The Khalifa Stadium stadium in Doha, Qatar, one of the venues where Fifa World Cup matches will be played in November. Getty Images
The Khalifa Stadium stadium in Doha, Qatar, one of the venues where Fifa World Cup matches will be played in November. Getty Images
The Khalifa Stadium stadium in Doha, Qatar, one of the venues where Fifa World Cup matches will be played in November. Getty Images
The Khalifa Stadium stadium in Doha, Qatar, one of the venues where Fifa World Cup matches will be played in November. Getty Images

Qatar warns against illegally selling or exchanging World Cup tickets


Mona Farag
  • English
  • Arabic

Qatar on Wednesday gave a warning that anyone who sells or exchanges tickets for the football World Cup 2022 without permission from Fifa will face a fine of up to 250,000 riyals ($69,000).

The Justice Ministry said on Twitter that the penalty falls under Law No. 10 of 2021, which outlines Qatar's measures for hosting the World Cup in November.

The world football governing body, Fifa, has said if someone cannot attend a match, they are allowed to put their tickets up for sale on its official resale platform.

Fifa confirmed the ban on unauthorised ticket transfers on its website.

“Tickets that have been impermissibly transferred are not valid and may be cancelled at any time without notice,” the governing body said.

The reasons for the restrictions include match security, consumer protection, avoidance of counterfeit tickets, and protection of a fair pricing scheme.

The regulations are a part of Fifa's exclusive rights on intellectual and commercial property that controls the issuance, distribution and sale of tickets for World Cup matches, officials said.

A ticket applicant is only permitted to assign tickets to guests either free of charge or for an amount no greater than the face value of the ticket, Fifa said on its website.

The ticket terms of use do not allow guests to transfer tickets under any circumstances.

If a guest can no longer use a ticket, then it must be returned to the ticket applicant.

Tickets are being sold in phases on a first-come, first-served basis with an online queuing system in place for those hoping to buy.

Fans are limited to buying a maximum of six tickets per match ― and a maximum of 60 for the tournament ― to deter bulk-buying by touts looking to resell admissions on the parallel market at inflated fees.

People have been warned that buying outside official channels could invalidate their purchase, leading to their match tickets being cancelled.

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

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