• Neymar on the attack during Al Hilal's Saudi Premier League draw against Damac. Getty
    Neymar on the attack during Al Hilal's Saudi Premier League draw against Damac. Getty
  • Neymar warms-up ahead of his full SPL debut for Al Hilal. Getty
    Neymar warms-up ahead of his full SPL debut for Al Hilal. Getty
  • Al Hilal's Malcom scores the opener against Damac. Getty
    Al Hilal's Malcom scores the opener against Damac. Getty
  • Brazil forward Malcom celebrates scoring for Al Hilal. Getty
    Brazil forward Malcom celebrates scoring for Al Hilal. Getty
  • Al Hilal fans during the game against Damac. Getty
    Al Hilal fans during the game against Damac. Getty
  • A disappointed Neymar of Al Hilal leaves the field after the draw with Damac. Getty
    A disappointed Neymar of Al Hilal leaves the field after the draw with Damac. Getty
  • Al Ettifaq midfielder Jordan Henderson, left, after Bernard Mensah scored Al Tai's third goal. Reuters
    Al Ettifaq midfielder Jordan Henderson, left, after Bernard Mensah scored Al Tai's third goal. Reuters
  • Al Ettifaq's Georginio Wijnaldum in action against Al Tai. Reuters
    Al Ettifaq's Georginio Wijnaldum in action against Al Tai. Reuters
  • Al Ettifaq coach Steven Gerrard gives instructions as Demarai Gray waits to take a throw-in. Reuters
    Al Ettifaq coach Steven Gerrard gives instructions as Demarai Gray waits to take a throw-in. Reuters
  • Al Ettifaq's Demarai Gray crosses for the winner against Al Tai. Reuters
    Al Ettifaq's Demarai Gray crosses for the winner against Al Tai. Reuters

Disappointing full SPL debut for Neymar as Al Hilal are held by Damac


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Neymar's full Saudi Pro League debut ended in frustration as Al Hilal dropped points for only the second time this season after being held to a 1-1 draw away to Damac on Thursday night.

The Brazil star played from the off – the first time he has started a league game for his new club – as Hilal looked to strengthen their position at the top of the early SPL table at lowly Damac, who are yet to register a win so far this season.

But he was unable make an impact as the big-spending league leaders were held by Cosmin Contra's side at the Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium.

Malcom continued his fine form in front of goal to give Hilal a ninth-minute lead, but the hosts hit back midway through the second half as Romania international Nicolae Stanciu's free-kick earned them a share of the spoils.

The result was Hilal's second 1-1 draw this week following the point they gained in the AFC Champions League against Uzbek side Navbahor on Monday night.

Elsewhere, Moussa Dembele scored a dramatic injury-time winner as Al Ettifaq edged a seven-goal thriller against Al Tai.

Netherlands international Gigi Wijnaldum scored his first SPL goal to give Ettifaq an early lead but two strikes by Bernard Mensah flipped the scoreline in the visitors' favour.

Dembele made it 2-2 before Mensah completed his hat-trick to put Al Tai on course for all three points.

But Wijnaldum grabbed his second to set up a thrilling finish and new signing Demarai Gray crossed for Dembele to stab home three minutes into added time to earn Steven Gerrard's team a 4-3 victory.

Scroll or swipe through the gallery at the top of the page to view a selection of images from Thursday's games.

FIGHT INFO

Men’s 60kg Round 1:

Ahmad Shuja Jamal (AFG) beat Krisada Takhiankliang (THA) - points 
Hyan Aljmyah (SYR) beat Akram Alyminee (YEM) - retired Round 1
Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) beat Bhanu Pratap Pandit (IND) - TKO Round 1

Men’s 71kg Round 1:
Seyed Kaveh Soleyman (IRI) beat Abedel Rahman (JOR) - RSC round 3.
Amine Al Moatassime (UAE) walk over Ritiz Puri (NEP)

RIVER%20SPIRIT
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELeila%20Aboulela%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Saqi%20Books%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPages%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 (PA) | US$95,000 | (Dirt) 2,000m
7.05pm: Meydan Classic Listed (TB) ) | $175,000) | (Turf) 1,600m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) ) | $135,000 ) | (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy Group 3 (TB) ) | $300,000) | (T) 2,810m
8.50pm: Curlin Handicap Listed (TB)) | $160,000) | (D) 2,000m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB)) | $175,000) | (T) 1,400m
10pm: Handicap (TB) ) | $135,000 ) | (T) 2,000m

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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If you go

The flights Etihad (www.etihad.com) and Spice Jet (www.spicejet.com) fly direct from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Pune respectively from Dh1,000 return including taxes. Pune airport is 90 minutes away by road. 

The hotels A stay at Atmantan Wellness Resort (www.atmantan.com) costs from Rs24,000 (Dh1,235) per night, including taxes, consultations, meals and a treatment package.
 

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
PROFILE OF HALAN

Started: November 2017

Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport and logistics

Size: 150 employees

Investment: approximately $8 million

Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar

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 Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

Naga
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Fitness problems in men's tennis

Andy Murray - hip

Novak Djokovic - elbow

Roger Federer - back

Stan Wawrinka - knee

Kei Nishikori - wrist

Marin Cilic - adductor

Updated: September 21, 2023, 7:21 PM