Hundreds of Iraqi football fans gathered in Dubai’s coffee shops on Thursday night to watch their national team win 3-2 in the Arabian Gulf Cup against Oman.
When the final whistle blew, celebrations erupted into the streets of Jumeirah with dancing, flag waving, and shouts of "long live Iraq" ringing out into the air.
But according to some celebrators, it was never about the silverwear.
“The real victory for Iraqis was not about carrying the trophy," Mustafa Al Baldawi, 44, an Iraqi resident in Dubai, told The National.
"It is for the successful host of the cup [plus it] reduces the gap between Iraq and Gulf neighbours."
Thousands of GCC residents poured into Iraq to watch the game for the first time since 1979, which Mr Al Baldawi believes helped Arabs embrace Iraq again.
“We witnessed a great joy and a new strong bond between Iraq and the Gulf region. Seeing our brothers and sisters in Basra is the real joy for us. Iraq and the Gulf are one family,” he said.
Munaf Al Taee, 45, was among the Iraqi fans gathered to watch the match in a restaurant in Jumeirah.
When the game was won, Al Taee said a traditional Iraqi band with drums and trumpet started to play songs from home.
“The cup was a recovery as a footballing nation," Mr Al Taee told The National.
"Iraq is hosting the biennial regional competition for the first time in more than four decades after enduring wars, diplomatic isolation and instability.
“Hosting more than 500,000 football spectators in all matches proves Iraq is on the right track of recovery despite some flaws. Iraqis are close to the Gulf region, but in this cup we felt that we became closer.”
Due to security concerns, Iraq has played only two football World Cup qualifiers at home since the US-led invasion in 2003. One against Jordan, in 2011 in the northern city of Erbil, and the second against Hong Kong in Basra eight years later.
All other competitive games involving the national team have been played in the neighbouring countries such as Jordan, Qatar and the UAE.
Ali Adil, a Dubai-based resident said Iraqis needed to host this cup to put Iraq back on the map for something positive.
“I was hoping that hosting the cup would turn a new page in the Iraq's troubled history," he told The National.
"It represents a crucial step towards full national recovery as it will attract tourists and investment when they see how safe Iraq has become."
The eight-team tournament kicked off on January 6, bringing together teams from Iraq, Yemen and the six GCC states — the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar.
It was the first time hosts Iraq have won the Gulf Cup for the first time since 1988 but the triumph was marred by a deadly crush outside the Basra International Stadium that killed at least two people and injured dozens.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
Results
STAGE
1 . Filippo Ganna (Ineos) - 0:13:56
2. Stefan Bissegger (Education-Nippo) - 0:00:14
3. Mikkel Bjerg (UAE Team Emirates) - 0:00:21
4. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) - 0:00:24
5. Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) - 0:00:30
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) - 4:00:05
2. Joao Almeida (QuickStep) - 0:00:05
3. Mattia Cattaneo (QuickStep) - 0:00:18
4. Chris Harper (Jumbo-Visma) - 0:00:33
5. Adam Yates (Ineos) - 0:00:39
Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
