Emirates is run by the Emirates Group, which is owned by the government of Dubai.

FORBES: Connect

Al-Fahim -- chief executive of Abu Dhabi-based developer Hydra Properties -- reached the deal with Thaksin and Khalid Kadfour Al-Muhairy, the legal chief of the Emirates Group.

CNN: Robinho joins Manchester City for British record fee

North Korea and the United Arab Emirates earlier kicked off the Group D schedule with a 0-0 draw at the Qatar Sports Club in match between teams ranked 105th and 108th in the world respectively.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Arsenal will still qualify for the knockout stages if they beat Partizan Belgrade, who have lost all five games so far, in their final group game at The Emirates on Wednesday, 8 December.

BBC: Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Eboue ruled out with injujry

And for one group of expatriates in the United Arab Emirates, spotting that demand from other expats has enabled them to create a booming business.

BBC: Expats see business boom in Mid East

Group V (b): United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia.

UNESCO: CULTURE

United Arab Emirates businessman Al Fahim was the initial figurehead of the Abu Dhabi United Group when they took control of Manchester City from Thaksin last year, but is now acting for himself.

BBC: Portsmouth deny Shinawatra link

Ramada opened its first hotel in Saudi Arabia last year, and SAS Group , owner of Radisson hotels, is developing properties in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

FORBES: Magazine Article