More than 50 per cent of fight fans attending this weekend’s UFC 242 will travel to the UAE from outside the country, say organisers.
The world’s lead mixed martial arts promotion returns to Abu Dhabi for the first time in five years on Saturday night, when undefeated lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov headlines the fight card in his title unification bout against Dustin Poirier. It will take place at The Arena on Yas Island, a purpose-built venue that holds upwards of 13,000 spectators.
UFC 242, which comes after previous UFC fight nights in the capital in 2010 and 2014, marks the first event of the five-year partnership signed between the UFC and the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT – Abu Dhabi), which was announced in April.
Tickets for UFC 242, which concludes the inaugural Abu Dhabi Showdown Week, are sold out, with the initial batch released in June selling within the first four days – before the fight card was confirmed.
"We were pleasantly surprised, although we have a huge demographic of people in this region who are fans of UFC and very familiar with the talent competing," Fatima Saeed Al Baloushi, the DCT's Acting Events Calendar Planning and Development manager, Abu Dhabi Events Bureau, told The National. "We sold a really good number of tickets even prior to announcing the fight card so that was really exciting for us.
“And the minute we confirmed the main card - Khabib and Dustin - there was a huge spike also following that. So for us it was great. The latest figures we have show 55 per cent of the ticket-holders are non-UAE residents, those coming into the UAE for the event. It's very exciting.”
Al Baloushi said that hotels on Yas Island are at 100 per cent occupancy this weekend, with visitors to the Emirates coming from as far away as the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe.
Given Nurmagomedov, a Dagestan native, returns to the Octagon for the first time since last October’s high-prolife fight against Conor McGregor, a large number of attendees are travelling from Russia to see him attempt to extend his professional record to 28-0.
Al Baloushi said feedback from the UFC throughout the build-up to the event has been positive, with everyone looking forward to seeing The Arena fully operational come Saturday. Approximately 5,000 are expected to attend the pre-event weigh-in there on Friday.
“I remember this plot of land being just flat sand, so the change has been massive,” she said. “Today it’s an international-standard arena, fully equipped with the best technologies that can help support the consumer journey and the fans’ experience onsite. It’s a great arena. We’re very proud of it”.
Asked what would constitute success for DCT-Abu Dhabi this weekend, Al Baloushi said: “Success for us is the consumers, that the guests coming from all over the world and from the UAE have that big smile on their faces, that they have a top-standard, high-level event experience.
“That’s where we want to be as Abu Dhabi. By engaging with all these major organisations and hosting these mega events in the destination, we’re pushing to make Abu Dhabi a hub to attract global media and the international audience. It’s saying we are up to standards; we create standards for this event.
"So success for us is that guests coming in are excited, they have a comfortable journey and experience and they truly enjoy the event. And hopefully may the best man win.”
Since UFC 242 represents the first in a five-year agreement with the promotion, Al Baloushi agreed that there is a pressure to kick-starting the partnership in positive fashion.
“Definitely,” she said. “And we will continue to hit that high note for the next five years. That’s the goal.”
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final (first-leg score):
Juventus (1) v Ajax (1), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Match will be shown on BeIN Sports
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The biog
Favourite book: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Favourite holiday destination: Spain
Favourite film: Bohemian Rhapsody
Favourite place to visit in the UAE: The beach or Satwa
Children: Stepdaughter Tyler 27, daughter Quito 22 and son Dali 19
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
How to improve Arabic reading in early years
One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient
The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers
Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades
Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic
First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations
Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades
Improve the appearance of textbooks
Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings
Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught
Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar
What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
A Bad Moms Christmas
Dir: John Lucas and Scott Moore
Starring: Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Bell, Susan Sarandon, Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines
Two stars
PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
The Cairo Statement
1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations
2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred
3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC
4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.
5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.
6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security
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.
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
