Dubai has become a favourite with international football clubs when choosing destinations for their warm-weather training in the winter.
The trend dates back at least 20 years, when German football club Bayern Munich were invited to the city by Dubai’s tourism authority.
The six-time Champions League winners arrived on January 6, 2004 for five days of training sessions and friendly matches.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, who was 21 years old at the time, attended one of the team’s training sessions.
Sporting a Bayern Munich top with German-Turkish player Mehmet Scholl’s name on the back, Sheikh Hamdan trained with the team and met club officials.
At the time, Bayer Munich’s team was packed with names now considered legends of the game, including Oliver Kahn, then aged 34 and the team's captain.
Also on the trip were German midfielder Michael Ballack, two years before of his move to Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea Football Club, Peruvian player Claudio Pizarro, French left-back Bixente Lizarazu and Canada's Owen Hargreaves.
The club trained at Rashid Stadium which was Al Ahli’s ground at the time. Al Ahli have since been merged with Al Shabab and Dubai FC to become Shabab Al Ahli Club.
Bayern Munich faced second division Bundesliga side FC Energie Cottbus in a friendly match during their Dubai camp.
Warm weather training in the UAE
Warm-weather training has become a seasonal staple for some of the biggest teams in Europe. Every year, teams arrive in Dubai and Abu Dhabi to train together in the sun, as well as relax and bond away from the pressure of the season.
Speaking to Bein Sports in December, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola confirmed that his team would return to the UAE capital for a camp.
“We go there to train in better weather, to be together – training, training and training to prepare for the second part of the season,” he said.
The Spanish manager also credited last year’s camp for being a positive factor in the team’s treble-winning season, saying: “Last season we were there in the World Cup, and it had an incredible impact for the staff and everyone. The five titles [we won] prove it.”
English Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, Newcastle and Arsenal, have all made regular long stops in the country in January to unwind and train ahead of the second half of the season. North London team Arsenal began its latest warm-weather stint in Dubai on Tuesday and will be training in the emirate until January 16.
"We have regularly travelled to Dubai over the past few years during the chilly British winters seeking training conditions in warm weather, and this year’s opportunity provides the squad with the chance to work hard together ahead of the second half of the campaign," according to an Arsenal team statement.
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Engine: 937cc
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
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Cape Town Sevens on Saturday and Sunday: Pools A – South Africa, Kenya, France, Russia; B – New Zealand, Australia, Spain, United States; C – England, Scotland, Argentina, Uganda; D – Fiji, Samoa, Canada, Wales
HSBC World Sevens Series standing after first leg in Dubai 1 South Africa; 2 New Zealand; 3 England; 4 Fiji; 5 Australia; 6 Samoa; 7 Kenya; 8 Scotland; 9 France; 10 Spain; 11 Argentina; 12 Canada; 13 Wales; 14 Uganda; 15 United States; 16 Russia
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Teaching your child to save
Pre-school (three - five years)
You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.
Early childhood (six - eight years)
Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.
Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)
Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.
Young teens (12 - 14 years)
Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.
Teenage (15 - 18 years)
Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.
Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)
Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.
* JP Morgan Private Bank
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Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
