Elite rugby side Harlequins are hoping the "Abu Dhabi effect" rubs on to them ahead of their first-ever English Premiership final against the Leicester Tigers at Twickenham next week.
The Quins, sponsored by Etihad Airways, have been training at Zayed Sports City as part of a four-day training camp before they head back to England tomorrow and continue the build-up to their biggest game in recent history.
And it turns out Manchester City's Premier League triumph has parallels that stretch beyond the Abu Dhabi connection.
"Leicester are an incredible team, they've made eight finals in a row," said Conor O'Shea, the Quins' director of rugby and a former Ireland fullback.
"There's all the talk out here of Manchester City pipping Manchester United for the title and they're sponsored by Etihad as well. It's like the Abu Dhabi effect. For us, for Manchester United, read Leicester. They are the standard-bearers, the team to be shot down. If we're to achieve this we're going to have to beat the Manchester United of rugby."
Conditions at Twickenham a week tomorrow will be a world away from the 40-plus temperatures the side have been training in. But the trip has been an ideal opportunity to train and bond.
"It's been a mix of relaxation and work," said O'Shea. "As a group we can spend time together in each other's company and relax.
"The boys struggled this morning, they did an hour's session and then gym work. It was tough doing the conditioning work. But that's why this week is so important. The lads have enjoyed it, it's a big group and that is why living with each other, rather than going home for a week to different places, is very important for us."
Much like City, O'Shea hopes the season and the final is the start of bigger things; they finished top of the regular season this year one point ahead of Leicester. Last year, mirroring City's FA Cup triumph, they won the Amlin European Challenge Cup.
"Hopefully this is just the start," O'Shea said. "We're not here to just be a team that is around for a year. We've got a great group of young players who we believe will get better and stronger. Last year was setting out on that path and getting the first bit of silverware. This year we've made massive strides and made further statements to where we want to go."
osamiuddin@thenational.ae
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Company profile
Name: Tratok Portal
Founded: 2017
Based: UAE
Sector: Travel & tourism
Size: 36 employees
Funding: Privately funded
Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
Company%20Profile
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Racecard:
2.30pm: Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoun Emirates Breeders Society Challenge; Conditions (PA); Dh40,000; 1,600m
3pm: Handicap; Dh80,000; 1,800m
3.30pm: Jebel Ali Mile Prep Rated Conditions; Dh110,000; 1,600m
4pm: Handicap; Dh95,000; 1,950m
4.30pm: Maiden; Dh65,000; 1,400m
5pm: Handicap; Dh85,000; 1,200m
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Company%20profile
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The%20specs
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RESULT
Manchester City 1 Sheffield United 0
Man City: Jesus (9')
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Ibrahim's play list
Completed an electrical diploma at the Adnoc Technical Institute
Works as a public relations officer with Adnoc
Apart from the piano, he plays the accordion, oud and guitar
His favourite composer is Johann Sebastian Bach
Also enjoys listening to Mozart
Likes all genres of music including Arabic music and jazz
Enjoys rock groups Scorpions and Metallica
Other musicians he likes are Syrian-American pianist Malek Jandali and Lebanese oud player Rabih Abou Khalil
The%20specs
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Company%20Profile
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BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.