While Mikko Hirvonen's eventual ascension to Sebastien Loeb's World Rally Championship throne seems inevitable, the Finnish driver claiming a maiden championship title this year would also add immediate justification to team sponsor Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority's (ADTA) decision to employ rally as a vehicle for its own promotional and sporting agendas.
Since adding the capital's name to the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team in June 2007, a sole manufacturers' title in the same year is the only sporting return ADTA can show for its considerable financial outlay. However, while end of season success is fundamental to the partnership, Ahmed Hussein, ADTA's deputy director general, has reiterated the body's sporting associations are designed with more than just winning in mind.
"We partner proven world-class suppliers who have synergy with our own values - most notably respect," he said.
"We align with partners who can live up to our exacting requirements. Of course, sporting success is a determining factor, but we know anything can happen in sport, and we want partners that demonstrate resilience to rise above challenges."
Two years ago, the agreement with Ford saw Sheikh Khalid al Qassimi becoming the team's third driver.
It is an arrangement beginning to bear fruit, and al Qassimi - the only Emirati to ever win multiple WRC drivers' points - is now a flag-bearing beneficiary of the ADTA's Emiratis-first approach. While al Qassimi is the most high-profile achiever in ADTA's stable, other drivers and pilots compete in regional and international rally and F1 powerboat outfits.
To complement the roster, international sportsmen and women are backed in triathalon and air racing schemes.
"Socio-economic benefits extend well beyond sporting fields, routes and tracks," said Hussein.
"I like to think the people in Abu Dhabi are behind these partners, celebrate their successes and associate with them.
"When role models such as Sheikh Khalid earn championship points and places, I hope many young nationals are inspired to follow in their footsteps."
Trophies aside, building Emirati heroes is the underlining aim of ADTA's involvement in sport. The goal is to develop Emiratis to emulate people like Hirvonen.
"Most sporting heroes have at one time or another had their own icons to emulate," added Hussein.
"We are creating our own through partnership opportunities and training alliances - we are nurturing a generation of champions."
emegson@thenational.ae
Company%20Profile
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Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
Jawan
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
The five pillars of Islam
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Results
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Dirt) 1,600m; Winner: RB Kings Bay, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: AF Ensito, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash
8pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,400m; Winner: AF Sourouh, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
8.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Baaher, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
9pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Mootahady, Antonio Fresu, Eric Lemartinel
9.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Dubai Canal, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
10pm: Al Ain Cup – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Harrab, Bernardo Pinheiro, Majed Al Jahouri
What is an ETF?
An exchange traded fund is a type of investment fund that can be traded quickly and easily, just like stocks and shares. They come with no upfront costs aside from your brokerage's dealing charges and annual fees, which are far lower than on traditional mutual investment funds. Charges are as low as 0.03 per cent on one of the very cheapest (and most popular), Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, with the maximum around 0.75 per cent.
There is no fund manager deciding which stocks and other assets to invest in, instead they passively track their chosen index, country, region or commodity, regardless of whether it goes up or down.
The first ETF was launched as recently as 1993, but the sector boasted $5.78 billion in assets under management at the end of September as inflows hit record highs, according to the latest figures from ETFGI, a leading independent research and consultancy firm.
There are thousands to choose from, with the five largest providers BlackRock’s iShares, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisers, Deutsche Bank X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.
While the best-known track major indices such as MSCI World, the S&P 500 and FTSE 100, you can also invest in specific countries or regions, large, medium or small companies, government bonds, gold, crude oil, cocoa, water, carbon, cattle, corn futures, currency shifts or even a stock market crash.