• BRENTFORD RATINGS: David Raya - 7. Didn’t have too much to do until late on where he made several crucial saves to keep Chelsea out. Impressive with his distribution throughout. AP
    BRENTFORD RATINGS: David Raya - 7. Didn’t have too much to do until late on where he made several crucial saves to keep Chelsea out. Impressive with his distribution throughout. AP
  • Mathias Jorgensen - 5. Struggled at times, which is understandable with the defender not being a regular starter. However, he did enough to help his side keep a clean sheet. Getty
    Mathias Jorgensen - 5. Struggled at times, which is understandable with the defender not being a regular starter. However, he did enough to help his side keep a clean sheet. Getty
  • Ben Mee - 7. Did well to keep Broja and the rest of the Chelsea front line at bay. A dominant figure in the heart of the Brentford defence. Reuters
    Ben Mee - 7. Did well to keep Broja and the rest of the Chelsea front line at bay. A dominant figure in the heart of the Brentford defence. Reuters
  • Ethan Pinnock – 8. After his day to forget at Newcastle, Pinnock bounced back with an impressive and assured performance against Chelsea. PA
    Ethan Pinnock – 8. After his day to forget at Newcastle, Pinnock bounced back with an impressive and assured performance against Chelsea. PA
  • Mads Roerslev - 6. Perhaps not his strongest night going forward, but did well to limit Cucurella to scraps. AP
    Mads Roerslev - 6. Perhaps not his strongest night going forward, but did well to limit Cucurella to scraps. AP
  • Frank Onyeka - 7. An excellent box-to-box display from the midfielder, who’s threatening runs provided danger for the Chelsea back three. Getty
    Frank Onyeka - 7. An excellent box-to-box display from the midfielder, who’s threatening runs provided danger for the Chelsea back three. Getty
  • Vitaly Janelt - 6. Coped well with Chelsea's creative midfielders, and didn’t allow them to impose themselves on the match. Action Images
    Vitaly Janelt - 6. Coped well with Chelsea's creative midfielders, and didn’t allow them to impose themselves on the match. Action Images
  • Mathias Jensen - 5. Not his finest performance. Sloppy in possession at times, and poor distribution. Getty
    Mathias Jensen - 5. Not his finest performance. Sloppy in possession at times, and poor distribution. Getty
  • Rico Henry - 6. Did well to make Loftus-Cheek ineffective going forward in the first period, and offered constant energy down the left flank. Action Images
    Rico Henry - 6. Did well to make Loftus-Cheek ineffective going forward in the first period, and offered constant energy down the left flank. Action Images
  • Bryan Mbeumo - 5. Impressed in spells but struggled to get on the ball long enough to offer much threat. Should have done better with his second-half header. AFP
    Bryan Mbeumo - 5. Impressed in spells but struggled to get on the ball long enough to offer much threat. Should have done better with his second-half header. AFP
  • Ivan Toney - 6. Worked extremely hard in attack. All what was missing was a goal. AFP
    Ivan Toney - 6. Worked extremely hard in attack. All what was missing was a goal. AFP
  • SUBS: Shandon Baptiste (Onyeka, 60) – 6. Struggled to really make his mark on the game. AFP
    SUBS: Shandon Baptiste (Onyeka, 60) – 6. Struggled to really make his mark on the game. AFP
  • Yoane Wissa (Mbuemo, 72) – 6. With Chelsea on the front foot, Wissa defended well and looked to start counter attacks when he could. PA
    Yoane Wissa (Mbuemo, 72) – 6. With Chelsea on the front foot, Wissa defended well and looked to start counter attacks when he could. PA
  • Josh Dasilva (Jensen, 72) – N/A. Similar to Wissa, entered the game with Chelsea dominating, and so instead of trying to find a winner, he had to get his head down and defend. Getty
    Josh Dasilva (Jensen, 72) – N/A. Similar to Wissa, entered the game with Chelsea dominating, and so instead of trying to find a winner, he had to get his head down and defend. Getty
  • Saman Ghoddos (Janelt, 92) – N/A. The substitution was purely a tactical and time-wasting exercise, and the whistle was blown shortly after. PA
    Saman Ghoddos (Janelt, 92) – N/A. The substitution was purely a tactical and time-wasting exercise, and the whistle was blown shortly after. PA
  • CHELSEA RATINGS: Kepa Arrizabalaga - 7. Solid performance from the Spaniard who pulled off several impressive saves. The pick of the bunch came on 10 minutes, when he palmed Ivan Toney’s header over the bar. PA
    CHELSEA RATINGS: Kepa Arrizabalaga - 7. Solid performance from the Spaniard who pulled off several impressive saves. The pick of the bunch came on 10 minutes, when he palmed Ivan Toney’s header over the bar. PA
  • Cesar Azpilicueta – 8. Displayed some fine crossing skills. At the same time, he was defensively impressive throughout. PA
    Cesar Azpilicueta – 8. Displayed some fine crossing skills. At the same time, he was defensively impressive throughout. PA
  • Trevoh Chalobah - 7. Could have perhaps dealt with Toney better, but overall a resilient performance. AP
    Trevoh Chalobah - 7. Could have perhaps dealt with Toney better, but overall a resilient performance. AP
  • Kalidou Koulibaly – 7. Produced some vital clearances and interceptions when required, but was sloppy on the ball at times. AFP
    Kalidou Koulibaly – 7. Produced some vital clearances and interceptions when required, but was sloppy on the ball at times. AFP
  • Ruben Loftus-Cheek - 6. Offered very little going forward in the first period, but was more of a threat in the second half. Defensively sound. PA
    Ruben Loftus-Cheek - 6. Offered very little going forward in the first period, but was more of a threat in the second half. Defensively sound. PA
  • Conor Gallagher – N/A. Didn’t have enough time to impact the game after being taken off due to an injury in the opening stages. Getty
    Conor Gallagher – N/A. Didn’t have enough time to impact the game after being taken off due to an injury in the opening stages. Getty
  • Jorginho – 7. Steady performance from the Italian, who looked to create from deep despite the pressure from the home side’s midfield. AP
    Jorginho – 7. Steady performance from the Italian, who looked to create from deep despite the pressure from the home side’s midfield. AP
  • Marc Cucurella - 6. Made some vital blocks in the Chelsea box to keep it level and looked strong at the back. Going forward, the summer signing struggled to impose himself. AFP
    Marc Cucurella - 6. Made some vital blocks in the Chelsea box to keep it level and looked strong at the back. Going forward, the summer signing struggled to impose himself. AFP
  • Mason Mount - 6. Not his finest night, though the midfielder was involved in his side’s most threatening opportunities. AP
    Mason Mount - 6. Not his finest night, though the midfielder was involved in his side’s most threatening opportunities. AP
  • Kai Havertz - 5. The German struggled to find his groove. Looked much better leading the line in the second half. Getty Images
    Kai Havertz - 5. The German struggled to find his groove. Looked much better leading the line in the second half. Getty Images
  • Armando Broja – 6. A tough day at the office for the Albanian international, who found it hard to put his stamp on the game. AFP
    Armando Broja – 6. A tough day at the office for the Albanian international, who found it hard to put his stamp on the game. AFP
  • SUBS: Mateo Kovacic (Gallagher, 15) – 6. Came on for the injured Gallagher and produced some clever play, though but not enough to help his side break the deadlock. AFP
    SUBS: Mateo Kovacic (Gallagher, 15) – 6. Came on for the injured Gallagher and produced some clever play, though but not enough to help his side break the deadlock. AFP
  • Christian Pulisic (Cucurella, 61) – 8. Stole the show from the bench. Looked the only player capable of breaking the deadlock. AP
    Christian Pulisic (Cucurella, 61) – 8. Stole the show from the bench. Looked the only player capable of breaking the deadlock. AP
  • Raheem Sterling (Broja, 62) - 6. Provided a different style of threat in the left wing-back position. He looked to go forward a lot, but failed to create anything of note. PA
    Raheem Sterling (Broja, 62) - 6. Provided a different style of threat in the left wing-back position. He looked to go forward a lot, but failed to create anything of note. PA
  • Carney Chukwuemeka (Mount, 62) - 7. The former Aston Villa youngster offered a physical threat with his pace and height. AP
    Carney Chukwuemeka (Mount, 62) - 7. The former Aston Villa youngster offered a physical threat with his pace and height. AP
  • Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Havertz, 81) – N/A. Came on late. Getty
    Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Havertz, 81) – N/A. Came on late. Getty

Brentford vs Chelsea player ratings: Onyeka 7, Toney 6; Kepa 7, Mount 6


  • English
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Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga said his confidence has been boosted by getting a run of starts for Chelsea after he kept a fifth straight clean sheet in Wednesday's 0-0 Premier League draw with Brentford.

The Spaniard, who became the world's most expensive goalkeeper when he joined Chelsea for €80 million in 2018, had been second-choice behind Edouard Mendy in the last two seasons.

However, he has been in outstanding form since coming back into the side following an injury to Mendy last month, starring in Chelsea's 2-0 Premier League win over Aston Villa on Sunday where he produced a series of superb saves.

"Every player needs confidence, this push, and for the goalkeepers it is even more important," Arrizabalaga told Prime Video.

"If you are playing in a row of games, it's important for your confidence and I'm playing well, I think. I need to keep going and keep working."

Kepa also impressed in Chelsea's draw at Brentford, twice denying in-form striker Ivan Toney with saves that earned praise from opposition manager Thomas Frank.

"Kepa was fantastic," Frank told Prime Video. "Every time Chelsea come here, their goalkeeper is man of the match."

Chelsea, who are fourth in the league, host fifth-placed Manchester United on Saturday.

RESULT

Liverpool 4 Southampton 0
Jota (2', 32')
Thiago (37')
Van Dijk (52')

Man of the match: Diogo Jota (Liverpool)

Dunbar
Edward St Aubyn
Hogarth

MATCH INFO

Euro 2020 qualifier

Ukraine 2 (Yaremchuk 06', Yarmolenko 27')

Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
South Africa squad

Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen (wicketkeeper), Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada.

RACE CARD

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 (PA) Listed Dh230,000 1,600m
6.30pm: HH The President’s Cup (PA) Group 1 Dh2.5million 2,200m
7pm: HH The President’s Cup (TB) Listed Dh380,000 1,400m
7.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh70,000 1,200m.

If you go

The flights 

Emirates flies from Dubai to Funchal via Lisbon, with a connecting flight with Air Portugal. Economy class returns cost from Dh3,845 return including taxes.

The trip

The WalkMe app can be downloaded from the usual sources. If you don’t fancy doing the trip yourself, then Explore  offers an eight-day levada trails tour from Dh3,050, not including flights.

The hotel

There isn’t another hotel anywhere in Madeira that matches the history and luxury of the Belmond Reid's Palace in Funchal. Doubles from Dh1,400 per night including taxes.

 

 

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
RESULT

Fifth ODI, at Headingley

England 351/9
Pakistan 297
England win by 54 runs (win series 4-0)

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Cofe

Year started: 2018

Based: UAE

Employees: 80-100

Amount raised: $13m

Investors: KISP ventures, Cedar Mundi, Towell Holding International, Takamul Capital, Dividend Gate Capital, Nizar AlNusif Sons Holding, Arab Investment Company and Al Imtiaz Investment Group 

SQUADS

South Africa:
JP Duminy (capt), Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wkt), AB de Villiers, Robbie Frylinck, Beuran Hendricks, David Miller, Mangaliso Mosehle (wkt), Dane Paterson, Aaron Phangiso, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Tabraiz Shamsi

Bangladesh
Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Imrul Kayes, Liton Das (wkt), Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (wkt), Nasir Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Shafiul Islam, Soumya Sarkar, Taskin Ahmed

Fixtures
Oct 26: Bloemfontein
Oct 29: Potchefstroom

Company profile

Name: Dukkantek 

Started: January 2021 

Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani 

Based: UAE 

Number of employees: 140 

Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service) 

Investment: $5.2 million 

Funding stage: Seed round 

Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office  

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

Joe Root's Test record

Tests: 53; Innings: 98; Not outs: 11; Runs: 4,594; Best score: 254; Average: 52.80; 100s: 11; 50s: 27

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.”

About Takalam

Date started: early 2020

Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: HealthTech and wellness

Number of staff: 4

Funding to date: Bootstrapped

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FIXTURES

New Zealand v France, second Test
Saturday, 12.35pm (UAE)
Auckland, New Zealand

South Africa v Wales
Sunday, 12.40am (UAE), San Juan, Argentina

Teams in the EHL

White Bears, Al Ain Theebs, Dubai Mighty Camels, Abu Dhabi Storms, Abu Dhabi Scorpions and Vipers

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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Updated: October 20, 2022, 6:06 AM