Lured by the match fee, much less than he earned at his peak, the champion faces a stiff challenge from the top four golfers in the world.

Virgin Racing has sold a major shareholding in the team to a Russian sportscar maker, Marussia Motors, Virgin boss Richard Branson revealed Thursday.

A year after its first Formula One race, Abu Dhabi hopes to lure even more tourists with "Ferrari World", a grandiose theme park.

Sam Leith recounts his visit to the desert paradise in the United Arab Emirates. Everything from the cranes outside to his hotel lobby screams 'money'

The United Arab Emirates' capital, Abu Dhabi, is at the centre of an explosion of wealth.

President George Bush visited the United States navy's Fifth Fleet on Sunday amid new tensions with Iran over an incident in which the United States says its ships were harassed in the Strait of Hormuz. Washington says Iranian boats threatened its warships on January 6 along the vital route for crude oil shipments.

The biggest Persian Gulf producers of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) are leaving open the option of an oil-supply increase that could influence whether crude prices head back towards $100 a barrel. Oil ministers, gathering to meet on Wednesday, have adopted a coordinated line to insist that supplies are sufficient to meet winter demand.

Ali al-Nuaimi, the Oil Minister of Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) kingpin Saudi Arabia, said on Monday that it was premature to talk about a possible increase in crude production by the cartel. "Right now it will be very premature to tell you what the assessment is" of oil data, he said.

Abu Dhabi, looking to tap into the thriving tourism market in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), plans to offer a cultural bonanza rather than follow Dubai in focusing on shopping holidays. Centrepiece of the quiet emirate's mega project to lure tourists is the construction of four museums, including a Guggenheim and, perhaps, a local version of the famous Louvre of Paris, as well as an art centre.

United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan announced on Thursday that the oil-rich Gulf state is to hold its first elections, in a move toward reforms. "We have decided to boost the role of the consultative council by electing half of its members through councils in each emirate," said Sheikh Khalifa.