Rohan Mustafa is urging the UAE to remain on the attack as he eyes a dream return to Australia for a World Cup.
The national team are set for two crucial days of cricket at the T20 World Cup Qualifier in Muscat.
They face Bahrain in their final pool match at the eight-team tournament on Monday, ahead of a possible semi-final a day later.
UAE have been impressive in winning each of their first two games, against Ireland and Germany, in the competition so far.
It is possible they could be deprived a place in the last four if Bahrain were to upset the odds and beat them, and if Ireland beat Germany by a significant margin in Monday’s other fixture.
However, UAE are in outstanding form. They have lost just once in their past 10 matches in all cricket, and want to control their own fate with victory against their Gulf neighbours.
“We have to go hard against Bahrain and not give them the opportunity to win,” Mustafa said.
“If you lose matches like this your morale goes down and the other team’s goes up. They are unpredictable teams, so we have to go hard at them.”
Mustafa is unique within the UAE squad, in that he has the experience of two previous World Cups. He was part of the side for the 2014 T20 version in Bangladesh, then played at the 2015 50-over World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
A place in Thursday’s final of the Qualifier in Oman brings with it a trip to Australia in October to play in the main event, and Mustafa is intent on being on that flight.
“Someone asked me a few days ago, ‘What is your last dream in cricket?’ and I said I want to be the first player to play in three World Cups for the UAE team,” Mustafa said.
“I hope I can do that. It would be a very great opportunity for everyone. I know what the feelings are like when you go to a World Cup.
“The guys are really excited, and I am as well. I have been to two World Cups, including in Australia as well, and it was so beautiful. We want to get there and we are trying to do it.”
Mustafa had a boost ahead of the Qualifier when the latest ICC player rankings had him listed in the top 10 all-rounders in the world.
He says it was good news to receive, but that he is more focused on the collective effort at present.
“In my life, I always used to be very excited to get man of the match awards in international matches,” Mustafa said.
“After time, that becomes less. Right now, I don’t check Cricinfo, I don’t check anything else. If someone shares something on Twitter with me, I’m happy to share it back.
“But other than that, I just need to perform for my country. I want to do it for my country because this country has given me everything. It has given me a name.
“To be honest, I wasn’t aware [of his position in the ICC rankings]. One of the guys shared it with me on WhatsApp, congratulating me.
“It is a great thing, because I hadn’t been performing that well before this [tour]. When you do something and get such a thing as this, it raised your morale.
“It is the world rankings, so of course it is a good thing. But qualifying for the World Cup is far more important than anything like this.”
The biog
Name: Abeer Al Bah
Born: 1972
Husband: Emirati lawyer Salem Bin Sahoo, since 1992
Children: Soud, born 1993, lawyer; Obaid, born 1994, deceased; four other boys and one girl, three months old
Education: BA in Elementary Education, worked for five years in a Dubai school
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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
