The UAE women’s team are planning to tour Israel in August as ties between the rugby unions of the two countries continue to strengthen.
Israel's Olympic sevens side beat an all-Emirati UAE side at Dubai Sports City on Friday night, as the teams competed for the Abraham Accord Friendship Cup for the first time.
After that fixture, the players split into two mixed teams, known as Israel-UAE Blues and UAE-Israel Whites.
Above the numbers on the back of the players’ shirts was written the word “peace” in English, Arabic and Hebrew.
The respective unions hope exchange tours will become a regular feature of the relationship between them, with the next engagement being a fixture in Tel Aviv later this summer involving their women’s sides.
“This match was a celebration of the Abraham Accord, and it is a beginning of a sports agreement with the Israeli Rugby federation,” said Mohammed Al Zaabi, a UAE Rugby Federation board member.
“The match came at the end of the rugby season in the UAE, and we also hope next August to hold a match for the women’s team in Tel Aviv.”
Al Zaabi believes the two sides created lasting memories with the fixture on Friday.
“We are very proud because the match was not about winning, it was all about the exchange of experiences,” Al Zaabi said.
“I’m very happy that I have been part of this accord, even on the part of rugby. Sport is always a good way of peace. It is a special moment that will remain stuck in the memory of the whole world.”
Ahead of the game, Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin addressed the two sides in a video message saying “shalom and salaam”.
“This initiative, a joint rugby training camp, is a wonderful expression of the new spirit of people to people peace, following the historic Abraham Accords,” he said.
“While leaders may sign agreements, true peace requires people on both sides to build bonds of friendship and cooperation in every arena.
“A game like rugby is an excellent way to build bridges across cultures, religions and nationalities. Congratulations on this groundbreaking initiative.”
Offer Fabian, the president of the Israel rugby federation, said fixture played between mixed sides in Dubai was a “true message of peace”.
“You are looking at the field and you don’t see two countries,” Fabian said. “You see two teams, because each team is composed of players from both countries.
“It was important for us and our friends here in the Emirates that, not only do we play against each other, but we play with each other. We have players from both teams playing together, and this is the true message of peace.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
BOSH!'s pantry essentials
Nutritional yeast
This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.
Seeds
"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."
Umami flavours
"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".
Onions and garlic
"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."
Your grain of choice
Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
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
MATCH INFO
Liverpool 2 (Van Dijk 18', 24')
Brighton 1 (Dunk 79')
Red card: Alisson (Liverpool)
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