Dubai is in the running to host Manny Pacquiao’s next fight after the Filipino boxer’s manager confirmed he will return to the ring to fight World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Jessie Vargas.
Pacquiao, 37, defeated Timothy Bradley on April 9 in what was thought to be his farewell fight to focus on his political career. He was elected to the Philippines Senate in May.
However, Pacquiao, an eight division world champion, has performed a U-turn on his boxing career and will face Vargas on November 5.
"Retirement doesn't suit Manny right now," Michael Koncz told the Los Angeles Times. "It is amazing what training and fighting does for him."
• Exclusive interview — Bob Arum on Pacquiao: 'My job was to present Manny as he really is, people just fell in love with him'
Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, recently revealed he was involved in meetings to discuss the location of the fight, with Dubai and Las Vegas the leading options.
American Vargas (27-1-0) said on Friday he is in talks with Pacquiao’s camp to hold a fight at the Thomas & Mack Center arena in Las Vegas.
Koncz told the Times that he would travel with Arum to Philippines next week to meet with Pacquiao and pick a site.
“That’s the essence of the meeting,” Koncz said. “Not choosing an opponent. That’s already done.”
The UAE has been considered for high-profile fights in the past. Two-time world champion Amir Khan has continually expressed a desire to fight in the Emirates, with Pacquiao touted as a possible opponent.
The UAE was also suggested by the Pacquiao camp for his showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr, although Mayweather refused any possibility of hosting the fight outside Las Vegas.
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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
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Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.
These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.
Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.
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