An Egyptian model was awarded $60,000 (Dh220,365) in a payout for derogatory comments made about her on television.
Cairo Economic Court imposed a one million Egyptian pound fine on Al Nahar TV channel after presenter Tamer Amin made derogatory comments about Merhan Keller, 30, on his live television show in June 2019.
Amin likened Keller to Egyptian actor Mohammad Ramadan during the Akher Al Nahar chat-show he was hosting.
It has been a great victory for women and will hopefully lead to positive change in Egypt
In December Amin was handed a suspended two-year jail sentence and ordered to pay compensation of 40,000 pounds ($2,550) after a Cairo judge ruled his comments were slanderous, insulting and of a sexual nature.
The TV channel has also now been fined, with the penalty awarded to Keller as compensation.
Keller, who was based in Dubai for years before moving to San Francisco, said the ruling would give more women the confidence to report cases of verbal abuse and harassment.
"The $60,000 is nothing compared to the amount I have lost after I had to leave the UAE because of the episode, what matters is that this was a final ruling," she told The National.
“It has sent a strong message. We have lived for too long believing that this kind of behaviour is normal and just something we have to endure because we are women.
“This was a great surprise, but it has been a great victory for women and will hopefully lead to positive change in Egypt.”
Egypt's MeToo Movement
The incident occurred while Egypt was hosting the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations football tournament.
Keller, whose full name is Merhan Hisham Abdel Qader, made headlines at the time for sharing lewd comments sent to her by star footballer Amr Warda during the football tournament – for which Warda publicly apologised.
Keller was subject to a vicious social media hate campaign with the matter discussed by Amin during his television show broadcast by Al Nahar TV to millions of people.
In January 2020, Amin told The National he was merely covering the comments of Warda in a news report and defended his actions.
He said public figures had to accept criticism, even if it was “hot and sarcastic”.
The incident became Egypt’s MeToo moment and encouraged other women in Egypt to reveal their experiences of abuse on social media.
Many offered Keller support, adding encouraging video messages online accompanied by the hashtags “speakup” and “womenempowerment”.
“Having to endure this as a woman living for so long in a patriarchal system has not been easy,” said Keller, who plans to return to the UAE.
“I have felt isolated, misunderstood, hated and blamed for the national team losing a football match.
“I am so grateful that the judicial system has seen this as a severe violation of our rights.
“Women feel more empowered now in the country to stand up for themselves with the law on their side. It has happened at a crucial time in Egypt.”
Bundesliga fixtures
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
UAE central contracts
Full time contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Usman, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid
Part time contracts
Aryan Lakra, Ansh Tandon, Karthik Meiyappan, Rahul Bhatia, Alishan Sharafu, CP Rizwaan, Basil Hameed, Matiullah, Fahad Nawaz, Sanchit Sharma
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Emirate: Dubai
Hobbies: I enjoy travelling, experiencing new things, painting, reading, flying, and the French language
Favourite quote: "Be the change you wish to see" - unknown
Favourite activity: Connecting with different cultures
Dubai World Cup prize money
Group 1 (Purebred Arabian) 2000m Dubai Kahayla Classic - $750,000
Group 2 1,600m(Dirt) Godolphin Mile - $750,000
Group 2 3,200m (Turf) Dubai Gold Cup – $750,000
Group 1 1,200m (Turf) Al Quoz Sprint – $1,000,000
Group 2 1,900m(Dirt) UAE Derby – $750,000
Group 1 1,200m (Dirt) Dubai Golden Shaheen – $1,500,000
Group 1 1,800m (Turf) Dubai Turf – $4,000,000
Group 1 2,410m (Turf) Dubai Sheema Classic – $5,000,000
Group 1 2,000m (Dirt) Dubai World Cup– $12,000,000
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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
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