After making clear progress at Tokyo 2020 following his Paralympics debut five years earlier, UAE shooter Saif Al Nuaimi has reason to be confident of his medal chances in Paris.
Al Nuaimi finished 14th in the qualifying rounds of the R3 Mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone SH1 and 25th in the R6 Mixed 50m Rifle Prone SH1 in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. He came even closer in Tokyo in 2021, qualifying for the finals to finish sixth in the R6 Mixed 50m Rifle, while placing 25th again in the qualifying phase in the Mixed 10m Air Rifle.
“Going to Paris, I feel I’m at my best, and like everyone believes, I’m hopeful to be third time lucky,” Al Nuaimi told The National during a meet-and-greet event in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
“Actually, this should be my fourth Paralympic Games but after qualifying for London 2012, I couldn’t participate in that event because of personal issues. Since then, I have progressed and am well-prepared heading to Paris.”
Al Nuaimi booked his passage to Paris after placing fifth at the 2022 World Cup in Korea and will take aim at another shot at the 10m Air Rifle and 50m Rifle competitions.
The Al Ain resident, who works in administration at the Department of Immigration, has pursued shooting for 18 years full time.
“It was a hobby at the beginning and around 2006, I started to take it more seriously. I thought I had some potential. I spent most of my free time to train and the results got me into the UAE Paralympic team,” Al Nuaimi said.
“I have been getting good scores consistently in recent times and I feel I’m peaking at the right time. I just hope I can keep this momentum going until Paris. My mind, thoughts and focus are always on the shooting range. I’m obsessed with it.
“I am also really honoured to represent the country. Now I spend five hours a day in training and enjoying every moment. Hopefully, this may be my best Paralympic Games, and I’m very excited.”
Al Nuaimi is aiming to emulate the success of Abdullah Sultan Al Aryani, the most successful Emirati Paralympian of all time with two golds and three silvers. Al Aryani will be aiming to add to his collection in Paris.
“I train with him in Al Ain and have travelled with him to many competitions here and abroad,” Al Nuaimi said. “I try to be like him and follow him closely on his advice and mentoring. He has played a massive part in my progress and to where I have reached now. He will be by my side in Paris, encouraging and motivating me.”
The Paralympic shooting team attended camps in Switzerland and Germany last month and according to Al Nuaimi, are ready to fire for the medals.
Al Aryani heads the five-member shooting team that includes Al Nuaimi and Obaid Al Dahmani, who competed in both London and Rio before missing out on Tokyo. Joining them are the female shooters Ayesha Al Shamsi and Ayesha Al Mehairi, who was the first Emirati woman to qualify for the Paralympics in Tokyo.
For Al Aryani, Paris will be his fifth Paralympic Games after his debut at Beijing 2008. He struck gold in the R6 Mixed 50m Rifle in London and followed up with three silvers in Rio and a gold in Tokyo.
“Obviously we are expecting him to add to his Paralympic medals tally and also to play a huge role for the rest of us to reach the medal rounds,” Al Nuaimi said.
“The team has done all that was needed and we are ready to bring a few medals back home, Insha Allah. My sincere thanks and gratitude to our federation, families, fans and everyone that has contributed in our journey to bring honour and glory to the UAE.”
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
Reading List
Practitioners of mindful eating recommend the following books to get you started:
Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life by Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr Lilian Cheung
How to Eat by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Mindful Diet by Dr Ruth Wolever
Mindful Eating by Dr Jan Bays
How to Raise a Mindful Eaterby Maryann Jacobsen
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
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
World Cup qualifier
Thailand 2 (Dangda 26', Panya 51')
UAE 1 (Mabkhout 45 2')
Dunki
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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
