Francisco Lopez takes to the sky as he goes over a jump in the Super Special Stage of the UAE Desert Challenge in Jebel Ali. The event begins today in Abu Dhabi, with the first stage starting at the Emirates Palace.
Francisco Lopez takes to the sky as he goes over a jump in the Super Special Stage of the UAE Desert Challenge in Jebel Ali. The event begins today in Abu Dhabi, with the first stage starting at the EShow more

Flying start for racers



The focus of the cross country rallying world switches from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and the Rub Al Khali today as the UAE Desert Challenge begins in earnest, with a cluster of world titles at stake over the next five days. After the super special stage yesterday, which gave spectators a ringside view of the action at Jebel Ali, the event starts officially from the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi at 9.30am.

The action at Jebel Ali yesterday saw the team of Nasser Al Attiyah and Tina Thorner set the fastest time by a car in their BMW. The fastest bike time was set by Ruben Faria on his Honda bike. He was two seconds quicker than Helder Rodrigues. Ahead for the 115 prototype cars, modified 4WD vehicles, trucks, bikes and quads lies five days of desert driving in the penultimate round of both the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies and the FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship.

Spain's Marc Coma, bidding for a hat-trick of Desert Challenge bikes victories, will be the first rider to be flagged away by Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE and the rally creator. Coma will be followed by French star Cyril Despres, his KTM team-mate and four-times winner in the UAE who again poses the biggest threat to the Spaniard With the cars following the bikes away, top-seeded Al-Attiyah, Qatar's reigning FIA Middle East Rally champion, will be the first of 40 drivers to leave the starting ramp. He sets off in his new BMW X3 in pursuit of the World Cup crown, and is also aiming to become the first Arab winner of the event since fellow Qatari Saeed Al Hajri in 1993.

While new regulations this year exclude Coma, Despres and other KTM works riders from the World Championship, five FIM world titles will be decided by developments over the next five days. Two of those titles seem certain to go to Poland, as Marek Dabrowski is in line for the over 450cc production class crown, compatriot Jacek Czachor should clinch the 450cc production title, while the Italian rider Oscar Polli has a four-point advantage in the 450cc Rally Sport battle going into this week's racing

After the ceremonial start beside the Emirates Palace, the first competitive section, the 281-km Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority Special Stage 1, gets under way at 10.35am behind the UAE Air Force base at Mafraq. Over the following three days the rally breaks out into the Empty Quarter, a region characterised by towering dunes presenting competitors with plenty of challenges to endure. Early morning starts bring the 296-km Nakheel Special Stage Two tomorrow, the 340-km Nissan Special Stage Three on Wednesday and Thursday's 314-km ADNOC Special Stage Four.

The final leg on Friday sees the 118-km Hertz Special Stage Five leading to the 166-km Emarat Special Stage Six ahead of the 4.30pm finish at the Dubai International Marine Club. sports@thenational.ae

RESULTS

5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,400m
Winner: AF Tathoor, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 1,000m
Winner: Dahawi, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
Winner: Aiz Alawda, Fernando Jara, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
Winner: ES Nahawand, Fernando Jara, Mohammed Daggash
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Winked, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: Al Ain Mile Group 3 (PA) Dh350,000 1,600m
Winner: Somoud, Connor Beasley, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
8pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Al Jazi, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel

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If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).

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Which products are to be taxed?

To be taxed:

Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category

Not taxed

Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.

Products excluded from the ‘sweetened drink’ category would contain at least 75 per cent milk in a ready-to-drink form or as a milk substitute, baby formula, follow-up formula or baby food, beverages consumed for medicinal use and special dietary needs determined as per GCC Standardisation Organisation rules

ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Rio de Janeiro from Dh7,000 return including taxes. Avianca fliles from Rio to Cusco via Lima from $399 (Dhxx) return including taxes. 

The trip

From US$1,830 per deluxe cabin, twin share, for the one-night Spirit of the Water itinerary and US$4,630 per deluxe cabin for the Peruvian Highlands itinerary, inclusive of meals, and beverages. Surcharges apply for some excursions.

COMPANY PROFILE

Company: Bidzi

● Started: 2024

● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid

● Based: Dubai, UAE

● Industry: M&A

● Funding size: Bootstrapped

● No of employees: Nine

The biog

Favourite food: Fish and seafood

Favourite hobby: Socialising with friends

Favourite quote: You only get out what you put in!

Favourite country to visit: Italy

Favourite film: Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

Family: We all have one!

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Joker: Folie a Deux

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson

Director: Todd Phillips 

Rating: 2/5

The specs

  Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher:  Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5

A%20QUIET%20PLACE
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Afghanistan squad

Gulbadin Naib (captain), Mohammad Shahzad (wicketkeeper), Noor Ali Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Asghar Afghan, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran, Samiullah Shinwari, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Dawlat Zadran, Aftab Alam, Hamid Hassan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman.