DUBAI // Hamdan Al Kamali has challenged Al Wahda teammate Mohammed Al Akberi to eventually outshine UAE stars Ali Mabkhout and Ahmed Khalil.
Al Akberi, 20, enjoyed a stellar 2015/16 Arabian Gulf League season in which he featured 24 times for Wahda to help the club finish third. He was rewarded for his performances last month when he was named the division's young player of the year.
Al Akberi was then called up to the UAE's experimental squad for the King's Cup, starting in last Friday's defeat to Jordan. It is hoped the forward can graduate to the first-team set-up, with the third and final qualification stage for the 2018 Word Cup beginning in September. To this point, Al Akberi has made four senior appearances, scoring one goal.
Al Kamali, himself seeking a recall to the UAE first team, said Al Akberi needs to build on his recent fine form, citing the example of club colleague Ahmed Rashid, who won the AGL young player of the year 12 months previously and then struggled somewhat at Wahda.
“Mohammed Al Akberi has been selected as the best young player in the UAE; now he must be thinking he can become the best player in the UAE, like [Omar Abdulrahman] and Ali Mabkhout,” Al Kamali said. “This was hard for him to become the best young player.
“Last year, Ahmed Rashid won the award, but this year he has not played with Al Wahda. It is the same situation for Al Akberi.
“You must think always to be a good player in the national team and to play in the national team, not just to be on the bench. He is the future of the UAE and future of our club, also.
“He is a good player and he must be thinking to be better than Ali Mabkhout and Ahmed Khalil, not to just only think about going to national team. He must aim higher.”
Al Kamali says Al Akberi is one of a number of Wahda youngsters with the potential to earn promotion to the main UAE squad. Mahdi Ali included five from the capital club for the King’s Cup, with defender Salem Sultan and midfielder Khalid Bawazir appearing in both matches against Jordan and Syria.
“It is not just Al Akberi at Al Wahda, we have other good young players like Khalid Bawazir and Ahmed Rashid,” Al Kamali said. “Hopefully, they prove this with the national team.”
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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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
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
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
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Two products to make at home
Toilet cleaner
1 cup baking soda
1 cup castile soap
10-20 drops of lemon essential oil (or another oil of your choice)
Method:
1. Mix the baking soda and castile soap until you get a nice consistency.
2. Add the essential oil to the mix.
Air Freshener
100ml water
5 drops of the essential oil of your choice (note: lavender is a nice one for this)
Method:
1. Add water and oil to spray bottle to store.
2. Shake well before use.
