The Asian Cup 2023 final on Saturday will be one for the history books.
Defending champions Qatar are set to face underdogs Jordan, who secured their place in the final for the first time in the tournament's history earlier this week.
The match will be hosted at the 88,000-capacity Lusail Stadium, where the Fifa World Cup 2022 final was played. With its design inspired by motifs on bowls and vessels found across the Arab and Islamic world, the stadium is the biggest in Qatar and one of the largest in Asia.
Can you still book tickets for the Qatar-Jordan match?
While tickets are still available through the official Asian Cup website, the waiting list is long and waits can last hours.
Tickets are also available on the aftermarket but at exorbitant prices, many starting at Dh2,000. The AFC Asian Cup encourages football fans to only purchase tickets via the official website asiancup2023.qa.
Tickets to Lusail Stadium's hospitality suites, starting at $4,500, have all sold out.
But those who can't make it inside the stadium can still enjoy all the action from nearby. The Lusail Stadium Fan Zone next to the venue is open to everyone. Here, fans can gather to watch the match on giant screens, soak in the Qatari culture and enjoy food, games and football-themed activities. There will also be live music performances and interactive games for the entire family.
Where is Lusail Stadium?
Lusail City is located 20km north of central Doha. This is where you'll find the Lusail Stadium, one of Qatar's crown jewels in sporting history. Built for the Fifa World Cup 2022, the stadium has been repurposed for public use and will play host to the historic match between Qatar and Jordan.
The best way to get to the stadium is via the Doha Metro. The Red Line, which also runs through the Hamad International Airport, goes directly to the Lusail QND Station.
Match ticket holders get complimentary travel on match days by collecting their Free Day Pass, which they can also use to explore the city.
Karwa is the official taxi service company in Qatar. You can easily spot them by their logos and turquoise-coloured vehicles. You can book these services in advance through the Karwa Taxi app or by calling the toll free number +974 800 8294. Most cars offer credit or debit card payment facilities as well as facilities for passengers with disabilities.
For those driving, car parks next to the stadium open four hours before match kick-off and close two hours after the final whistle.
Flights to Doha
There are plenty of flights to Doha from across the GCC. However, prices have increased for flights on Saturday, match day. Return flights on Qatar Airways from Dubai to Doha start at Dh1,750 on Thursday, but on Saturday, they cost upwards of Dh2,500.
Return tickets on flydubai are also available, starting at Dh1,800. On AirArabia, return flights between Sharjah and Doha start at Dh890.
Royal Jordanian also flies between Amman and Doha, with return flights starting at Dh1,970.
Driving to Doha from the UAE
Road access to Qatar traverses the Abu Samra land border with Saudi Arabia.
It is possible to drive the 695km desert route from Dubai to the Qatar border or 588km from Abu Dhabi, if in possession of entry visas, insurance and driving permits for Saudi Arabia and Qatar. It should take about seven hours.
Fans travelling by road also need their approved Hayya card to enter Qatar, as well as any other immigration documents.
Staying in Doha
To enter Qatar, all travellers must possess either a printed PDF document of the entry e-Visa or the Hayya App. While GCC citizens can enter Qatar freely, GCC residents of other nationalities can apply for Hayya Entry e-Visas.
The official Asian Cup website lists a number of hotels, many of them in downtown Doha, to suit all budgets. But bear in mind that availability for many rooms are now marked “low”.
Options range from the Swiss-Belinn Doha Hotel, which costs $97 per night, to The St Regis Marsa Arabia Island, Pearl, at $434 per night. There's also the striking Century Marina Hotel in Lusail City, which costs $347 per night.
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Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
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UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Adele: The Stories Behind The Songs
Caroline Sullivan
Carlton Books
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
UAE finals day
Friday, April 13
Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
3pm, UAE Conference: Dubai Tigers v Sharjah Wanderers
6.30pm, UAE Premiership: Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Du Football Champions
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
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THE BIO: Mohammed Ashiq Ali
Proudest achievement: “I came to a new country and started this shop”
Favourite TV programme: the news
Favourite place in Dubai: Al Fahidi. “They started the metro in 2009 and I didn’t take it yet.”
Family: six sons in Dubai and a daughter in Faisalabad
Company%C2%A0profile
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A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
