ABU DHABI // Leading UAE football clubs have until now been heavily reliant on government funding. That financial assistance is due to be phased out in 2013 so Pro League officials are already investigating ways of increasing revenue.
Unlike their counterparts in the big European leagues, the clubs here do not generate much income through the turnstiles so maximising marketing and sponsorship is a priority.
Stanislaus Dsousa is finance director at Al Wahda, last season's league champions, and he spoke of ambitious projects currently underway to capitalise on the club's city centre location in the capital.
Construction is well advanced on a second Al Wahda Mall to go alongside the existing successful shopping centre, while an adjacent hotel and two apartment blocks are also planned to be in use soon on the club's property.
"We are also looking at several other ways to bring in funds," said Dsousa.
"We don't have official merchandising at the moment," he said. "That's one of the areas we are looking at. You will see people here wearing replica shirts but they are not real ones. There is a market for imitation kits. Perhaps the game of football here needs a culture change. Spectator loyalty to their respective clubs needs to develop.
"We are also thinking about a food and beverage outlet at the ground, but you have to ascertain first of all whether it is worth it and whether the fans will use it.
"We have not got round to thinking about a match day programme yet but maybe that is something that will be welcomed in future seasons."
Dsousa is as concerned as any Pro League club official about the poor crowds at matches.
"We are doing everything we can to attract them here," he said. "Maybe it is a lack of awareness in the community, particularly the expats, but maybe it's just the mentality here. The local fans prefer to watch the games on TV rather than sweat it out in the stadia."
wjohnson@thenational.ae
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The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
Strait of Hormuz
Fujairah is a crucial hub for fuel storage and is just outside the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route linking Middle East oil producers to markets in Asia, Europe, North America and beyond.
The strait is 33 km wide at its narrowest point, but the shipping lane is just three km wide in either direction. Almost a fifth of oil consumed across the world passes through the strait.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait, a move that would risk inviting geopolitical and economic turmoil.
Last month, Iran issued a new warning that it would block the strait, if it was prevented from using the waterway following a US decision to end exemptions from sanctions for major Iranian oil importers.