In the long and storied history of club rugby in the Middle East, the idea of having a home ground in “prime location” has basically meant any location.
Teams have always had to be creative when it comes to fulfilling fixtures. Back in the 1990s, Abu Dhabi’s leading club – then known as the Bats, now the Harlequins - played on a stretch of beach at low tide, with pitch markings drawn by volunteers using cups full of lime and a piece of string.
Dubai Hurricanes started life on a patch of grass next to the Meridien Mina Seyahi. Even today, some of the region’s most successful clubs play their matches in view of Jebel Ali Port, or the landfill site on the Al Ain Road.
On Saturday, though, top-tier rugby’s youngest club moved into its new premises, and immediately became the envy of everyone else.
The new home of Dubai Tigers has all the standard features of a rugby ground. They have converted the athletics track and football pitch within the confines of the Dubai Police Academy into two lush rugby fields.
There is a small stand at one end of one of the pitches. The changing facilities are repurposed shipping containers.
For their grand opening, there were three bouncy castles, as well as a shawarma station.
Then there was the feature which sets the ground apart from any other: namely, an unimpaired view of the Burj Al Arab.
“You can’t beat the view,” said Shane Thornton, the Tigers’ chairman. “Everyone is trying to get a photo with that in the shot.”
Thornton’s team have led a nomadic existence since he started nearly seven years ago. They have called Dubai Sports City home in the past, and also played matches at The Sevens earlier this season, having vacated Dubai College (DC), just a drop kick away from their new home, last season.
Work started on the Police Academy project back in November. Thornton says the initial agreement is for five years at the new site, but hopes it lasts as a permanent home.
“It can be hard to plan,” he said. “It has been six to seven years that I have been trying to find land to build something.
“It happened that we could come in here and do this. We got on this and just went for it. It is good for our club, but also for the community to come down here and watch.
“We have to thank DC for what they have done for us. They are just down the road and, although we have moved on from that, they played a big part in our club.
“It has grown. Now we have moved on to our next step, and let’s see how this works out for the club. I’m sure it will just keep growing.”
The only thing that did not go right on a triumphant grand opening was the final result of a packed day of matches.
The West Asia Premiership title-chasing Tigers men’s team lost out to a resurgent Jebel Ali Dragons, 29-18, thanks to two tries by Brad Janes, and one apiece for Diarmuid Carr and Josh Britland.
The status of the opposition for the first game at the Police Academy ground was a coincidence, given the Dragons was Thornton’s club before he set up the Tigers.
“By the time we got everything up and running in terms of the toilets and the changing facilities, this was the senior game, but it didn’t matter who it was,” he said.
“It is good to get started. We had the kids down here all morning. As a club, we try to bring the youth through, so to have them here for the curtain raiser is great.”
The Tigers now has nearly 500 members between its age group and senior sides, and Thornton hopes there are more potential recruits among their new neighbours.
“Hopefully we can work with [the police based at the academy] and help get them into rugby as well,” he said.
“That is our big goal. If they could get a rugby team going, that would be a different onus, and we have great coaches on board who are keen to help out.
“They are all here on site so it is a case of getting into them and saying, ‘Who is up for this? Come and train with us.’
“I want to help the Police out. It is about giving something back to the community as well.
“If we can get their kids down here and playing as well, it could bring the whole community together.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Playing records of the top 10 in 2017
How many games the top 10 have undertaken in the 2017 ATP season
1. Rafael Nadal 58 (49-9)
2. Andy Murray 35 (25-10)
3. Roger Federer 38 (35-3)
4. Stan Wawrinka 37 (26-11)
5. Novak Djokovic 40 (32-8)
6. Alexander Zverev 60 (46-14)
7. Marin Cilic 43 (29-14)
8. Dominic Thiem 60 (41-19)
9. Grigor Dimitrov 48 (34-14)
10. Kei Nishikori 43 (30-13)
Scoreline:
Manchester City 1
Jesus 4'
Brighton 0
RESULTS
6.30pm: Handicap (rated 100 ) US$175,000 1,200m
Winner: Baccarat, William Buick (jockey), Charlie Appleby (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (78-94) $60,000 1,800m
Winner: Baroot, Christophe Soumillon, Mike de Kock
7.40pm: Firebreak Stakes Group 3 $200,000 1,600m
Winner: Heavy Metal, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.15pm: Handicap (95-108) $125,000 1,200m
Winner: Yalta, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.50pm: Balanchine Group 2 $200,000 1,800m
Winner: Promising Run, Pat Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor
9.25pm: Handicap (95-105) $125,000 1,800m
Winner: Blair House, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
10pm: Handicap (95-105) $125,000 1,400m
Winner: Oh This Is Us, Tom Marquand, Richard Hannon
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Takreem Awards winners 2021
Corporate Leadership: Carl Bistany (Lebanon)
Cultural Excellence: Hoor Al Qasimi (UAE)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Bkerzay (Lebanon)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Raya Ani (Iraq)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Women’s Programs Association (Lebanon)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Osamah Al Thini (Libya)
Excellence in Education: World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) (Qatar)
Outstanding Arab Woman: Balghis Badri (Sudan)
Scientific and Technological Achievement: Mohamed Slim Alouini (KSA)
Young Entrepreneur: Omar Itani (Lebanon)
Lifetime Achievement: Suad Al Amiry (Palestine)
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
More coverage from the Future Forum
More on Quran memorisation:
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
Company%20profile%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYodawy%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Egypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKarim%20Khashaba%2C%20Sherief%20El-Feky%20and%20Yasser%20AbdelGawad%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHealthTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2424.5%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlgebra%20Ventures%2C%20Global%20Ventures%2C%20MEVP%20and%20Delivery%20Hero%20Ventures%2C%20among%20others%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20500%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2
Vinicius Junior (71') Mariano (90 2')
Barcelona 0
Past winners of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
2016 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
2014 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2013 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2012 Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)
2011 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2010 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2009 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
The biog
Place of birth: Kalba
Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren
Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken
Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah
Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”
The five types of long-term residential visas
Obed Suhail of ServiceMarket, an online home services marketplace, outlines the five types of long-term residential visas:
Investors:
A 10-year residency visa can be obtained by investors who invest Dh10 million, out of which 60 per cent should not be in real estate. It can be a public investment through a deposit or in a business. Those who invest Dh5 million or more in property are eligible for a five-year residency visa. The invested amount should be completely owned by the investors, not loaned, and retained for at least three years.
Entrepreneurs:
A five-year multiple entry visa is available to entrepreneurs with a previous project worth Dh0.5m or those with the approval of an accredited business incubator in the UAE.
Specialists
Expats with specialised talents, including doctors, specialists, scientists, inventors, and creative individuals working in the field of culture and art are eligible for a 10-year visa, given that they have a valid employment contract in one of these fields in the country.
Outstanding students:
A five-year visa will be granted to outstanding students who have a grade of 95 per cent or higher in a secondary school, or those who graduate with a GPA of 3.75 from a university.
Retirees:
Expats who are at least 55 years old can obtain a five-year retirement visa if they invest Dh2m in property, have savings of Dh1m or more, or have a monthly income of at least Dh20,000.
The specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed PDK
Power: 630bhp
Torque: 820Nm
Price: Dh683,200
On sale: now
