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Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah al-Qahtani ready for big win in upcoming New York fight


Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah al-Qahtani said he is ready for a big win ahead of his upcoming fight in New York City on August 23.

The 24-year-old fighter, known as “The Ripper,” is set to take on American fighter David Zelner at the Professional Fighters League (PFL) Playoff.

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“I am preparing well. I am doing my best and more. I think this fight will be full of excitement for everyone and I hope the end result will be amazing,” he told Al Arabiya English in an interview.

PFL is the fastest growing company in MMA and the second MMA company on a worldwide basis – only second to Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) – with fighters from over 20 countries.

Al-Qahtani made his PFL and US debut on June 23 in a fight that made him the first Saudi Arabian fighter to win inside the league’s SmartCage.

“It is a great honor for me,” the athlete said on representing Saudi Arabia at an international scale.

Saudi MMA fighter Abdullah al-Qahtani. (Supplied)

Saudi MMA fighter Abdullah al-Qahtani. (Supplied)

“It is enough to raise a flag that says, ‘There is no God but Allah.’ That means a lot to me. I feel proud to carry the flag and represent everything it stands for.”

Currently, al-Qahtani is one of the few professional fighters from the Kingdom.

However, he believes that with support of the Saudi Mixed Martial Arts Federation and its CEO Abdullah al-Hazaa, as well as with the sport’s growing popularity in the country, many more fighters will emerge from Saudi Arabia in the next few years.

“I hope with time Saudi Arabia will have one of the best MMA leagues in the world and will have more professional fighters,” he said.

Al-Qahtani believes anyone can become a professional fighter if they have the determination and will power to keep striving for their goals. He also said fighters have to keep practicing and taking part in competitions until they reach their goals.

“Anyone can join a fight and then give up when it gets tough. You have to keep going even when you feel like giving up,” he told Al Arabiya English.

Saudi MMA fighter Abdullah al-Qahtani. (Supplied)

Saudi MMA fighter Abdullah al-Qahtani. (Supplied)

And while he admits that he had some anxiety ahead of his debut fight, this time around al-Qahtani said he is ready for the challenge.

“Before my first fight I felt that I had to prove myself and was constantly thinking about what I needed to accomplish. And thank God I did that. This time around I am excited but there is no fear or worry,” he explained.

Al-Qahtani, who currently represents Bahraini club KHK MMA, has been training almost every day at the Riyadh Combat Club in preparation for his upcoming fight with his coaches Firas and Sergio.

Along with physical training, the young fighter told Al Arabiya English that preparing mentally for a fight is just as important to him.

“I always give myself a pep-talk while I am training for a fight. At the end of my day, whether I have trained well or poorly, I always take the time to really think about what my goals are and what I need to achieve,” he said.

“I tell myself that I need to give it my all and work hard, so that when the time for a fight comes, I can say that I trained my hardest and did the best I could no matter what the outcome is. This way, I will never say ‘oh I wish I tried harder’,” al-Qahtani added.

The fighter also told Al Arabiya English that his mother plays a big role in his success. His only pre-fight ritual is a phone conversation with her so he can listen to her encouraging words and prayers before stepping into the ring.

“She is the person who made me who I am. Even when she sees me with cuts and bruises, which may upset her, she always pushes me to be better. Even if the competition may be intimidating, it doesn’t matter who it is, she always says I can win and I can be the best,” he said.

The athlete also said he was grateful to his team at KHK MMA, Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad, Mohammed Shahid, World Talent Agency, and the PFL for supporting him throughout his fighting journey.

Read more:

Saudi-based MMA fighter confident ahead of debut in sport’s second-largest league

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Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies

H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.

He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.

The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.

-wam

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At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books

As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”

Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.

Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.

Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.

Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.

Automation

The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.

Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.

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US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79

US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.

In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.

He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.

President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.

-WAM

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