Ali Al Qaisi vows to finish Jesse Arnett 'once and for all' in UAE Warriors trilogy fight

Ali Al Qaisi and Jesse Arnett traded verbal blows ahead of their UAE Warriors trilogy fight at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Their first bout in July 2022 ended with Arnett securing the featherweight title by TKO when the cage-side doctor stopped the contest after Al Qaisi suffered a deep cut above his left eye in the second round.

The Jordanian “Royal Fighter” returned to the cage two months later, taking the title back with a third-round submission and is now determined to settle the score once and for all.

“I have beaten him once and I want to beat him more so he never returns for a rematch and never seek a title contest in this promotion again,” Al Qaisi told The National on the sidelines of the pre-fight conference.

“I wasn’t happy when the ringside doctor stopped the fight and awarded the win to my opponent. That’s behind me and I came back and proved that I was the champion. This time there won’t be another rematch. I’m going to finish him once and for all.”

Al Qaisi has won both his fights since losing his title to Arnett, beating the Canadian in the rematch last September before successfully defending his featherweight UAE Warriors Arabia belt against Egyptian Ahmed Faress on March 19.

“I have moved on and my focus is on my next opponent,” he said when asked of his fight against Arnett and beyond.

“We are in 2023 where life moves very fast. I don’t think too far but just focus on what I have to do next. I have worked hard and I come in good shape, and I want to finish this score with Jesse.

“My training and preparation haven’t changed. My preparations are planned according to the opponent I face. I always prepare as if I’m facing the best opponent in the world.

“Once I know whom I fight, then I start preparing for him. We have different camps to face different opponents. We have specific camps and specific training schedules. So, every fight is different for me.”

Arnett has not been in action since his defeat to Al Qaisi but insisted he’s in the best shape of his life to regain the title.

“I have come here to finish this guy off,” he said. “I’m going to knock him out this time. I have been too nice to this guy in the last two times but I’m coming in as the bad big cat against the bad Ali.”

In the co-main event, the vacant UAE Warriors middleweight title will be decided as Brazil’s Juscelino Ferreira takes on Amir Fazli.

The UAE Warriors Arabia 11 kicks off the double-header fight card at the Etihad Arena on Friday.

Lebanon’s Mohammad Osseili meets Egyptian Ahmed Sami while Iraq’s Hussein Salem and Tunisian Mohammed Sadok Trabelsi clash in a co-main event.

Also announced for this card, after a three-fight undefeated run in Bellator, top Moroccan-Dutch kickboxer Ilias Bulaid continues his MMA journey in UAE Warriors as he faces top Egyptian prospect Omar Khaled Fayoumi.

The UAE Warriors Arabia 11 and UAE Warriors 42 can both be watched live through UFC Fight Pass.

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

Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics

Why Myanmar couldn't rise to meet the world's expectations

Suu Kyi's unholy alliance with Orban is a new despicable low

The halo that once crowned Suu Kyi has been replaced

MATCH INFO

Champions League quarter-final, first leg

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE)

Matches can be watched on BeIN Sports

World Cup final

Who: France v Croatia
When: Sunday, July 15, 7pm (UAE)
TV: Game will be shown live on BeIN Sports for viewers in the Mena region

Golden Shoe top five (as of March 1):

Harry Kane, Tottenham, Premier League, 24 goals, 48 points
Edinson Cavani, PSG, Ligue 1, 24 goals, 48 points
Ciro Immobile, Lazio, Serie A, 23 goals, 46 points
Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, Premier League, 23 goals, 46 points
Lionel Messi, Barcelona, La Liga, 22 goals, 44 points

UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

LILO & STITCH

Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders

Director: Dean Fleischer Camp

Rating: 4.5/5

Packages which the US Secret Service said contained possible explosive devices were sent to:

Former first lady Hillary Clinton
Former US president Barack Obama
Philanthropist and businessman George Soros
Former CIA director John Brennan at CNN's New York bureau
Former Attorney General Eric Holder (delivered to former DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz)
California Congresswoman Maxine Waters (two devices)

Tips for avoiding trouble online

Do not post incorrect information and beware of fake news
Do not publish or repost racist or hate speech, yours or anyone else’s
Do not incite violence and be careful how to phrase what you want to say
Do not defame anyone. Have a difference of opinion with someone? Don’t attack them on social media
Do not forget your children and monitor their online activities

In numbers

1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:

800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
150 tonnes to landfill
50 tonnes sold as scrap metal

800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal

Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year

25 staff on site

White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogenChromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxideUltramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica contentOphiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on landOlivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.