Latest news with #AbuDhabiCountryClub
The National
02-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
Landmarks that chart Abu Dhabi's modern evolution
The Club's confirmation that it will be leaving its site on coastal land near Abu Dhabi's Mina Zayed – where it has stood for decades – has become yet another marker of the UAE's evolving cityscape. Similarly, the Abu Dhabi Country Club, a familiar landmark for many residents, announced in January that it would suspend most of its services and close all buildings except the main one as part of a planned redevelopment. Although these changes are helping usher in a new chapter of urban development and modernisation, they also represent a natural shift away from some of the long-standing community spaces that once defined everyday life in the capital. Still, Abu Dhabi has shown a clear commitment to honouring its past. In 2023, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi unveiled a list of 64 buildings and sites to be protected under its Modern Heritage Conservation Initiative. This ensures they will be maintained and rehabilitated, with demolition prohibited. While that list is an important step in preserving the city's heritage, there are other buildings, neighbourhoods and landmarks that could also be considered. Here are a few worth highlighting. The Abu Dhabi Media building represents an important chapter in the UAE's journalism history. Founded in 2007, it was one of the first places where the country's journalism presence began to take shape, offering a base for print, television and radio. Once home to The National, the building still houses publications such as Al Ittihad newspaper and National Geographic Al Arabiya. The sports venue, also known as Al Wahda Stadium, has been a source of pride for generations of fans and athletes since opening in 1995. The 15,895-capacity stadium is home to Al Wahda Football Club in the UAE Pro League, and was renovated in 2019. It has hosted international fixtures, including five matches during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. Tanker Mai is an area of low-rise residential blocks, shisha cafes and ethnic restaurants between Saeed bin Ahmed Al Otaiba Street and Mohammed bin Khalifa Street. However, it is also an area in which the past and present collide. It used to be known as the furniture district because of its shops and movers, who could be found sitting around in battered pick-ups waiting for business. These days, there are still some hole-in-the-wall bakeries, karak shops and even some trendy cafes that have popped up. The Corniche Hospital carries emotional and social significance for many longtime Abu Dhabi residents. Established in 1977, the original Corniche Hospital operated in a converted hotel next to its current site. In 1984, it opened its maternity ward. As part of Mother of the Nation Sheikha Fatima's vision for women's and family healthcare, it has delivered more than 300,000 babies and offered compassionate, family-centred medical care over five decades. For decades, Mina Zayed has been a vital part of Abu Dhabi's commercial and cultural landscape. Named after the UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the port area has served as a hub for trade, fishing and shipping, while also housing a fish market alongside date and plant souqs. Although large-scale redevelopment is under way to transform the area into a mixed-use waterfront destination, it is still a reminder of the country's proud past. Zayed Sports City Stadium has seen plenty of major moments. Opened in 1979 and renovated in 2009, it has hosted everything from sports tournaments (such as the Special Olympics Summer Games) to concerts by global stars such as Coldplay. It was also where Pope Francis held an open-air mass during his visit in 2019. With a seating capacity of 45,000, it is the largest stadium in the UAE. Fun fact: it is also featured on the Dh200 banknote.
The National
23-03-2025
- Sport
- The National
Abu Dhabi Country Club bow out of AFC Women's Champions League with 'heads held high'
Abu Dhabi Country Club (ADCC) coach Sara Hassanien said she was proud of her team's achievements despite a heartbreaking 5-4 defeat away to Ho Chi Minh City in the quarter-finals of the AFC Women's Champions League on Saturday. Serial UAE champions ADCC led 3-0 and 4-2 before eventually being edged out by a 90th-minute own goal in a nine-goal thriller in Vietnam. Hassanien felt the loss of key forward Toorfah Al Ghafri to injury on 63 minutes affected her side and proved the pivotal moment in the tie. 'Unfortunately we had a critical injury that turned the tide of the game. However, we are proud of our performance to be representing the UAE and the way that we played and fought until the very last minute, despite the result,' said Hassanien. ADCC had already made their mark on what is the first staging of a premier AFC women's continental tournament. They earned their place in the group stage by winning all three games they contested in the preliminary round last August in Riyadh, defeating Laos' Young Elephants, Myanmar's Myawady, and Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr. In doing so, ADCC became the first Arab club to reach the maiden edition of the continental showpiece, which featured 12 of the top women's football teams in Asia, split across three groups. They followed that up by going unbeaten in the group stage proper with one win and two draws, beating China's Wuhan Jiangda and drawing with South Korea's Incheon Red Angels and Malaysia's Sabah. 'We walk off the field with our heads held high. This is just the beginning. We will be participating again, hopefully, in future editions of this tournament,' added Hassanien. 'We are hungry to make it further and further in the future in terms of performance, in terms of results, and in terms of representation of women and girls in sports and football in West Asia and worldwide.' Ho Chi Minh City were immediately under pressure from ADCC, with Rashida Ibrahim shooting just wide in the early exchanges before the home defence was breached for the first time. The goal came after some brilliant work by Princella Adubea, who collected Ibrahim's pass before unleashing a fierce drive from distance into the bottom left corner as Abu Dhabi got off to a dream start. ADCC doubled their advantage in the 15th minute after Salha Al Zaabi's long-range effort hit the bar and the rebound fell kindly for Al Ghafri to slot home from close range. Ho Chi Minh City tried to claw their way back but efforts from Huynh Nhu, Ashley Tonthat and Sabrina Cabrera all failed to trouble the ADCC keeper. The Vietnamese side fell further behind in the second minute of added time at the end of the first half with Eugenia Tetteh nodding home Adubea's cross from the right. A determined Ho Chi Minh City upped the tempo after the break and came close to reducing the deficit in the 60th minute when Aubrey Goodwill struck the bar from inside the box. An injury to Al Ghafri then gave Ho Chi Minh City added impetus with Thua K' scoring from close range. Ho Chi Minh City grabbed their second four minutes later courtesy of Chuong Thi Kieu's glancing header, but ADCC came back fighting with Tetteh netting after Naeema Ibrahim dispossessed Nguyen Thi Kim Yen before supplying a cross for the Ghanaian midfielder. But their joy was cut short two minutes later when Tran Nguyen Bao Chau struck from long range to beat Jeane at full stretch before Ngo Thi Hong Nhung drew Ho Chi Minh level in the 83rd minute with a brilliant half-volley from just outside the box. A resurgent Ho Chi Minh applied further pressure and forced Abu Dhabi into conceding an own goal in the 90th minute when Ghanima Al Zaabi inadvertently headed Ngo Thị Hong Nhung's cross into her own net. Home coach Hong Pham Nguyen praised his players' mental fortitude. 'The emotions are indescribable, but I'm very happy. We have gone past the quarter-final stage,' said Hong. 'Looking back at the match, in the first 10 minutes, some of our players showed signs of psychological tension, especially after conceding in the third goal. It affected our style of play. 'However, adjustments during half-time provided strong mental encouragement. There was still an entire half to play, and in football, anything can happen. As long as you push through all difficulties, both mentally and physically, and give your best performance – along with some tactical adjustments – we were able to make a remarkable comeback.'
