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Sheikh Hamdan approves Dh390m master plan to transform Dubai’s rural areas

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The master plan for Saih Al Salam Scenic Route, featuring new facilities, activities, events, and services was approved by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE.

In a post on X, Sheikh Hamdan said: “These aim to provide high-quality services and advanced facilities to meet the needs of residents and visitors.”

The Master plan for the Saih Al Salam Scenic Route involves developing five tourist stations and building of 97.86 kilometres of cycling tracks, bringing the total track length in the area to 156.61 kilometres. The plan also includes expanding facilities and organising activities and events to attract more tourists and offer a complete tourism experience for both residents and visitors.

Thirty-seven projects and initiatives to develop Dubai’s countryside and rural areas from 2024 until 2028 were also approved. The series of development projects and initiatives is estimated to cost around Dh390 million.

Sheikh Hamdan said: “The master plan for the Saih Al Salam Scenic Route and Dubai Countryside & Rural Areas Development Projects reflects the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, aiming to transform Dubai’s rural areas and countryside to be among the best, most beautiful, and enjoyable for all. This contributes to solidifying the emirate’s position as an ideal destination to live and work, as well as a preferred attraction for visitors from around the world.”

Five recreational stations

The master plan outlines these five tourist stations:

  • Main Hub Station near Al Qudra Lakes. A traditional market will be established in this station, featuring several shops selling local products typical of the rural areas, alongside an open-air cinema near the Last Exit, offering a unique movie experience in a natural setting. Visitors can also camp in luxury marquees near the activity sites along Al Qudra Lakes. Public facilities will also be added to support the expected large number of visitors.
  • Wildlife Station. This station, located near Flamingo Lake, will feature various facilities and activities, including hot air balloon rides for stunning views of wildlife and the Love Lakes, luxury camping options, and elevated walking connecting Love, Qudra, and Flamingo Lakes. Kayak tours will also be available across the three lakes.
  • Adventure Station. In this station located near Expo 2020 Lake, an adventure park will be built near the Oryx platform, as well as walking and fitness trails. A sandy trail for cycling and walking will be added around Expo Lake, along with budget camps and restaurants.
  • Cultural Experience StationThis station, located near the camel farm in Al Marmoom, will provide a traditional majlis and an entertainment theatre at the camel farm. Visitors can enjoy camel rides, explore the desert, and enjoy traditional meals.
  • At the Desert Adventure Station, a fully equipped area for adventure and desert sports will be developed . This will allow visitors to enjoy various outdoor fun activities, such as dune bashing, desert cycling, dune climbing, sandboarding, and desert safari tours, among others.

He also added, “We continue to launch unique projects to consolidate Dubai’s status as one of the world’s best cities for quality of life and ensure our citizens, residents and visitors enjoy the highest levels of well-being.”

Meanwhile, the first phase of the rural and countryside plan includes the provision of 18 new services for residents of these areas. These services involve establishing three nurseries, seven parks and open spaces, and three healthcare facilities (a hospital, a health centre, and an ambulance station). Additionally, civil defence and ambulance services will be available in the area, along with three social facilities catering to residents and visitors across the majlis, halls, and a community centre.

The Higher Committee for Urban Planning in Dubai is also managing the implementation of 37 projects and initiatives as part of the comprehensive plan for the development of rural and countryside areas, which span 2,216 square kilometres.

A rural service centre and a socio-cultural centre are being constructed at Lahbab, including a majlis, a public library, an art exhibition hall, centres for teaching traditional arts, and centres for teaching Bedouin crafts. A majlis is also being built in Al Awir, and healthcare facilities are being established in Lahbab 2 and Al Lisaili, along with an ambulance station in Margham and a civil defence centre in Lahbab 1. Additionally, three nurseries are being built in Al Awir 2, Lahbab, and Al Lisaili, and seven neighbourhood parks are being developed in Margham, Al Lisaili, Nizwa, Lahbab 1 and 2, and Al Awir 2. Furthermore, internal roads are being constructed in Margham, Lahbab, and Al Lisaili.

The plan also includes shared and mass transportation solutions to serve all rural areas, as well as traffic improvements in Lahbab, Al Awir, and Al Lisaili. The development of the Saih Al Salam Scenic Route, which is the first recreational tourist route, is also underway, along with the relocation of waste transfer stations in Lahbab 1, the relocation of the truck rest-stop, and a sewage project in Al Lisaili, Nizwa, Margham, and Lahbab 1 and 2. Landscaping works are being carried out in Al Faqa, Nizwa, and Al Lisaili, and a farmers’ support programme is being implemented. Relevant entities are organising events and activities such as the Al Marmoom Festival, camel races, cycling races, and the Fazza Yola Championship.

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Canada Super 60 picks BC Place for groundbreaking cricket debut

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In a landmark development for cricket in North America, the newly launched Canada Super 60 has announced Vancouver’s BC Place as the official venue for its inaugural men’s and women’s tournaments. The move marks a historic moment for the sport in Canada, with the iconic stadium set to become the first indoor venue globally to host a 10-over-a-side cricket league.

BC Place, a Canadian sporting landmark located in downtown Vancouver, has long been a stage for world-class events — from the 2010 Winter Olympics to the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015, and most recently, one of the host venues for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in 2026. With its state-of-the-art infrastructure, retractable roof, and seating capacity of over 50,000, the stadium is now preparing to add cricket to its multi-sport repertoire.

“BC Place is not just a stadium; it’s a theatre of dreams,” said former India international and Canada Super 60’s strategic partner Yuvraj Singh. “The grandeur of this venue will inspire players and fans alike. Vancouver’s spirit of diversity, nature, and culture makes it the perfect backdrop for cricket’s next big chapter on the West Coast.”

Set to launch in 2025, the Canada Super 60 is a pioneering cricket league featuring both men’s and women’s teams in a 10-over format — a first-of-its-kind initiative aiming to elevate the profile of Canadian cricket on the world stage. The league is being organized with the backing of Cricket Canada.

Amjad Bajwa, President of Cricket Canada, called the partnership with BC Place a “bold and proud step” in the growth of the sport. “This is a significant milestone not just for the Canada Super 60, but for cricket in the country. We’re committed to creating world-class opportunities for Canadian talent as we gear up for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2026.”

Chris May, General Manager of BC Place, echoed the sentiment. “Hosting Canada Super 60 allows us to bring the world’s second most-watched sport into our venue and celebrate the diversity of British Columbia in a powerful new way. It’s a unique opportunity to build a more inclusive sporting culture.”

The official match dates and ticketing details are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Organizers promise an electrifying blend of cricketing action and cultural celebration — with Vancouver’s passionate sports community playing a central role in the spectacle.

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DP World ILT20 Season 4 player auction set for September 30

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The DP World International League T20 Player Auction for Season 4 will be held on Tuesday, 30 September in Dubai. The six tournament teams will each get the opportunity of adding 13 players each (a total of 78 players) to their Season 4 squads at the auction. Players interested in appearing for the Player Auction can register here. The last date of registration is Wednesday, 10 September.

The six franchises will have a combined purse of USD 4.8 million to spend at the Player Auction. Details about the available budgets for the teams (including the remaining budgets from their direct signing allotment which can be used in the Player Auction), the auction order and the players list will be shared in due course.

DP World ILT20 CEO David White: “We are delighted to confirm the DP World International League Season 4 Player Auction date – Tuesday, 30 September. The auction is a big milestone for the league as we continue to grow as a world-class T20 tournament. The auction will be a great opportunity for our franchises to add local and international firepower to their Season 4 squads.

“For the UAE players, the ACC Asia Cup 2025 – September 9-28 in the UAE – is a massive opportunity for making a global impression ahead of the Player Auction. The players will have incredible exposure in the continental championship where they will be pitted against some of the top-ranked T20 teams.
“We are also set to play the third edition of the DP World ILT20 Development Tournament from later this month which – alongside the Asia Cup – is another platform for the local players to impress ahead of the Player Auction.” The DP World ILT20 Player Auction is the second phase of squads’ selection for Season 4. Earlier this month, the teams completed their new signings and retentions – a total of eight players per team. The list of those selections is available below.

DP World ILT20 Season 4 – Season 4 squads so far:

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Alex Hales, Alishan Sharafu, Andre Russell, Charith Asalanka, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, Sherfane Rutherford and Sunil Narine

Desert Vipers: Andries Gous, Dan Lawrence, David Payne, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Lockie Ferguson, Max Holden, Sam Curran and Wanindu Hasaranga

Dubai Capitals: Dasun Shanaka, Dushmantha Chameera, Gulbadin Naib, Luke Wood, Muhammad Jawadullah, Rovmann Powell, Shai Hope and Waqar Salamkheil.

Gulf Giants: Aayan Afzal Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Blessing Muzarabani, Gerhard Erasmus, James Vince, Mark Adair, Moeen Ali and Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

MI Emirates: AM Ghazanfar, Chris Woakes, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Perera, Romario Shepherd, Tom Banton and Muhammad Waseem

Sharjah Warriorz: Johnson Charles, Tim Southee, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Maheesh Theekshana, Saurabh Netravalkar, Sikandar Raza and Tim David
The DP World International League T20 Season 4 will begin on Tuesday, 2 December – UAE National Day (Eid-Al-Etihad) with a blockbuster opening, the six-team, 34-match tournament will conclude with the final on Sunday, 4 January 2026.

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UAE travel: Emirates adds Hangzhou to its China network 

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The UAE’s flagship carrier launched its new daily service to Hangzhou on  Wednesday, marking yet another milestone in its growing network across China. The move comes hot on the heels of its recent route launch to Shenzhen, making Hangzhou the second new mainland destination in just under a month.

Flight EK310 touched down at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport to a warm welcome – complete with a traditional water cannon salute and greetings from local officials and dignitaries. Passengers on the inaugural flight didn’t leave empty-handed either. They were treated to souvenir keychains, flight certificates, and Chinese tea tasting sets to mark the occasion.

The new route is operated on a Boeing 777-300ER, with flight EK310 departing Dubai at 9:40am and reaching Hangzhou by 10:00pm. The return leg, EK311, takes off from Hangzhou at 12:10am, landing back in Dubai by 4:55am, making it a convenient overnight hop for business and leisure travellers.

With this addition, Emirates now flies 49 times a week to five major Chinese cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and now Hangzhou.

Thanks to seamless connectivity through Dubai, travellers from over 40 European cities, 21 in Africa, and others in the Middle East and South America can now easily access one of China’s key tech and business hubs. The route also enables convenient two-way travel between Hangzhou and global cities like Istanbul, Cairo, Johannesburg, and Barcelona.

Best of all? UAE and GCC nationals can visit China visa-free for up to 30 days, making spontaneous business trips or leisure breaks even easier.

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