Yousif Mirza backs trailblazer Safiya Al Sayegh to make UAE proud at Paris Olympics

Prominent Emirati cyclist Yousif Mirza is feeling extremely proud as he prepares to pass the Olympic baton to Safiya Al Sayegh who is set to become the first Emirati female cyclist to fly the national flag at the Games in Paris.

Mirza had the honour of becoming the first Emirati to compete in the road race event, at the Rio Games in 2016, and now heads to Paris as Al Sayegh's coach.

Mirza is highly motivated to guide Al Sayegh who has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the world of cycling. She became the first Arab woman to join a World Tour cycling team in 2022 when she signed up for Team UAE ADQ, after which she went on to make her World Tour debut in 2023, finishing in the top 35 at the Tour of Chongming Island in Shanghai.

This was followed by an excellent performance at the Asian Games in Hangzhou where she was placed ninth in the individual time trial and 11th in the road race. She also represented the UAE in two World Championships.

On Wednesday, Al Sayegh, 22, travelled to Italy for a three-week training camp. Following this, she will compete in the Asian Road Championship in Kazakhstan on June 9 before stepping up her preparations for the Paris Olympics.

And she will be juggling all of this while also gearing up for her upcoming graduation from the American University in Dubai with a degree in graphic design.

With so much on her plate, Al Sayegh will need all the help she can get. Accompanying her for the camp in Italy is the UAE national team head coach Mirza, an accomplished rider in his own right - he was the first Emirati cyclist to qualify for the Olympics in 2016.

Aside from that, Mirza won multiple national titles as well as a silver medal in the 2015 Asian Cycling Championships in Thailand. Also, Mirza was the first Emirati to ride for a UCI World Team in 2017 when he joined UAE Team Emirates.

Needless to say, Mirza is the ideal person to guide Al Sayegh and he has full faith in her potential.

“She’ll obviously do her best and whatever the outcome, she will return with the experience. She’s now the trailblazing Emirati female cyclist and this has set a precedent for others to follow,” Mirza told The National before they left for Italy.

Al Sayegh is all praise for her coach as well.

“One thing he (Mirza) told me is that he sees himself in me and those were quite nice words to hear,” Al Sayegh told The National's Abtal podcast recently.

“If he sees himself in me, that means that hopefully I can have at least a successful career as he has. He's been supporting very closely. He's always offered me what I've needed to progress and to go even higher.

Emirati cyclist and national team coach Yousif Mirza. Pawan Singh / The National

“He's provided me with so much of his knowledge of what to do in such hard situations, how to also deal with the sport at such a high level. Because as you progress with the levels of sport, you actually get to experience new things that you'd never expect to experience.”

Mirza took charge of both the national men’s and women’s cycling teams a year ago. He is drawing from his experience and sharing what he learnt to benefit the national team and teach the athletes what to expect at the global stage.

“We had one qualifying spot for 2024 Paris and we chose Safiya as the best candidate to rack up the rankings points and she eventually fulfilled our expectations by qualifying for the Olympics,” Mirza said.

“Safiya is young and has shown potential as the leading Emirati female cyclist. She has some good results to prove that. We provided her with the opportunity and she’s grabbed it with both hands.”

Aside from his work with Al Sayegh, Mirza is keen on passing down his knowledge to benefit other young riders.

“Indeed, I want to share all my experience with the national team and my goal is also to discover new riders to represent the UAE in the major events, like the Olympics,” he added.

“We have a nice programme in place for the national team with the cooperation of our federation and the expertise shared by both the UAE Team Emirates and the UAE Team ADQ.”

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates

5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai

Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:

• Dubai Marina

The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104

• Downtown

Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure. “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154

• City Walk

The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena. “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210

• Jumeirah Lake Towers

Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941

• Palm Jumeirah

Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152

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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

Sunday:
GP3 race: 12:10pm
Formula 2 race: 1:35pm
Formula 1 race: 5:10pm
Performance: Guns N' Roses