FIFA World Cup fever engulfs Dubai

Dubai, June 22 (IANS) In Dubai, where 2.8 million people from over 190 nations live, the 20th FIFA World Cup triggered a colourful festival of flags and television match parties across the city.

Captain Ahmed F. from the Dubai police, though, is a relieved man, reports Xinhua.

"So far, the FIFA World Cup evenings in public hospitality places in Dubai have been very peaceful. People enjoy and are secure, that is our goal," he said.

With nearly all nations being a resident or tourist in Dubai, the most multi-national Arab city is painted a sea of colourful national flags, wigs, tricots and decorated cars these days.

From 8 p.m. local time the first match starts. Cafes and restaurants with TV sets are usually already full with fans.

One of the most popular spot for public viewing is the Marina Walk, a multi-purpose boulevard in the Dubai Marina district.

At the open-air cinema The Beach, visitors can indulge a football evening on XXL-large sofas, food and beverages for 150 Dirham ($40.90) per person.

The spectacle is framed by daily samba dancer and football artists who perform on the walk for the fun of small and tall guests.

World Cup matches are aired late in Dubai due to the time difference of seven hours between Brazil and the United Arab Emirates.

According to a survey by consultancy GulfTalent, half of all employees in the Gulf states stay awake to watch late-night matches.

One third of employees admitted they would go to work tired, 10 percent said they would go later to work on purpose. Even three percent said they would call in sick.

Asked how they like the tournament so far, local Emiratis are upbeat about the mood.

"During FIFA World Cup you truly see that Dubai, our city, became a global village," said Ibrahim Ahli, an Emirati civil engineer in his early thirties who went out Friday evening to watch Italy against Costa Rica.

Asked which team he supported he said, usually it was Spain because he travelled there many times, "but with Algeria being the only Arab country playing in Brazil my heart is also beating for them.

Dubai's state-owned carrier Emirates Airline is an official sponsor of the FIFA world cup.

The disappointment was huge when Belgium defeated Algeria 2-1 in an even contest last Tuesday.

"Next time", said Tarek, an Algerian salesman who works in the popular shopping centre Dubai Mall, the biggest shopping mall in the world.

Algeria still has to play against South Korea and Russia next week.

Rather disappointed were the crowds of English fans during the last Islamic weekend, although their team did not play.

But with Costa Rica surprisingly beating Italy in a narrow 1-0 victory, England were knocked out of the tournament.

With approximately 100,000 expats, the Brits are the biggest community from a Western country, far more than Germans (20,000) and French (10,000).

"This is really frustrating," said Pauline a British web designer for sports companies.

German residents and tourists in Dubai, on the other hand say their team' s strength reflected the new "feel good"-factor back home.

"The 4-0 against Portugal and the much celebrated Christiano Ronaldo is also because Germany emerged as the new economic driving force in Europe," said Maximilian, an airport testing engineer who lives in the Jumeirah lake district in New Dubai.