{"id":297193,"date":"2025-11-20T14:20:08","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T14:20:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/297193\/"},"modified":"2025-11-20T14:20:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T14:20:08","slug":"sheikh-hamdan-leads-tributes-to-emirati-who-encouraged-generation-to-take-up-cycling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/297193\/","title":{"rendered":"Sheikh Hamdan leads tributes to Emirati who encouraged generation to take up cycling"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tributes have been made to Osama Al Shafar, who was a major force behind cycling\u2019s rise in the UAE<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Mr Al Shafar, who died on Wednesday, helped bring international cycling events to the country, encouraged participation and inspired countless people along the way. <\/p>\n

In a distinguished career, the Emirati served from 2021 to 2025 as vice president of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the Swiss-based governing body for international competitive cycling, and as president of the Asian Cycling Confederation from 2017 to 2025. <\/p>\n

Mr Al Shafar also previously served as president of the UAE Cycling Federation, was a former member of the UAE\u2019s Federal National Council and a businessman. <\/p>\n

In a post on X, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, extended his \u201cdeepest condolences and sincere sympathy\u201d to Mr Al Shafar\u2019s family. <\/p>\n

Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, also extended his sympathies to the family.<\/p>\n

Members of the UAE cycling community<\/a> paid further tribute to a man who they said did not seek the limelight but was a quiet and crucial force in the sport.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew he was very instrumental as one of the leaders of the UAE Cycling Federation,\u201d Andy Fordham, founder of Dubai Cycling Community, told The National on Thursday. \u201cI saw how he nurtured young cyclists.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Fordham said Mr Al Shafar also helped raise the profile of UAE and Asian cycling.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact a UAE team participates in the UCI World Tour speaks very much to what he has done,\u201d said Mr Fordham.<\/p>\n

Dato\u2019 Amarjit Singh Gill, president of the Asian Cycling Confederation and UCI vice president, told The National that Mr Al Shafar\u2019s \u201cvision and leadership have played a pivotal role in transforming the landscape of cycling in Asia\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnder his guidance, we saw a remarkable rise in both the number and quality of races on the Asian calendar, creating greater opportunities for athletes and national federations throughout the continent,\u201d said Mr Singh. <\/p>\n

\u201cBeyond his achievements, Osama was someone who was always willing to listen, to support and to help whenever needed. His sincerity, generosity and commitment to the cycling family set him apart. He will be deeply missed by the Asian and global cycling community and his legacy of progress, unity and service will continue to inspire us for many years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

The growth of the sport in the UAE is a testament to Mr Al Shafar\u2019s efforts. Tours in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in 2019 evolved into the UAE Tour<\/a>, the only global tour in the Middle East that attracts the world\u2019s best riders. <\/p>\n

Tadej Pogacar, a UAE Team Emirates-XRG superstar, won this year\u2019s Tour de France while Safiya Al Sayegh became the first Emirati woman cyclist to qualify for the Olympics. <\/p>\n

But the growth extends to all people from all walks of life across the UAE. Events such as the Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge and the Dubai Ride underline this. <\/p>\n

Abu Dhabi was also distinguished as a Bike City<\/a> in 2021 by the UCI as a mark of the emirate\u2019s commitment to its \u201cCycling for All\u201d strategy. The city has a 109km cycling track known as \u201cAbu Dhabi Loop\u201d, while Dubai\u2019s 86km Al Qudra track remains hugely popular. <\/p>\n

Abu Dhabi held the 2022 UCI Urban Cycling World Championships and will also host both the 2028 UCI Road World Championships and the 2029 UCI Track World Championships.<\/p>\n

\u201cCycling was historically a European sport and, when it came here, people questioned it but now you can see how it has grown,\u201d said Mr Fordham. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt is now a hugely popular sport, supported by the government who have built world-class facilities.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was Mr Al Shafar who helped to oversee this transformation.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe always had a smile on his face and he was a cyclist himself,\u201d said Mr Fordham, pointing to the fact there was an Al Shafar cycling team based in the UAE. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe was a very influential and deeply respected. The UAE has lost a friend to cycling.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tributes were also made by the Federal National Council, David Lappartient, president of UCI, and the UAE Tour.<\/p>\n

In a post on X, the UAE Tour said the UAE cycling family was mourning the loss of Mr Al Shafar who was a \u201cpioneer, a leader and a driving force behind the sport\u2019s rise in the region\u201d. <\/p>\n

\u201cHis legacy will continue to inspire riders and generations to come. May he rest in peace,\u201d the post said.<\/p>\n

The five stages of early child\u2019s play<\/p>\n

From Dubai-based clinical psychologist Daniella Salazar:<\/p>\n

1. Solitary Play: This is where Infants and toddlers start to play on their own without seeming to notice the people around them. This is the beginning of play.<\/p>\n

2. Onlooker play: This occurs where the toddler enjoys watching other people play. There doesn\u2019t necessarily need to be any effort to begin play. They are learning how to imitate behaviours from others. This type of play may also appear in children who are more shy and introverted.<\/p>\n

3. Parallel Play: This generally starts when children begin playing side-by-side without any interaction. Even though they aren\u2019t physically interacting they are paying attention to each other. This is the beginning of the desire to be with other children.<\/p>\n

4. Associative Play: At around age four or five, children become more interested in each other than in toys and begin to interact more. In this stage children start asking questions and talking about the different activities they are engaging in. They realise they have similar goals in play such as building a tower or playing with cars.<\/p>\n

5. Social Play: In this stage children are starting to socialise more. They begin to share ideas and follow certain rules in a game. They slowly learn the definition of teamwork. They get to engage in basic social skills and interests begin to lead social interactions.<\/p>\n

Why it pays to compare<\/p>\n

A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time – the first\u00a0direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second\u00a0from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany – found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.<\/p>\n

Route 1: bank transfer<\/p>\n

The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.<\/p>\n

Total cost:\u00a0Dh567.25 –\u00a0around 2.9 per cent of the total amount<\/p>\n

Total received: \u20ac4,670.30\u00a0<\/p>\n

Route 2: online platform<\/p>\n

The UAE bank\u2019s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.<\/p>\n

Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction<\/p>\n

Total received: \u20ac4,756<\/p>\n

The UAE bank transfer was far quicker \u2013 around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the\u00a0funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.<\/p>\n

Straightforward ways to reduce sugar in your family’s diet
\n\tBan fruit juice and sodas
\n\tEat a hearty breakfast that contains fats and wholegrains, such as peanut butter on multigrain toast or full-fat plain yoghurt with whole fruit and nuts, to avoid the need for a 10am snack
\n\tGive young children plain yoghurt with whole fruits mashed into it
\n\tReduce the number of cakes, biscuits and sweets. Reserve them for a treat
\n\tDon\u2019t eat dessert every day\u00a0
\n\tMake your own smoothies. Always use the whole fruit to maintain the benefit of its fibre content and don\u2019t add any sweeteners
\n\tAlways go for natural whole foods over processed, packaged foods. Ask yourself would your grandmother have eaten it?
\n\tRead food labels if you really do feel the need to buy processed food
\n\tEat everything in moderation<\/p>\n

Islamophobia definition <\/p>\n

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: \u201cIslamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.\u201d It further defines it as \u201cinciting hatred or violence against Muslims\u201d.<\/p>\n

The language of diplomacy in 1853<\/p>\n

Treaty of Peace in Perpetuity Agreed Upon by the Chiefs of the Arabian Coast on Behalf of Themselves, Their Heirs and Successors Under the Mediation of the Resident of the Persian Gulf, 1853

\n(This treaty gave the region the name \u201cTrucial States\u201d.)<\/p>\n


\nWe, whose seals are hereunto affixed, Sheikh Sultan bin Suggar, Chief of Rassool-Kheimah, Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon, Chief of Aboo Dhebbee, Sheikh Saeed bin Buyte, Chief of Debay, Sheikh Hamid bin Rashed, Chief of Ejman, Sheikh Abdoola bin Rashed, Chief of Umm-ool-Keiweyn, having experienced for a series of years the benefits and advantages resulting from a maritime truce contracted amongst ourselves under the mediation of the Resident in the Persian Gulf and renewed from time to time up to the present period, and being fully impressed, therefore, with a sense of evil consequence formerly arising, from the prosecution of our feuds at sea, whereby our subjects and dependants were prevented from carrying on the pearl fishery in security, and were exposed to interruption and molestation when passing on their lawful occasions, accordingly, we, as aforesaid have determined, for ourselves, our heirs and successors, to conclude together a lasting and inviolable peace from this time forth in perpetuity.<\/p>\n

Taken from Britain and Saudi Arabia, 1925-1939: the Imperial Oasis, by Clive Leatherdale<\/p>\n

PROFILE OF SWVL<\/p>\n

Started: April 2017<\/p>\n

Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh<\/p>\n

Based: Cairo, Egypt<\/p>\n

Sector: transport<\/p>\n

Size: 450 employees<\/p>\n

Investment: approximately $80 million<\/p>\n

Investors include: Dubai\u2019s Beco Capital, US\u2019s Endeavor Catalyst, China\u2019s MSA, Egypt\u2019s Sawari Ventures, Sweden\u2019s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani<\/p>\n

The Lowdown<\/p>\n

Kesari<\/p>\n

Rating: 2.5\/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
Directed by: Anubhav Singh
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Parineeti Chopra<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

GIANT REVIEW<\/p>\n

Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan<\/p>\n

Director: Athale<\/p>\n

Rating: 4\/5<\/p>\n

MATCH INFO<\/p>\n

Fixture: Thailand v UAE, Tuesday, 4pm (UAE)<\/p>\n

TV: Abu Dhabi Sports<\/p>\n

How the bonus system works<\/p>\n

The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of\u00a0\u00a310,000 under the\u00a0Thank You Fund\u00a0of \u00a316 million (Dh80m), which was announced\u00a0in conjunction with Deliveroo’s \u00a38 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.<\/p>\n

The \u00a310,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.<\/p>\n

There are also riders who will receive payments of \u00a31,000 (Dh5,000) and \u00a3500 (Dh2,500).<\/p>\n

All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive \u00a3200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.<\/p>\n

Groom and Two Brides<\/p>\n

Director: Elie Semaan<\/p>\n

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla<\/p>\n

Rating: 3\/5<\/p>\n

Boulder shooting victims<\/p>\n

\u2022 Denny Strong, 20
\u2022 Neven Stanisic, 23
\u2022 Rikki Olds, 25
\u2022 Tralona Bartkowiak, 49
\u2022 Suzanne Fountain, 59
\u2022 Teri Leiker, 51
\u2022 Eric Talley, 51
\u2022 Kevin Mahoney, 61
\u2022 Lynn Murray, 62
\u2022 Jody Waters, 65<\/p>\n

Tewellah by Nawal Zoghbi is out now.<\/p>\n

Dhadak 2<\/p>\n

Director: Shazia Iqbal<\/p>\n

Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rating: 1\/5<\/p>\n

The specs: 2019 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera<\/p>\n

Price, base: Dh1.2 million<\/p>\n

Engine: 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12<\/p>\n

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic<\/p>\n

Power: 725hp @ 6,500pm<\/p>\n

Torque: 900Nm @ 1,800rpm<\/p>\n

Fuel economy, combined: \u00a012.3L \/ 100km (estimate)<\/p>\n

The Penguin<\/p>\n

Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz<\/p>\n

Creator: Lauren LeFranc<\/p>\n

Rating: 4\/5<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Tributes have been made to Osama Al Shafar, who was a major force behind cycling\u2019s rise in the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":297194,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[569],"tags":[64,63,784,5951,85,156,155,21542,14915],"class_list":{"0":"post-297193","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cycling","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-cycling","11":"tag-dubai","12":"tag-sports","13":"tag-standard","14":"tag-story","15":"tag-uae","16":"tag-uae-desk-team"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/297193","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=297193"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/297193\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/297194"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=297193"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=297193"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=297193"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}