UAE announces new football event

The United Arab Emirates plans to hold a global football event that will gather dozens of major clubs from five different continents under one roof.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Saqr Al Qasimi, president of the International Federation of Football History and Statistics, announced on Monday that Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) would hold the first-ever World Soccer Identities 2013, a global party celebrating the sport.

The RAK-WSI 2013 is slated to be held Jan. 1-7 and will also feature a tournament between six of “the most famous teams in the world” for the first Saqr Cup, at a newly renovated stadium in the RAK.

During a press conference held in RAK, officials said they would disclose the names of the participating teams on Sept. 24. However, they hinted that three of the six clubs will hail from European countries.

“I expect only the top teams from the top classifications to come,” said Sheikh Mohammed, a brother of Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, the emirate’s ruler.

He also believed the event would be an opportunity to create a safe environment for football players and promote a bigger message of peace to the world.

During the winter season, many football clubs choose countries with warmer climates to train their athletes, the most notable among them being Manchester United which has held training sessions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. By no means is the upcoming event considered small, but Sheikh Mohammed hoped that the event, held every year, will continue to grow.

RAK is the fourth largest emirate of the UAE in terms of land mass and economic power and is located north of Dubai. The emirate, which does not produce oil, plans to become a tourism hub for those looking to get away from the glitz and glamour of Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

By Robert Lee (robert@heraldcorp.com)