The DP World International League Twenty20 is the biggest platform for the UAE players to showcase their talents and skills to the rest of the world, says Robin Singh.
The ILT20 is the first major franchise-run cricket tournament staged in the UAE and sanctioned by the Emirates Cricket Board. It's the first T20 league run by the board of an Associate nation and given the List A status by the International Cricket Council.
The ILT20's inaugural season was held last year and the second edition got under way on January 19 and will conclude on February 17.
Also, ahead of the second edition, the founding of the ILT20 Development tournament for local players and the ILT20 Schools Cup have given it a whole new meaning to UAE cricket.
As a milestone franchise tournament of the UAE, the ILT20 provides local players with a major boost as each team is given a budget of $2.5 million and the second season has seen some rule changes with the introduction of the Super Sub and the Wildcard entry.
The Wildcard rule allows teams the option to add two additional players to their 22-player roster at any stage of the tournament.
Singh, who was the UAE’s director of cricket for just over three years until March 2023, has a good understanding of the cricketing landscape in the country, which gives him an insight into the ILT20’s growth.
The former India all-rounder is now the head coach of MI Emirates. He says it will give UAE players a big boost to their careers on the international circuits.
“The competition will only get better as it progresses and provides the UAE players the opportunity to showcase their skills and talent in the international circuit,” Singh told The National during the MI Emirates training session at the Tolerance Oval, adjoining the Zayed Cricket Stadium.
“The ILT20 season 2 has a lot more UAE players and the kind of exposure they get can only help them develop, not only for the franchises but for the national team as well.”
Singh pointed out that confidence, understanding and professionalism in the sport were more important for the players, particularly from the Associate nations, in order to progress to the next level.
“Rather than they think from a mediocre perspective of coming from an Associate nation, the players rubbing shoulders with some of the players from established countries, both on the field and in sharing the dressing rooms, can create a big impact on their efforts, performances and thought process,” he said.
“The real benefit of this tournament is to enhance their skills to showcase their talent, and if they do better, people will recognise them across the globe. So far, this tournament is good for all of us and going forward I can see it getting better.
“There’s a lot of potential out there in this tournament. There’s a lot of guys in the opposition, from all the established cricket playing countries. It’s a top-flight tournament and it’s for the players to show what they can do at this level and carve out careers.”
Singh, who has a Test and 136 ODI’s for India, believes performances from the UAE players can get them into the teams beyond their quota of four players per team.
“I don’t think it’s going to stop anyone from being selected if you can reach the required levels of an international cricketer,” he said.
“Now they allow you to pick as many as you want. It’s really good if you can compete in an international scenario. I think it’s quite open with the new rule that has come in the Wildcards. I would say it’s open for the UAE boys.”
What about providing a platform for some of the up-and-coming youngsters in India to play in the ILT20?
“I don’t think that policy’s ever been there and I don’t first see that they have the window to play here at this time of the year. There’s no way they can come and play in any of these leagues.”
Singh has high regards for the Mumbai Indians, having joined the franchise in 2010. “It’s loyalty as well as the professionalism,” he said when asked of his 14-year association with the team.
“When you’re in a franchise like this it’s the professionalism that keeps you there. I have worked with loyalty. That has always been one of the things.
“It’s about being true to the franchise and it’s about being good to go again and give your best for the franchise because they’re probably the best going around.”
The franchise has drafted former Mumbai Indian players Lasith Malinga, Kiwi pair James Franklin and Mitchell McClenaghan, and former India international Vinay Kumar to their coaching system.
“They look for people who have been good for Mumbai Indians and that’s up to the owners on these things, and ultimately try to get people who are good in the coaching set up,” Singh said when asked about that policy.
“It’s their wish and policy at the end of the day. More importantly in the franchise, you need to get good people who understand and know the way it works in the franchise.”
MI Emirates stretched their winning streak in the tournament to three with a 106-run victory over Sharjah Warriors on Friday after starting their campaign with a defeat to Delhi Capitals.
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
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
'Ghostbusters: From Beyond'
Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace
Rating: 2/5
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
