Al Hilal extended their unbeaten run in the Saudi Pro League to 38 matches on Wednesday but needed a late goal from Aleksandar Mitrovic to secure a 3-2 home victory over Damac.
Defending champions Hilal, who completed last season unbeaten to clinch the title by 14 points, looked on course for another win when Mitrovic opened the scoring deep in first-half injury-time at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium. However, Damac fought back after the break and stunned their hosts by scoring twice in the space of four minutes through Francois Kamano and Habib Diallo.
Substitute Musaab Al Juwayrr levelled for Hilal in the 73rd minute before star striker Mitrovic grabbed his second with six minutes remaining to guide the Riyadh club to a tense victory.
By collecting all three points, Hilal reclaimed their place at the top of the SPL table after two games having eased past Al Okhdood 3-0 in their season opener.
But their first home game of the new league campaign was a far sterner test against a side who finished a whopping 55 points behind the champions last season.
When Mitrovic rose highest to nod home the opening goal late in the first half, after Mohammed Al Qahtani’s blocked shot went air-bound, it appeared to be business as usual. Yet instead of coiling against the mighty Hilal, Damac roared back as Kamano scored a spectacular equaliser. Under pressure from a crowd of Hilal players, the Guinean winger lobbed the ball over Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou into the top corner.
Damac got themselves in front minutes later when Diallo shrugged off Kalidou Koulibaly to meet Ramzy Solan's fizzing cross into the six-yard box and fired into the Hilal goal.
The introduction of 21-year-old midfielder Al Juwayrr on the hour mark proved an inspired move by Hilal manager Jorge Jesus as the Saudi international smashed home the equaliser 12 minutes later.
Mitrovic then settled the home nerves by grabbing his second brace in as many league matches, flicking Renan Lodi’s deflected cross into the bottom corner. The Serbian striker now has seven goals in four games, including those scored in Hilal's triumphant Saudi Super Cup.
There was no place in the team for high-profile summer signing Joao Cancelo, who joined Hilal this week from Manchester City following Saudi right-back Saud Abdulhamid's historic move to Roma.
Also on Wednesday, Steven Gerrard's Al Ettifaq extended their perfect start to the season with a 1-0 victory over Al Okhdood at Abdullah Al Dabil Stadium, courtesy of Moussa Dembele's 63rd-minute goal.
There was also a dramatic 2-1 win for Al Wehda, who scored in the first and last minutes of their match against Al Orobah after Ziyad Al Hunaiti had equalised for the visitors.
On Tuesday, Al Nassr bounced back from their opening draw disappointment by thrashing Al Feiha 4-1, with Cristiano Ronaldo on the scoresheet. Brazilian midfielder Talisca scored Nassr's first and fourth goals either side of Ronaldo's first-half injury-time free-kick and Marcelo Brozovic's 85th-minute strike.
Al Ahli showed why they are in the market for a new striker - the Jeddah club are linked with England international Ivan Toney - by falling to a surprise 1-0 defeat at Al Fateh, while promoted Al Qadsiah continued their fine start to the campaign with a 1-0 win at Al Raed.
Three matches of the round remain and will take place on Friday: Al Riyadh host Al Kholood in the early-evening game before Al Khaleej face Al Shabab and Al Ittihad host Al Taawoun.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
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
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4-litre%20flat-six%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E525hp%20(GT3)%2C%20500hp%20(GT4)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E465Nm%20(GT3)%2C%20450Nm%20(GT4)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20automatic%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh944%2C000%20(GT3)%2C%20Dh581%2C700%20(GT4)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
The specs: 2018 Maxus T60
Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder
Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm
Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km
