Eighteen months after competitive shut down across West Asia, amid the uncertainty of the onset of the pandemic, domestic rugby players will return to action for the first time this weekend.
Coronavirus accounted for the entire 2020-21 campaign. Dubai’s clubs were at least able to offer some respite to those craving the sport last season, as they played out a modified, 10-a-side version, designed to limit contact.
An attempt to do something similar in Abu Dhabi between the Emirate’s three major clubs – Harlequins, Saracens and Al Ain Amblers – was quickly aborted.
Now, though, their players are gearing up to return to full contact, full teams, and at full bore.
“It is going to be brilliant, having had no real rugby here for 14 months,” Niall Lear, the Harlequins coach, said ahead of his side’s UAE Premiership home game against Jebel Ali Dragons on Friday.
“Everyone is so excited, although I’m not 100 per cent sure how it will go. In my head, I have a good idea. But we are almost 12 months behind in terms of development. We will see.
“What is for sure is it is going to be awesome to have rugby back in Abu Dhabi.”
Lear acknowledges there could yet be teething issues surrounding the return to play, especially given the 48-hour PCR protocol in place for fixtures in the capital.
Although some players have departed in the time since competitive rugby was last played, he is enthusiastic over the prospects of some new recruits.
For the club as a whole, he estimates membership is currently down by around 25 per cent. That is perhaps no surprise, given “we had 40 minutes of rugby in a year, which was a disaster”.
However, he is optimistic the numbers will start to swell again, especially once junior fixtures return after schools half-term.
“It is a case of trying to convince parents and kids that rugby is as awesome as it was.
“What has been tough has been that sports like football, cricket, and athletics have been going for an extra three or four months before rugby got the OK.
“We want every kid that comes to our junior section to be going home with it as their weekly highlight.
“We are a community club. If we can drive sport in the community and get rugby up and running again, we have all done our job this year.”
While Harlequins and Dragons are meeting at Zayed Sports City, Dubai Exiles will start their UAE Premiership title defence by hosting city rivals Dubai Tigers.
With the Dubai Knights-Eagles senior men’s side no longer active in the competition, the top division is now a five-team contest. Dubai Hurricanes have a bye week and will be playing their traditional club memorial day.
Abu Dhabi Saracens are preparing to defend their UAE Division One title, with a number of new faces, and a new coach in the form of Jason Brown.
He says the club endured similar challenges to that of their neighbours Harlequins, but that “there is light at the end of the tunnel”.
“During this difficult time, it is important that we at Abu Dhabi Saracens are prepared and ready to transition back into rugby within the UAE,” Brown said.
“I know we will do smoothly and effectively when called upon.
“To quote my old coach who I recently met with in the UK, ‘Tough times don’t last, tough people do’. We have always had some tough, determined people at this club.
“Outside of the relevant scientific community, I doubt that many of us foresaw or understood the implications of the magnitude of the pandemic.
“During the prolonged absence of our great community sport, we have lost a number of dear friends, members and supporters.
“However, with the best vaccination programme in the world, we can now look forward to enjoying rugby in Abu Dhabi and the UAE.”
Profile
Company name: Jaib
Started: January 2018
Co-founders: Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour
Based: Jordan
Sector: FinTech
Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018
Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Lampedusa: Gateway to Europe
Pietro Bartolo and Lidia Tilotta
Quercus
The British in India: Three Centuries of Ambition and Experience
by David Gilmour
Allen Lane
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
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
Gully Boy
Director: Zoya Akhtar
Producer: Excel Entertainment & Tiger Baby
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi
Rating: 4/5 stars
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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
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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THE DETAILS
Kaala
Dir: Pa. Ranjith
Starring: Rajinikanth, Huma Qureshi, Easwari Rao, Nana Patekar
Rating: 1.5/5
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
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.
