Enrique Iglesias set to perform at Abu Dhabi’s F1 after race concert

Enrique Iglesias will be performing in Abu Dhabi as part of the Formula One After Race Concerts.

According to industry insiders both in the Middle East and North America, the pop singer is set to hit du Arena on Friday November 27, for what is the second of the four after-race concerts.

The first show, held the night earlier, is an all-Arabic affair featuring Algeria’s Cheb Khaled, Lebanon’s Fares Karam, Emirati singer Aryam and Lebanese producer DJ Said Mrad.

The headliners for Saturday, November 28, and the much coveted race-day slot the following day, are set to be unveiled by promoters Flash Entertainment in a press conferences scheduled for Monday, September 28.

However, as previously reported, sources closes to the band Blur state the Brit-Poppers are a sure bet to headline the race-day concert on November 29.

Iglesias debut Abu Dhabi performance marks a return to the UAE after his successful show at the Dubai World Trade Center in October 2012. Hitting the stage in front of a near sold-out crowd, the 40-year-old delivered a hit-laden set featuring the big tunes Bailamos, Be With You and Dirty Dancer.

Iglesias is presently in the middle of his 12th concert tour to promote his 10th album, 2014's Sex and Love. The album has a smattering of Spanish-language tracks, including Latin chart-toppers Loco, El Perdedor and Bailando.

Iglesias’s inclusion also points towards the possible appearance of his long-term partner, former Russian tennis star Anna Kournikova. She usually joins Iglesias when he is on tour, which puts them in the running for the most glamorous celebrity couple at Abu Dhabi Formula One this year.

Event organisers Flash Entertainment were not available for comment.

• Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is on the weekend of November 27-29

sasaeed@thenational.ae

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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.

8. Pillar 2 implementation

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer