The International Rugby Board's (IRB) frustration at the lack of Arab nationals playing rugby was crucial to their decision to disband the Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union (AGRFU).
The ruling body's intention to divide the union, which is run from Dubai and includes the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait as full members, has been known for some years.
The fact the area is represented by a regional - not a national - side sat uneasily with the IRB.
The make-up of the union was originally sanctioned for the purposes of developing each member to the point where they could become self-sufficient.
Two years ago, the union reviewed their development and decided: "To establish within the region self-sustaining individual nations playing rugby at all levels of the game."
While the game thrives in the main expat centres, such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the number of nationals playing the game is too small for the IRB's liking.
Following an audit 12 months ago, the game's rulers advised the union to review the image of the game, and in particular assess whether "the stigma of alcohol is an issue stunting development".
The progress on that count is understood to have been too tardy for their liking.
They are lobbying the International Olympic Committee to get rugby sevens accepted into the Games, and more Arab participation would bolster the perception of it being a global sport.
As such, the IRB Council approved a plan last week to devolve the AGRFU and empower each of its member countries to spread the game.
The union requested that the vote be deferred until next May, after the Rugby Sevens World Cup has taken place in Dubai, but that request was rebuffed.
The Arabian Gulf are likely to play their final representative rugby at the 2010 Dubai Sevens, after which their place will be taken by a new UAE national rugby team.
Rugby is booming in the UAE but clubs from the other member countries are incensed at the IRB's decision.
Karl Sutcliffe, the captain of Oman's main club, Muscat, said: "It would be detrimental. I don't think many of the countries would be able to put out a side in international rugby."
Taif al Delamie, an Omani national who is affiliated to Muscat, was the only Arab to play for the Gulf in the Dubai Rugby Sevens last weekend.
pradley@thenational.ae
The Kingfisher Secret
Anonymous, Penguin Books
Day 3, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage, the Sri Lanka pace bowler, has had to play a lot of cricket to earn a shot at the top level. The 29-year-old debutant first played a first-class game 11 years ago. His first Test wicket was one to savour, bowling Pakistan opener Shan Masood through the gate. It set the rot in motion for Pakistan’s batting.
Stat of the day – 73 Haris Sohail took 73 balls to hit a boundary. Which is a peculiar quirk, given the aggressive intent he showed from the off. Pakistan’s batsmen were implored to attack Rangana Herath after their implosion against his left-arm spin in Abu Dhabi. Haris did his best to oblige, smacking the second ball he faced for a huge straight six.
The verdict One year ago, when Pakistan played their first day-night Test at this ground, they held a 222-run lead over West Indies on first innings. The away side still pushed their hosts relatively close on the final night. With the opposite almost exactly the case this time around, Pakistan still have to hope they can salvage a win from somewhere.
RESULTS
Argentina 4 Haiti 0
Peru 2 Scotland 0
Panama 0 Northern Ireland 0
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
HIV on the rise in the region
A 2019 United Nations special analysis on Aids reveals 37 per cent of new HIV infections in the Mena region are from people injecting drugs.
New HIV infections have also risen by 29 per cent in western Europe and Asia, and by 7 per cent in Latin America, but declined elsewhere.
Egypt has shown the highest increase in recorded cases of HIV since 2010, up by 196 per cent.
Access to HIV testing, treatment and care in the region is well below the global average.
Few statistics have been published on the number of cases in the UAE, although a UNAIDS report said 1.5 per cent of the prison population has the virus.
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
