It has been two years since Mohammed Assaf’s ground-breaking victory in the inaugural season of Arab Idol. Since then, the in-demand Palestinian superstar has toured the world, won an MTV European Music Award and played to more than 20,000 fans at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after-race concert. His rags-to-riches story — from wedding singer to superstar — is the topic of an upcoming, as-yet-untitled feature film directed by his fellow Palestinian, the Oscar-nominated Hany Abu Assad, which Assaf says is in the running to screen at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.
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More on our exclusive chat with Mohammed Assaf
■ Second album due out next month
■ Eid gig in Abu Dhabi provides rare glimpse of the star
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Wait a minute it’s Eid. Aren’t you supposed to also take a break from the stage and chill with family and friends?
That’s rarely the case. For a singer, particularly from this part of the world, Eid is rarely a case where you spend time with family and friends. It’s definitely an intensive work period where you perform a lot of shows ... I guess what I learnt is that life as an artist comes with hard work and it eventually becomes second nature to you. You also realise that in certain cases the times where you work and don’t is not in your hands.
It’s been two years since you won Arab Idol and you have embarked on this seemingly never-ending world tour. Do you fear exhaustion?
That is something to think about, but at the moment it is not an issue. You know, one of the things I did when I entered the industry is seek out the advice of my peers, particularly those I consider superstars, and they told me the same thing: that’s on the first years of your career you are going to work harder than you ever did before. Also, I have my own goals as well. I don’t want people to forget my name after I am done, so to do that there is rarely time for rest.
More people are set to know your name with the release of your biopic later this year. How involved are you in the project?
On the music sense I am involved in that I have been recording songs specifically for the movie — I actually completed a few songs in Dubai only a few days ago. On the acting front I am not part of it all. I am not ready to enter the acting world. If I do I will need to be very careful because I see others did it and for those who didn’t choose wisely it backfired on them.
How realistic a portrayal is the film?
It is not a 100 per cent true story of Mohammed Assaf. This is another reason why I didn’t get directly involved in making the film.
So would you say the film’s plot is inspired by your real life instead?
I would say that it is a drama and like most dramas there are certain things that are bit further away from what really took place. The film discusses my achievements and the challenges that I faced but in a different way.
The film is directed by Oscar nominated director Hany Abu Assad, so there should a ready made international audience anticipating the release. Do you feel the film could provide a fresh perspective into the struggle faced by Palestinians living under Israeli occupation?
What Hany did actually was not focus directly on the politics. Instead, he focused on the things that we all experience in life, someway or another. You know, the joys and pains of life. The main theme of the film is about success, how one can achieve it when you are surrounded by obstacles — which in my case remains the occupation and wars — and how despite all of these things you can still make something out of yourself if you strive hard and with the support of family and friends who provide you with hope.
Have you watched the film?
Oh yes, I did not long ago in fact.
What’s your personal review of it?
It’s great. That said, however, my only comment on is what I told you before: it is not 100 per cent accurate in terms of what happened in my life. It is more of a drama. Particularly the first half of the film. In the second part, which focuses on my Arab Idol experience, now that is very realistic. By the way, don’t take what I am saying here as criticism — it’s just my honest take on it. The film affected me deeply when I watched it: it made me laugh, I also cried and I connected with all of the characters in it.
Is there any word on the title and the film release?
Not yet to be honest. But there is discussion about having the film screened in the film festival in Toronto around September so that should be the beginning of things. It is going to be a busy year, I can tell you that.
ssaeed@thenational.ae
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
More on our exclsuive chat with Mohammed Assaf
■ Second album due out next month
■ Eid gig in Abu Dhabi provides rare glimpse of the star
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Scoreline
Chelsea 1
Azpilicueta (36')
West Ham United 1
Hernandez (73')
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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
25-MAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Daniel Akpeyi
Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina, Abdullahi Shehu, Chidozie Awaziem, William Ekong, Leon Balogun, Kenneth Omeruo, Jamilu Collins, Semi Ajayi
Midfielders: John Obi Mikel, Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, John Ogu
Forwards: Ahmed Musa, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Henry Onyekuru, Odion Ighalo, Alexander Iwobi, Samuel Kalu, Paul Onuachu, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze
On Standby: Theophilus Afelokhai, Bryan Idowu, Ikouwem Utin, Mikel Agu, Junior Ajayi, Valentine Ozornwafor
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
