Barcelona heroes to kick off in Dubai?

The FIFA Club World Cup is coming to Dubai in December, when the champions of all six continental confederations will face off for a $5m prize. Manchester United are the current world champions, but the form of European Champions League favourites Barcelona is such that many expect the Spanish team will represent Europe in Dubai.

If they do, then it could delay plans by UAE telecoms operator Etisalat to bring Barca to Dubai as part of its $15.3m agreement to become become the official telecoms partner of the team. The telco has been guaranteed two appearances in countries within its Middle East and Africa network before 2013 and it had been working on a plan to bring the likes of Messi, Henry and Eto'o to the Gulf for a high-profile friendly.

Of course, this also means that even if Barca fails to win the European trophy, they won't have long to wait before they're boarding an Emirates flight to Dubai - and so it's a win-win deal for the sun worshippers in their squad.

Island in the sun

An island resort off the coast of Abu Dhabi has been named among the world's hottest hotels by one of the world's premier travel magazines - not bad going for a development that is only half finished.

Anantara Desert Islands Resort and Spa on Sir Bani Yas Island, developed by the Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), has been included in the annual Hot List of Condé Nast Traveller, an inclusion that is likely to boost the hotel's visitor numbers even as the slowdown impacts tourism in the region.

Originally the private retreat and royal nature reserve of Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the late ruler of Abu Dhabi and president of the UAE, the island is now a nature-based destination with 2.5 million trees and plants, lush mangroves and a vast range of animal, bird and marine life.

And the good news for tourists is that the resort is about to get even better. Plans are afoot to build four exclusive lodges on the island, along with a 250-seat conference centre and a diving and sports fishing centre.

In pole position

The announcement last week that Formula One's governing body, the FIA, had decided not to penalise the Brawn team for the design of its car, sets things up nicely for next week's Bahrain Grand Prix. And the man in the driving seat will be particularly pleased.

As noted last week, tycoon and entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson is looking forward to a healthy return as a result of his sponsoring of the pace-setting Brawn team. But Jensen Button, the British driver who has led his team to two wins already this season, is finding his star in the ascendency just as that of fellow Brit Lewis Hamilton hits the skids.

Companies are lining up to bag Button for endorsements and tie-ins, and the photogenic Englishman has seen his off-track earnings potential break the $100m barrier as a result.

Next week, he'll be in Dubai for a few days ahead of the Bahrain meet - and as a consequence of his recent success, I expect he'll be wining and dining in only the finest establishments.

Joanne Bladd is the deputy editor of Arabian Business English.

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