Eminem confirms Abu Dhabi F1 concert will proceed days after mother's death

American rapper Eminem's performance in Abu Dhabi is set to proceed as scheduled on Saturday, according to the artist. The announcement comes two days after the death of his mother, Debbie Nelson, 69, reportedly due to lung cancer.

In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Eminem confirmed he would go ahead with the scheduled Abu Dhabi F1 Yasalam After-Race Concert performance at Etihad Park.

“Well if you want Shady, this is what I'll give ya,” read the post, alongside an image of the rapper.

He also confirmed his subsequent planned concerts at Bahrain's Al Dana Amphitheatre on December 10 and his headlining performance at Saudi Arabia's Soundstorm festival two days later will run as planned by stating the dates in the accompanying image.

Ms Nelson had a tumultuous relationship with her son, whose real name is Marshall Mathers.

Eminem documented these experiences in the 2002 single Cleanin' Out My Closet, while Ms Nelson sued and later settled two defamation lawsuits against the artist over statements surrounding their relationship in media interviews.

In a 2008 memoir, My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem, she detailed her experiences raising the rapper as a single mother in Detroit. Eminem would later express some remorse for his earlier lyrics in the 2013 track Headlights, in which he rapped: "I'm sorry, Mama, for Cleanin’ Out My Closet... At the time, I was angry. Rightfully? Maybe so. Never meant to take it that far, though."

Eminem went on to open the Detroit restaurant Mom's Spaghetti in 2017 as a series of pop-ups before establishing a permanent brick-and-mortar location in his hometown in 2021.

Named after a line from the anthem Lose Yourself from 2002's 8 Mile soundtrack, it is also regarded as a tribute to his mother. Mom's Spaghetti will make its Middle East debut at the Abu Dhabi Formula One at the Yas Marina Circuit from Thursday to Sunday, offering popular dishes as well as rare and custom-designed Eminem memorabilia.

Eminem joins a line-up of high-profile artists performing as part of the concert series at Etihad Park. The series begins on Thursday with separate sets by RnB singer Teddy Swims and DJ Peggy Gou, followed by Maroon 5 on Friday and British rockers Muse on Sunday. Access to all concerts is exclusive for Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix ticket holders.

PROFILE

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Year started: 2018

Based: UAE

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Amount raised: $3m

Investors: Global Ventures and angel investors

Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale

Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni

Director: Amith Krishnan

Rating: 3.5/5

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THE BIO

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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