Sana Khater, who is currently working with an Abu Dhabi family office, will joint Investcorp Capital on September 1. Photo: Investcorp Capital
Sana Khater, who is currently working with an Abu Dhabi family office, will joint Investcorp Capital on September 1. Photo: Investcorp Capital
Sana Khater, who is currently working with an Abu Dhabi family office, will joint Investcorp Capital on September 1. Photo: Investcorp Capital
Sana Khater, who is currently working with an Abu Dhabi family office, will joint Investcorp Capital on September 1. Photo: Investcorp Capital

Investcorp Capital appoints industry veteran Sana Khater as chief executive


Deepthi Nair
  • English
  • Arabic

Investcorp Capital, an Abu Dhabi-listed asset manager, has appointed industry veteran Sana Khater as chief executive as the company embarks on the next phase of its growth.

Ms Khater will take charge of Investcorp Capital, a unit of Mubadala Investment Company-backed Investcorp, on September 1, succeeding Mohamed Aamer, who has served as interim chief executive since March, the company said in a regulatory filing on Monday to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, where its shares are traded.

Mr Aamer will continue to lead Investcorp Capital until Ms Khater joins and will resign thereafter, the bourse statement said.

Ms Khater brings more than 35 years of experience and has served in leadership roles at listed and private companies, including Abu Dhabi's Aldar, investment management company Waha Capital, alternative investment firm NBK Capital, as well as the National Bank of Kuwait.

At Aldar, the top-listed developer in Abu Dhabi, Ms Khater worked as an executive director from 2021 to 2023 and as chief financial officer at Waha Capital from 2010 to 2020.

She is currently chief financial officer and senior adviser at a family office in Abu Dhabi, Investcorp Capital said.

“Her exceptional leadership experience and deep expertise in financial services positions her well to steer Investcorp Capital through its next chapter,” said Mohammed Alardhi, chairman of Investcorp Capital.

Investcorp Capital began trading on the ADX in 2023 following an initial public offering that raised Dh1.66 billion ($451 million)

Investcorp Capital began trading on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange in 2023 after an initial public offering that raised $451 million. Photo: Investcorp
Investcorp Capital began trading on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange in 2023 after an initial public offering that raised $451 million. Photo: Investcorp

The parent Investcorp is an independent manager of alternative investments, with $59.7 billion in assets under management.

The firm invests capital into funds managed or controlled by its clients, or directly into alternative investments, including private corporations, property assets and collateralised loan obligations.

It has interests in private equity, real estate and credit management, and holds general partner positions in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Last year, Investcorp Capital agreed to invest in the $4.2 billion redevelopment of New York’s JFK International Airport’s Terminal 6 through its newly formed partnership with Corsair Capital – Investcorp Corsair Infrastructure Partners.

In 2023, Investcorp bought a controlling stake in China's Shandong Jianuo Electronics (Jianuo), which provides specialised premium components used in high-end applications such as electric vehicle power management, battery charging infrastructure, solar and wind power generation and 5G base station infrastructure.

Ms Khater said Investcorp Capital is at a “pivotal time in its growth journey” and with its differentiated investment platform and offering, it is "well-positioned to create value through its exposure to the global alternatives space backed by over 42 years of Investcorp’s track record".

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Essentials
The flights

Return flights from Dubai to Windhoek, with a combination of Emirates and Air Namibia, cost from US$790 (Dh2,902) via Johannesburg.
The trip
A 10-day self-drive in Namibia staying at a combination of the safari camps mentioned – Okonjima AfriCat, Little Kulala, Desert Rhino/Damaraland, Ongava – costs from $7,000 (Dh25,711) per person, including car hire (Toyota 4x4 or similar), but excluding international flights, with The Luxury Safari Company.
When to go
The cooler winter months, from June to September, are best, especially for game viewing. 

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

Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

Directed: Smeep Kang
Produced: Soham Rockstar Entertainment; SKE Production
Cast: Rishi Kapoor, Jimmy Sheirgill, Sunny Singh, Omkar Kapoor, Rajesh Sharma
Rating: Two out of five stars 

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Eyasses squad

Charlie Preston (captain) – goal shooter/ goalkeeper (Dubai College)

Arushi Holt (vice-captain) – wing defence / centre (Jumeriah English Speaking School)  

Olivia Petricola (vice-captain) – centre / wing attack (Dubai English Speaking College)

Isabel Affley – goalkeeper / goal defence (Dubai English Speaking College)

Jemma Eley – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)

Alana Farrell-Morton – centre / wing / defence / wing attack (Nord Anglia International School)

Molly Fuller – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)

Caitlin Gowdy – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai English Speaking College)

Noorulain Hussain – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai College)

Zahra Hussain-Gillani – goal defence / goalkeeper (British School Al Khubairat)

Claire Janssen – goal shooter / goal attack (Jumeriah English Speaking School)         

Eliza Petricola – wing attack / centre (Dubai English Speaking College)

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

Sarfira

Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal 

Rating: 2/5

PROFILE OF INVYGO

Started: 2018

Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo

Based: Dubai

Sector: Transport

Size: 9 employees

Investment: $1,275,000

Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri

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GIANT REVIEW

Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan

Director: Athale

Rating: 4/5

JAPAN SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Masaaki Higashiguchi, Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida, Sho Sasaki, Hiroki Sakai, Sei Muroya, Genta Miura, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Midfielders: Toshihiro Aoyama, Genki Haraguchi, Gaku Shibasaki, Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Shoya Nakajima, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Ritsu Doan
Forwards: Yuya Osako, Takuma Asano, Koya Kitagawa

Updated: July 28, 2025, 11:04 AM