Aayan Khan avenges U19 loss by helping UAE seniors win tri-series title against Nepal

Aayan Khan jetted into Kathmandu and helped the UAE to the tri-nations T20 title against Nepal on Friday.

The teenage spinner took three wickets to halt a rapid start by the home team at Tribhuvan University.

His contribution helped limit Nepal to 162-8 from their 20 overs.

In reply, the national team took the chase to the final over, by which point they required seven to win.

Aayan was not out at the not striker’s end as Basil Hameed hit the penultimate ball for six to seal a four-wicket win.

Aayan’s impact had been immediate. The final was the first game he was playing in a competition that also included Hong Kong.

He missed the group phase as he was captaining the UAE at the ACC Men’s U19 Premier Cup in Malaysia.

In his absence, the senior team had lost three of their four matches, including twice against the hosts.

But they inched through to the final with a slightly less poor net run rate than Hong Kong.

Over in Malaysia, Aayan had been faring better as his side reached the final of the 50-over age-group competition.

They did, though, lose to Nepal in the final on Tuesday. Aayan and Aryansh Sharma flew from Kuala Lumpur to Kathmandu to take their places in the senior team.

The tri-series has been part of the preparation for each of the sides ahead of the T20 World Cup Qualifier to follow.

The UAE and Hong Kong will be in the same group for the competition, which carries with it two qualifying berths for the main event. The two finalists will earn a place in the West Indies in June 2024.

Kuwait and Bahrain are the other two teams in a group with Hong Kong, with matches set to be played in Mulpani from Monday.

Nepal are in a group with Oman, Malaysia and Singapore, with matches to be played at Tribhuvan University.

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

The Brutalist

Director: Brady Corbet

Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn

Rating: 3.5/5

Race card

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m