Football fever gripped the UAE last night as the national team's supporters cheered the squad to glory during the dramatic Gulf Cup clash with Iraq.
Jubilant Emiratis, who were glued to TV screens across the capital, leapt to their feet and roared their approval when the final whistle blew with the UAE winning 2-1.
The victory followed a nail-biting contest, which Ali Al Muharrami watched alongside many compatriots at Abu Dhabi's Il Caffe Di Roma.
"It was very exciting, I don't believe it. I was very happy when the whistle blew," the 33-year-old customer care officer said, as a driver outside roared his engine in celebration.
Abdulaziz Al Hammadi said the match had been "the hardest game of the championships" and that "this is a proud day for all emirates".
Blaring car horns were heard across the country as Emiratis celebrated their country's victory.
Fans began arriving at Abu Dhabi's Il Caffe Di Roma a few hours ahead of kick off in Bahrain, eager to secure a good place to watch the action.
UAE flags were proudly pinned on the windows and dotted around the inside of the two-tier venue, adding to an already patriotic atmosphere.
The eager supporters sat chatting with their friends, relaxing and sipping coffee. But at 8pm everything changed - the conversation died down and all eyes turned towards the screens dotted around the Khalidiyah premises.
The initial hush was short-lived and large cheers erupted when a couple of chances at goal were narrowly missed early on in the game.
When the UAE scored, the place erupted and men leapt to their feet.
Among the supporters was Hamdan Al Qasemi, 23, from Abu Dhabi.
"I have been supporting the UAE since I was four or five years old," the student said. "I'm from the UAE so I have to support my country's team. I have been very excited about this match. I believe in this team. They have got good players, plus their ages are young. It gives them motivation, being young.
"They want to achieve their goals. All of us are supporting the same team. It's really nice to enjoy and support the team with others."
The cafe was filled with his fellow Emiratis, as well as a handful of expatriates cheering on their adopted home's squad. Ahmed Al Marri said the future for the UAE team looked promising. "We have a better generation and we are getting better every year," he said. "The main sport in the UAE is football."
Emirati student Sultan Al Falahi, 21, added: "I'm proud of the team, whether they win or lose. Every time they give us a good match."
One diner who was not focusing on the screen with as much enthusiasm as the others was Mohamed Al Mazrouei, 23, a customs officer.
"I wanted to come to the cafe to eat and to hang out with my friends," he said. "I'm not a football fan. [But] I'm happy to watch because it is my country. It's a big challenge between the Middle East."
However, his cousin, Fahad Al Mazrouei, is a big fan of the game.
"I love the UAE. I wanted to go to Bahrain but I didn't get an air ticket because there were too many people. I wanted to be there," said the 22-year-old, also a customs officer.
Francis Zarate, A Filipino who works at the cafe, said it was always full when football was on.
"There is extra excitement tonight," he said. "The captain of the UAE team, Ismail Matar, is a regular at the cafe. He comes often."
In Dubai, fans of all ages gathered around the TV screens to watch the UAE make history at a coffee shop in Mirdif. Expectations were high before the match started but for every minute that passed, they grew even higher. Everyone jumped to their feet each time the national team had the slightest chance of scoring.
When the UAE scored its first goal, young Emirati men hugged each other and there were screams of joy.
Saed Al Ahbabi, 30, a manager, said victory was everything. "We will make this place go on fire during the game and we will win."
Clapping and cheering was heard constantly, replicating the atmosphere at the stadium.
Mohammed Al Ansari, 21, a policeman and university student, said: "I wish I could have flown to Bahrain but unfortunately I have exams, so I could not go. But I am having a similar feeling here. It is such a pleasure to watch such a good play."
But not everyone in the coffee shop was supporting the UAE, with dozens of people carrying Iraqi flags.
Ahmad Najeb, 19, a student, said: "I like to support good football and I believe that Iraq has good players."
ecleland@thenational.ae
wissa@thenational.ae
Company%20profile
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Results:
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m | Winner: Eghel De Pine, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m | Winner: AF Sheaar, Szczepan Mazur, Saeed Al Shamsi
6pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (PA) Group 3 Dh500,000 1,600m | Winner: RB Torch, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (TB) Listed Dh380,000 1,600m | Winner: Forjatt, Chris Hayes, Nicholas Bachalard
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 1,400m | Winner: Hawafez, Connor Beasley, Ridha ben Attia
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 80,000 1,600m | Winner: Qader, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roaulle
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The%20Specs
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
WE%20NO%20LONGER%20PREFER%20MOUNTAINS
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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
How to tell if your child is being bullied at school
Sudden change in behaviour or displays higher levels of stress or anxiety
Shows signs of depression or isolation
Ability to sleep well diminishes
Academic performance begins to deteriorate
Changes in eating habits
Struggles to concentrate
Refuses to go to school
Behaviour changes and is aggressive towards siblings
Begins to use language they do not normally use
Who is Tim-Berners Lee?
Sir Tim Berners-Lee was born in London in a household of mathematicians and computer scientists. Both his mother, Mary Lee, and father, Conway, were early computer scientists who worked on the Ferranti 1 - the world's first commercially-available, general purpose digital computer. Sir Tim studied Physics at the University of Oxford and held a series of roles developing code and building software before moving to Switzerland to work for Cern, the European Particle Physics laboratory. He developed the worldwide web code as a side project in 1989 as a global information-sharing system. After releasing the first web code in 1991, Cern made it open and free for all to use. Sir Tim now campaigns for initiatives to make sure the web remains open and accessible to all.
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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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Profile
Company name: Jaib
Started: January 2018
Co-founders: Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour
Based: Jordan
Sector: FinTech
Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018
Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups
T20 World Cup Qualifier A, Muscat
Friday, February 18: 10am - Oman v Nepal, Canada v Philippines; 2pm - Ireland v UAE, Germany v Bahrain
Saturday, February 19: 10am - Oman v Canada, Nepal v Philippines; 2pm - UAE v Germany, Ireland v Bahrain
Monday, February 21: 10am - Ireland v Germany, UAE v Bahrain; 2pm - Nepal v Canada, Oman v Philippines
Tuesday, February 22: 2pm – semi-finals
Thursday, February 24: 2pm – final
UAE squad: Ahmed Raza (captain), Muhammad Waseem, Chirag Suri, Vriitya Aravind, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Raja Akifullah, Karthik Meiyappan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Zafar Farid, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Rahul Bhatia
All matches to be streamed live on icc.tv
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Company%20Profile
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Profile box
Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
Four motivational quotes from Alicia's Dubai talk
“The only thing we need is to know that we have faith. Faith and hope in our own dreams. The belief that, when we keep going we’re going to find our way. That’s all we got.”
“Sometimes we try so hard to keep things inside. We try so hard to pretend it’s not really bothering us. In some ways, that hurts us more. You don’t realise how dishonest you are with yourself sometimes, but I realised that if I spoke it, I could let it go.”
“One good thing is to know you’re not the only one going through it. You’re not the only one trying to find your way, trying to find yourself, trying to find amazing energy, trying to find a light. Show all of yourself. Show every nuance. All of your magic. All of your colours. Be true to that. You can be unafraid.”
“It’s time to stop holding back. It’s time to do it on your terms. It’s time to shine in the most unbelievable way. It’s time to let go of negativity and find your tribe, find those people that lift you up, because everybody else is just in your way.”
57%20Seconds
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RESULT
Arsenal 2
Sokratis Papastathopoulos 45 4'
Eddie Ntkeiah 51'
Portsmouth 0
Company%20Profile
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Company%20Profile
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Ads on social media can 'normalise' drugs
A UK report on youth social media habits commissioned by advocacy group Volteface found a quarter of young people were exposed to illegal drug dealers on social media.
The poll of 2,006 people aged 16-24 assessed their exposure to drug dealers online in a nationally representative survey.
Of those admitting to seeing drugs for sale online, 56 per cent saw them advertised on Snapchat, 55 per cent on Instagram and 47 per cent on Facebook.
Cannabis was the drug most pushed by online dealers, with 63 per cent of survey respondents claiming to have seen adverts on social media for the drug, followed by cocaine (26 per cent) and MDMA/ecstasy, with 24 per cent of people.