The World Skate Tour has landed in the UAE for the second consecutive year with back-to-back events happening until March 10.
The adrenaline-filled Street and Park Pro Tour is underway at a new skate park arena built by Arada - a leading real estate company and UAE-based master developer, it is hosting the sporting spectacle with World Skate in partnership with Shamal Holding, owner of Dubai Harbour, in collaboration with Dubai Sports Council and Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism.
First heats commenced yesterday (February 25), further underlining the sport’s place in the UAE after Sharjah’s successful hosting of the World Skate Tour in 2023, and Arada’s role in the evolving skating community.
In a limited time, the developer built a world-class venue for the Street Pro Tour Stop, which runs until March 3, followed by the Park Pro Tour Stop, on until March 10.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairman of DSC, the 2024 Tour events hold unparalleled significance for the world’s greatest male and female skateboarders; not only are they competing for the title of world’s best, each competition will serve as a pivotal qualifier for the Olympic Games, in Paris this summer.
Dr Ray Tinston, Arada’s events director, says spectators will witness exiting and future Olympic medallists in action at its “top-notch” C-Class (Championship Class) Park and Street venues.
“We strive to deliver events that not only showcase the prowess of the UAE but also become a source of pride for the nation,” he tells The National.
“With a live broadcast reaching audiences worldwide, we aim to spotlight the beauty of the destination while emphasising Dubai and the UAE’s prowess in organising world-class events.”
For residents and visitors, this marks a fantastic opportunity to witness some of the best in one of the world’s fastest-growing sports.
Sabatino Aracu, World Skate president, describes the “great sporting city of Dubai” as the perfect backdrop for two weeks of “truly world-class competition”.
“Local fans will have a unique opportunity to see the planet’s top professionals up close,” he says. “As the Road to Paris 2024 draws to a close, these two events provide the last opportunity to secure ranking points to qualify for the Olympics, so we expect competition will be intense.”
As well as the 500-plus elite athletes from various countries, organisers expect more than 3,500 people from outside the UAE representing competitors, their
coaches, families, and organisers from World Skate, as well as international media representatives covering and broadcasting the event globally.
Dr Ray says the competition includes participation from more nations than ever.
“We’ve meticulously crafted a world-class park in one of Dubai’s most exciting destinations and the best men and women skateboarders in the world are here, including medallists from the first Olympic Games in Tokyo.
“It is certain that we will be watching the Paris Olympic medal winners in action and what a privilege to see them live in the UAE while the rest of the world watches online.
“These two events hold a special significance within the World Skateboarding Tour, serving as a defining benchmark for the entire tour.”
Dr Ray’s career has taken him across the world, organising events across various verticals, and landing him in the UAE in 2008.
He says skateboarding and its community “radiate a unique energy and camaraderie”, ranking it among the top three fastest-growing sports globally. “Having rarely witnessed such passion in my career, I am captivated by the athleticism, skill, and electric atmosphere that skateboarding brings…whether witnessed live or through broadcast, the experience is truly mesmerising.”
And this latest fortnight of competition further cements Arada’s growing role in that skating community, having first secured the 2023 World Skate World Championships for Park and Street for its Aljada Skate Park, in Sharjah.
“The resounding feedback from the entire skateboarding community was nothing short of remarkable,” says Dr Ray of that iteration.
“We were told that our hosting efforts not only elevated the sport but also marked those events as the pinnacle of skateboarding history - a monumental compliment from both the community and our esteemed partners, World Skate and their Skateboarding Tour.
“At the Dubai Harbour Skate Park, we have once again set a new standard. What we’ve accomplished transcends the boundaries of the World Skateboarding Tour, propelling the UAE to the forefront of one of the fastest-growing sports on the planet.
“Our commitment to excellence and the relentless pursuit of pushing the limits have solidified our position as a key player in the global skateboarding landscape.”
Arada was founded in 2017 by HH Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, chairman of Basma Group, and HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal, founding chairman of KBW Investments, with the intention of delivering superior properties to the UAE real estate segment.
It has swiftly become renowned for a commitment to excellence, based on a vision to redefine urban living with vibrant and inclusive communities “offering amenities and facilities that foster social interaction, wellness, and a sense of belonging among residents”.
Arada says it incorporates innovative design concepts and architectural elements into its developments, while being committed to sustainability, implementing green building practices and environmentally-friendly features in its projects, beside quality craftsmanship.
World Skate, meanwhile, serves as the premier authority and youth-orientated international governing body on all aspects of roller sports, including governance, competition, and development.
Formerly known as the International Roller Sports Federation (FIRS), it was rebranded in 2017 to reflect its progressive broader focus and remains committed to promoting inclusivity and diversity within roller sports, welcoming athletes of all ages, genders, backgrounds, and abilities to participate and compete.
In embracing innovation and adaptability to keep pace with the evolving landscape of sports and entertainment, World Skate places strong emphasis on youth engagement, recognising the importance of nurturing the next generation of athletes and enthusiasts and maintaining a presence in numerous regions around the world.
Arada’s staging of World Skate’s premium competition fits well with Dubai’s role as a dynamic destination “where the spirit of competition comes alive” and ensures the city takes “centre stage in the grand performance of sports” while delivering a vision for a healthy and inspired country.
So where does Arada’s role in the skate community, a key part of youth culture and a sport driven by creativity, freedom and expression, manifest beyond these events?
Dr Ray says it is “elevating the journey to the podium” as the final destination before the Olympics, but is also a “legacy driver” for the UAE’s fastest growing sport.
“We believe in long-term partnerships and we invest in our communities, not just the built environment but the people who live, work and play there,” he says.
“We have some of the best facilities for skateboarding in the world and our long-term partnership with World Skate is beginning to yield benefits for our communities and the wider UAE. We look forward to a long and healthy partnership with athletes, families, federations, and partners in the skateboarding family.”
He continues: “In this Olympic year, our qualifying events have successfully drawn the participation of the finest athletes in the sport... the eyes of the world will be on us, and we are poised to demonstrate Dubai and the UAE’s capacity to host events of the highest calibre.
“These events have the potential to redefine how the world views a place, its people, and its ability to host events on an unprecedented scale. I firmly believe the standards set at the events in Dubai will mark the inception of a new chapter, not only for the UAE but for the wider GCC.
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Volunteers offer workers a lifeline
Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.
When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.
Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.
Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.
“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.
Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.
“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.
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A lesson in simple, seasonal eating. Wedges of tomato, chunks of cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, coriander or parsley leaves, and perhaps some fresh dill are drizzled with a crushed walnut and garlic dressing. Do consider yourself warned: if you eat this salad in Georgia during the summer months, the tomatoes will be so ripe and flavourful that every tomato you eat from that day forth will taste lacklustre in comparison.
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A delicious vegetarian snack or starter. It consists of thinly sliced, fried then cooled aubergine smothered with a thick and creamy walnut sauce and folded or rolled. Take note, even though it seems like you should be able to pick these morsels up with your hands, they’re not as durable as they look. A knife and fork is the way to go.
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This healthy little dish (a nice antidote to the khachapuri) is usually made with steamed then chopped cabbage, spinach, beetroot or green beans, combined with walnuts, garlic and herbs to make a vegetable pâté or paste. The mix is then often formed into rounds, chilled in the fridge and topped with pomegranate seeds before being served.
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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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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Emiratisation at work
Emiratisation was introduced in the UAE more than 10 years ago
It aims to boost the number of citizens in the workforce particularly in the private sector.
Growing the number of Emiratis in the workplace will help the UAE reduce dependence on overseas workers
The Cabinet in December last year, approved a national fund for Emirati jobseekers and guaranteed citizens working in the private sector a comparable pension
President Sheikh Khalifa has described Emiratisation as “a true measure for success”.
During the UAE’s 48th National Day, Sheikh Khalifa named education, entrepreneurship, Emiratisation and space travel among cornerstones of national development
More than 80 per cent of Emiratis work in the federal or local government as per 2017 statistics
The Emiratisation programme includes the creation of 20,000 new jobs for UAE citizens
UAE citizens will be given priority in managerial positions in the government sphere
The purpose is to raise the contribution of UAE nationals in the job market and create a diverse workforce of citizens
