dr Jan Bays
How to Raise a Mindful Eaterby Maryann Jacobsen
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
The specs: Macan Turbo
Engine: Dual synchronous electric motors
Power: 639hp
Torque: 1,130Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Touring range: 591km
Price: From Dh412,500
On sale: Deliveries start in October
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)
West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)
Sunday
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Brave CF 27 fight card
Welterweight:
Abdoul Abdouraguimov (champion, FRA) v Jarrah Al Selawe (JOR)
Lightweight:
Anas Siraj Mounir (TUN) v Alex Martinez (CAN)
Welterweight:
Mzwandile Hlongwa (RSA) v Khamzat Chimaev (SWE)
Middleweight:
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Rustam Chsiev (RUS)
Mohammad Fakhreddine (LEB) v Christofer Silva (BRA)
Super lightweight:
Alex Nacfur (BRA) v Dwight Brooks (USA)
Bantamweight:
Jalal Al Daaja (JOR) v Tariq Ismail (CAN)
Chris Corton (PHI) v Zia Mashwani (PAK)
Featherweight:
Sulaiman (KUW) v Abdullatip (RUS)
Super lightweight:
Flavio Serafin (BRA) v Mohammad Al Katib (JOR)
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
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Raghida, Szczepan Mazur (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: AF Alareeq, Connor Beasley, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-2 Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 2,200m
Winner: Basmah, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Liwa Oasis Group 2 (PA) Dh300,000 1,400m
Winner: AF Alwajel, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: SS Jalmod, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m
Winner: Trolius, Ryan Powell, Simon Crisford
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Squads
Pakistan: Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Babar Azam (vc), Abid Ali, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Hasnain, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz
Sri Lanka: Lahiru Thirimanne (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Minod Bhanuka, Angelo Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
U19 WORLD CUP, WEST INDIES
UAE group fixtures (all in St Kitts)
Saturday 15 January: v Canada
Thursday 20 January: v England
Saturday 22 January: v Bangladesh
UAE squad
Alishan Sharafu (captain), Shival Bawa, Jash Giyanani, Sailles Jaishankar, Nilansh Keswani, Aayan Khan, Punya Mehra, Ali Naseer, Ronak Panoly, Dhruv Parashar, Vinayak Raghavan, Soorya Sathish, Aryansh Sharma, Adithya Shetty, Kai Smith
