"You need to decide who is going to be Giggs, who is going to be Rooney, who is Nani and who is Evra."
A training session at the Manchester United Soccer School is drawing to a close with a final four-a-side game in which the students, a group of seven to nine-year-olds, must choose which of their football heroes to be.
The soccer school has just opened its first permanent overseas facility at the Dome "What do you do in the changing room when the coach is speaking? You are quiet." The children instantly hush.
"We've always supported Manchester United at home because I've always admired Sir Alex Ferguson," explains Samir Nacef, whose sons, Rayan, nine, and Nayel, seven, are both enrolled in the course. Originally from Algeria, he works for a power company in Abu Dhabi, and lived previously in Aberdeen, Scotland, at the same time that Sir Alex was Aberdeen FC's manager. Nacef believes Ferguson's man-management skills and approach to training come through in the practices of the soccer school. "I saw Rayan train yesterday and I like the way they approach the teaching, " he says. "It's not just skills, but fair play. If you lose, you lose, but you still keep your sense of fair play. You have that sportsmanship."
Students who enrol in the course can also compete for a place in the World Skills Final, to be held at Manchester United's Old Trafford ground next year. Soccer school graduates from around the world will take part, and winners will be selected from each course at the Dome @ Rawdhat to play in an Abu Dhabi Skills Final in September 2011. Thirty children are expected to take part, and the top two scorers from that final will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Manchester to represent Abu Dhabi.
Back on the training pitch, Dixon's group is involved in the very important business of choosing which player to be. "I'm Ryan Giggs!" shouts one as he runs on to the pitch. "No, I'm Ryan Giggs," says another, just behind him.
"This the best job in the world," says Dixon. "Not many of our fans around the world get the chance to see Manchester United at Old Trafford, but by bringing the brand to them, it gives them the chance to be part of the Manchester United family."
A six-week course at the Manchester United Soccer School costs Dh990; the 10-week course costs Dh1,650. For more information visit www.manutdsoccerschools.ae or call 02 449 8480
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Company%20Profile
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Generation Start-up: Awok company profile
Started: 2013
Founder: Ulugbek Yuldashev
Sector: e-commerce
Size: 600 plus
Stage: still in talks with VCs
Principal Investors: self-financed by founder
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 523hp
Torque: 750Nm
Price: Dh469,000
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
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
MATCH INFO
Manchester United v Everton
Where: Old Trafford, Manchester
When: Sunday, kick-off 7pm (UAE)
How to watch: Live on BeIN Sports 11HD
