The Khalifa International Stadium in Doha is one of the venues for the 2022 World Cup. Matthew Ashton / Getty Images
The Khalifa International Stadium in Doha is one of the venues for the 2022 World Cup. Matthew Ashton / Getty Images
The Khalifa International Stadium in Doha is one of the venues for the 2022 World Cup. Matthew Ashton / Getty Images
The Khalifa International Stadium in Doha is one of the venues for the 2022 World Cup. Matthew Ashton / Getty Images

Gargash: Qatar's hosting of 2022 World Cup should include rejection of terrorism


John Dennehy
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Dr Anwar Gargash has said Qatar's hosting of the 2022 World Cup should include a repudiation of terrorism and extremism.

In a series of tweets posted on Tuesday, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said Qatar must review its policies.

"Hosting World Cup 2022 should not be tainted by support of extremist individuals [and] orgs/terrorist figures," he tweeted.

The UAE, along with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt cut travel, trade and diplomatic links with the country on June 5 over concerns that Qatar is funding terrorism.

Dr Gargash added that if this review was done only for the sake of the quartet, then it was not sufficient and there must be an international commitment from the country.

The intervention comes after a report warned that there was a real possibility that Qatar may not host the tournament at all. Published by management consultants Cornerstone Global, Qatar in focus: Is the Fifa World Cup 2022 in danger? stated that many western diplomats had privately expressed their doubts about Qatar hosting the tournament.

"The reasons for this are many and include open allegations of corruption — both in the bidding process and in the infrastructure development," the report said.

"Given the current political situation … it is certainly possible that the tournament will not be held in Qatar. Any cancellation of Qatar hosting the World Cup 2022 will likely be abrupt and will leave contractors involved in a precarious situation that may not be easily resolved."

Qatar then accused the authors of being linked to the quartet but this was rejected by Ghanem Nuseibeh, founder of Cornerstone Global and a visiting fellow at King's College, London.

Ever since Qatar was awarded the 2022 World Cup in December 2010, it has been dogged by controversy - from the bid process to workers rights to switching the tournament to the winter.

Just this September, Human Rights Watch said Qatar should act to protect the rights of 800,000 migrant construction labourers.

"The Qatari authorities' failure to put in place the most basic protection from the heat, their decision to ignore recommendations that they investigate worker deaths, and their refusal to release data on these deaths, constitutes a wilful abdication of responsibility," said report author Nicholas McGeehan.

Dr Gargash has previously said that dialogue was the only way forward in ending the crisis but this could only happen when Doha shows an honest desire to come to the table.

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Read more:

Report raises doubts about whether Qatar will be able to host 2022 World Cup 

Qatar and Fifa urged to protect 800,000 workers from desert heat

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What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

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Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

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Biog

Age: 50

Known as the UAE’s strongest man

Favourite dish: “Everything and sea food”

Hobbies: Drawing, basketball and poetry

Favourite car: Any classic car

Favourite superhero: The Hulk original

WOMAN AND CHILD

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Rating: 4/5

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

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Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000