AL AIN // More than 130,000 spectators are expected to arrive at the sixth annual Al Ain Aerobatic show which got underway today.
Hundreds of people dotted the stands for a flypast from an A340 Etihad jet painted in F1 livery, and a performance by the UAE parachute team in which one jumper floated to the ground attached to a giant flag.
Radio controlled mini-jets kicked off the event as crowds trickled into the airfield surrounding the city's international airport.
Faisal Abdulla al Sheikh, the events management section head of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), said he expected the crowds at the event, which runs from 28 to 31 Jan, to build towards the weekend.
"Today we started to open the gates and so far all of the indicators are positive," he said. "The online tickets are doing great."
For a full report check back later
jgerson@thenational.ae
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TOUCH RULES
Touch is derived from rugby league. Teams consist of up to 14 players with a maximum of six on the field at any time.
Teams can make as many substitutions as they want during the 40 minute matches.
Similar to rugby league, the attacking team has six attempts - or touches - before possession changes over.
A touch is any contact between the player with the ball and a defender, and must be with minimum force.
After a touch the player performs a “roll-ball” - similar to the play-the-ball in league - stepping over or rolling the ball between the feet.
At the roll-ball, the defenders have to retreat a minimum of five metres.
A touchdown is scored when an attacking player places the ball on or over the score-line.
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Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
The biog
Name: Timothy Husband
Nationality: New Zealand
Education: Degree in zoology at The University of Sydney
Favourite book: Lemurs of Madagascar by Russell A Mittermeier
Favourite music: Billy Joel
Weekends and holidays: Talking about animals or visiting his farm in Australia