Mohammed bin Rashid receives Shabab Al Ahli Football Club following four-trophy season
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, received Shabab Al Ahli football team at Zabeel Palace in recognition of their outstanding performance during the 2024–2025 sports season, in which they secured four titles.
His Highness congratulated the players, technical and administrative staff, as well as board members on a season crowned with multiple achievements. The reception was attended by H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai.
His Highness said that the sports sector is essential to the UAE's development strategy, contributing to human progress and strengthening the country's position internationally. He emphasised that the leadership's continued support for the sector reflects a strong belief in sport to nurture role models, instil values, and shape a confident, ambitious generation.
Sheikh Mohammed also reaffirmed the leadership's support for athletes and clubs to help them excel on the global stage. He stressed that sports clubs should serve as platforms for developing champions, both in term skill and character.
Addressing the players, His Highness commended their determination and team spirit, noting that while reaching first place is a significant achievement, maintaining that position is the greater challenge. His Highness joined members of the team for a commemorative photo, encouraging them to sustain their high performance and expressing confidence in their ability to proudly represent the UAE in the upcoming competitions.
The reception was also attended by Khalifa Saeed bin Sulaiman, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai Club.
The Dubai-based team clinched 4 titles with a commanding performance throughout the season, including their ninth UAE Pro League championship, UAE President's Cup for the 11th time, the UAE Super Cup, and the UAE-Qatar Super Cup.
Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
28 minutes ago
- The National
Evangelical interfaith advocate who advises Trump named head of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation
Johnnie Moore, an evangelical leader and businessman, has been appointed head of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the organisation said in a statement on Tuesday. Mr Moore, an adviser to President Donald Trump on interfaith issues, replaces Jake Wood, who left the top position at the foundation last week. Mr Wood said in a statement that he felt compelled to leave after determining the organisation could not fulfil its mission. 'GHF believes that serving the people of Gaza with dignity and compassion must be the top priority," he said in a statement. He is the founder and chief executive of the boutique communications consultancy Kairos Company and president of the Congress of Christian Leaders. He has been active in interfaith dialogue, and was involved in the drafting of the 2017 Bahrain Declaration on Religious Freedom and Peaceful Coexistence in the Middle East. According to his biography on the Kairos website, Mr Moore is a "noted evangelical friend" of Israel and has met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as various Palestinian government and civil society leaders. He also played "a significant role" in the development of the Abraham Accords, the biography says. John Acree, the acting director of the GHF, said Mr Moore has "a proven record of principled leadership and hands-on humanitarian work". Mr Moore has praised the GHF on social media since its foundation, most recently lauding it for the development of a "women only" lane at aid distribution sites. He also posted on X that he had "several really encouraging meetings" with the International Committee of the Red Cross, though they don't "always see eye to eye". In another post, he called reports of violence at GHF-run aid distribution sites a lie "spread by terrorists". There have been several reports of violence at distribution sites in the days since the GHF began operations. On Tuesday, 27 people were killed and 90 wounded when Israeli troops opened fire in the area, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The Israeli military said on social media it had fired shots near an aid distribution complex after "identifying a number of suspects moving towards forces". Both Israel and the US have denied or played down reports of violence. 'We welcome others to join us and urge extreme caution against sharing unverified information from sources that have repeatedly issued demonstrably false reports,' Mr Moore said in the statement. On social media, Mr Moore has drawn a connection between the so-called false reports and anti-Semitic violence in the US, particularly an attack on a Jewish group gathered in a park in Colorado. The National has contacted Mr Moore for comment. The GHF has faced criticism from the UN and humanitarian groups that have traditionally operated in the enclave. The news comes after a leading US consulting firm reportedly pulled out of the GHF last week. The Washington Post said that Boston Consulting Group had been hired last autumn to help design the programme and run its business operations, but that it withdrew its team operating in Tel Aviv on Friday. A representative for the firm said the company had terminated its contract with the GHF and placed a senior partner on the project on leave, pending an internal review. The representative added that all the firm's work with the foundation was "pro bono". Boston Consulting Group set the prices for paying and equipping contractors associated with the foundation working to distribute aid in southern Gaza, the Post said.
Khaleej Times
38 minutes ago
- Khaleej Times
Look: Dubai homes, cafes transform into mini stadiums for IPL finals
Cricket fever swept through Dubai on Tuesday evening as residents transformed their homes into lively mini stadiums to watch the thrilling IPL finals. With massive screens, themed decor, and an atmosphere charged with excitement, families, friends, and colleagues gathered to celebrate the culmination of two months of intense cricket action. One of the standout celebrations was hosted by Dubai businessman Anis Sajan, vice chairman at Danube Group, who turned his home into a stadium-like setting for the IPL finals screening. With a massive screen and IPL-themed decor reflecting the spirit of the game, Sajan welcomed guests, including family and colleagues, to cheer on their favorite teams. The energy was palpable, with spectators jumping to their feet for every boundary and wicket. RCB fans, in particular, rallied behind their star player, Virat Kohli, while supporters of Punjab added to the friendly banter. 'IPL is like a celebration of a festival, and that too for two months. In this continuous celebration, we have to celebrate grandly in Dubai. When it comes to RCB, they are my favourites, and the reason is Virat Kohli,' said Sajan, who is also known as Mr Cricket UAE. 'We had great enthusiasm among the spectators at home today, some rooting for RCB, while others rooted for Punjab. Whichever team wins doesn't matter. Cricket wins at the end of the day," he added. Sattar Ahmed, one of the guests, said, 'Watching the match here felt like being in the stadium itself. Everyone was on their feet for every six and wicket. 'The energy is always next level. You don't just watch the match, you feel every moment of it when we watch it together,' he added. Cafes, restaurants see heavy crowd While private screenings lit up homes across the city, public venues were no less charged. Cafes and restaurants across Dubai, especially in popular spots like Tecom, Jumeirah, and Karama, reported full houses, with many patrons having made reservations days in advance. At Fisherman's Hub in Tecom, the mood was nothing short of electrifying. 'It felt like a mini stadium here. We are all rooting for RCB as we all have lived in Bangalore for a long time,' said Suraj, who watched the match with his friends. 'The place was packed, and every time a six was hit, the entire cafe erupted in cheers.' 'It's a weekday, and we all have our engagements. But we had decided to watch the match at a sports bar or a cafe. I am so glad we made it, and we are having a good time together after ages,' added Suraj. Meanwhile, Mariam Mustafa, a mother of two from Delhi, shared her excitement after watching the game at Moon Mood Cafe in Oud Metha. She came with extended family and friends to make the most of the final match. "There was an electrifying atmosphere. Strangers were high-fiving, cheering together, and even arguing over DRS decisions like they were family.' 'We had watched all the Punjab matches at home, but this time, it was great to watch it in a cafe surrounded by others. Irrespective of who wins, I can't believe we'll have to wait another 10 months for this kind of cricketing entertainment," she added.
Khaleej Times
38 minutes ago
- Khaleej Times
From Speed to Swing: Trailblazing golfer-racer Bao drives Legends Tour back home
For Nguyễn Gia Bảo, golf has always been more than a game. It's a way to stay rooted in her heritage, dream beyond borders, and inspire change - especially for the next generation of players. This November, all those threads will come together in one powerful moment as Vietnam prepares to host one of the most prestigious senior golf events in the world: the Legends Championship Vietnam 2025. The European Senior Tour event for professionals aged 50 and over returns to Vietnam from 28–30 November, two years after its inaugural staging in Southeast Asia. Bao played a key role in helping bring the tournament back to her home country, working closely with the Legends Tour team from her base in Dubai to support its return. While Bao originally came to support the event in 2023, she unexpectedly found herself on the course, playing alongside the very legends she once admired from afar. 'I was just there to meet the legends,' she recalls. 'Then suddenly, I was offered a slot by the President of the Legends Tour himself... Honestly, I was afraid — my handicap was higher, and I felt pressure representing Vietnam on a live global stage. But their belief in me gave me the courage to say yes.' That moment, playing alongside major champions and Ryder Cup icons, was a turning point. But for Bao, who has spent over 17 years in the game, it was also a continuation of a lifelong journey. A Dubai-based entrepreneur and passionate sportswoman, Bao plays her golf at the Emirates Golf Club, where she continues to compete in regional amateur events. She is also the founder of The Golf House Vietnam, an academy focused on developing grassroots golf in her home country, which she plans to open in Dubai in the future. Bao the Trailblazer Beyond golf, Bao is a trailblazer. She became Vietnam's first female professional race car driver, representing the country at the FIA Motorsport Games in France in 2022 - a remarkable pivot from her early fear of speed to competing internationally in a male-dominated sport. Her journey began as a personal challenge, evolving into professional training across Europe and the U.S., and eventually reaching the global stage. 'If you want to be a warrior, then be a warrior,' she says. 'You just need the will inside you. Golf can teach you that kind of strength.' Her golfing resume includes standout victories at the Mercedes Championship Vietnam in 2013 and 2016, and a divisional win at the World Mercedes British Open in 2017. Most recently, she finished Top 3 in the Best Amateur category at the 2023 Legends event. Bao's vision for Vietnam's golfing future is shaped by her wide-ranging experiences - from her years on the fairways to breaking barriers on the racetrack. With success in business, including ventures in leather footwear and furniture export, she exemplifies the kind of multidimensional resilience she hopes to pass on. 'I want to help create golfers with the spirit of warriors - not just technique, but the perseverance and mindset to succeed. That's how we grow the game in Vietnam,' she concludes.
