RAS AL KHAIMAH // There is a close-knit community of Greeks living in the Northern Emirates, and they jump at any excuse to get together for a celebration, especially when football is involved.
“I don’t think anyone will be watching the matches alone,” said Dia Chatzidimou. “We’ll be all getting together to watch them, having a barbecue with the pregame show. It will be a social event for all of us, even those who know nothing about football.”
The beautiful game has always been popular in Greece but that popularity went through the roof when the national team won the Euro 2004 championships, and while fans do not expect the same success in the World Cup, any victory will be celebrated in raucous Greek style. “There will be plate breaking if we win, we may even need to remodel the house,” said the marine biologist. “I think if we win a game our neighbours may evict us from all the noise we’ll make.”
Theo Sarvanis, 35, a mechanical engineer, said: “All Greeks started loving football after we beat France in the 2004 UEFA European Championship semi-final. Every time before that we expected to lose. After the France game we learnt how to hope to win.
“This year we’ve been doing well in other competitions, so we know we have a good team. Colombia is our toughest match in the group. I’m hoping we can take second place in the group and continue on to the second round.”
Ms Chatzidimou said: “There are a number of Greek companies here. After the financial crisis, more people came to the UAE to open businesses and find jobs. Greek business is booming here in the UAE.”
She is preparing a barbecue banquet for the team’s first match against Columbia tonight, and she expects all her Greek friends to be in attendance.
“The community here is just starting to grow, so we are not organised yet for community events. Many of us work long hours, so it’s tough to find time,” Ms Chatzidimou said.
“But they have had a few events in Dubai. Earlier this month the Greek theatre was in Dubai with Greek actors, and they also have a Greek school there. More things are coming, I’m sure.”
For Greece to have a good performance at the World Cup, the team needs three things, said George Ioannidis. “Quality teamwork, luck and the gods must be asleep.”
Greek fans do not have fond memories of the World Cup.
In 1994’s tournament the team lost all three qualification matches, losing 4-0 to Argentina, 4-0 to Bulgaria and 2-0 to Nigeria before being sent home.
However, now the team is ranked 12th in the world and the fans, at least, believe there is nothing to lose.
Thomas Rozis is hopeful the team can reignite the spirit of 2004’s famous victory. “In 2004 we deserved to win,” said Mr Rozis, 57, a mechanical foreman.
“We played well, we played smart. The other teams were traditionally and statistically better, but our players had great teamwork and played their hearts out. And how we say, ‘we cleaned the other teams like eggs’.
“We don’t really have a tradition of football, like Brazil, Colombia, Germany, or Argentina, where they have big schools of football and have a lot of expectations, too – like we have a lot of expectation from our basketball teams. But we are stubborn, we try our best and play well.”
Charis Meintanis, a 30-year-old financial manager, believes the Greek mentality of supporting the underdog could play to their advantage in Brazil.
“That has always been our motivation. Winning the European championship in 2004, the celebrations were very much like the National Day celebrations here,” he said.
“Everyone takes to the streets with lots of flag-waving, painted faces, flares. Many people rode out on horses painted in the national colours. But this happens once every 1,000 years for us.”
Even if their own expectations are low, Greeks in the UAE plan to win over football fans with their passion for the game.
MATCH INFO
Qalandars 109-3 (10ovs)
Salt 30, Malan 24, Trego 23, Jayasuriya 2-14
Bangla Tigers (9.4ovs)
Fletcher 52, Rossouw 31
Bangla Tigers win by six wickets
MATCH INFO
Championship play-offs, second legs:
Aston Villa 0
Middlesbrough 0
(Aston Villa advance 1-0 on aggregate)
Fulham 2
Sessegnon (47'), Odoi (66')
Derby County 0
(Fulham advance 2-1 on aggregate)
Final
Saturday, May 26, Wembley. Kick off 8pm (UAE)
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Dubai World Cup Carnival card
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group 1 (PA) US$75,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
7.05pm: Al Rashidiya Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (Turf) 1,800m
7.40pm: Meydan Cup Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,810m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
9.25pm: Al Shindagha Sprint Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
10pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m
The National selections:
6.30pm - Ziyadd; 7.05pm - Barney Roy; 7.40pm - Dee Ex Bee; 8.15pm - Dubai Legacy; 8.50pm - Good Fortune; 9.25pm - Drafted; 10pm - Simsir
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 4 (Gundogan 8' (P), Bernardo Silva 19', Jesus 72', 75')
Fulham 0
Red cards: Tim Ream (Fulham)
Man of the Match: Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City)
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, second leg:
Liverpool (0) v Barcelona (3), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Game is on BeIN Sports
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.
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The Cairo Statement
1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations
2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred
3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC
4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.
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6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security
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What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
