The first half of the decisive round of the UAE’s World Cup qualifying campaign began with a whipped left-foot strike by Harib Abdullah, and ended in the exact same fashion.
The Shabab Al Ahli forward’s goal to cap the 3-0 win over Kyrgyzstan on Thursday night was a reminder of the thrilling way in which the national team started out in their bid to make it back to a first World Cup since 1990.
His effort in the Al Rayyan Stadium back in September started the UAE’s 3-1 comeback win over Qatar. It was that success against the back-to-back champions of Asia that infused the country with belief that qualification is possible.
In the meantime, the UAE have wandered off track, to the extent that their reverse fixture with Qatar feels like it is a must-win encounter if they are to take an automatic qualifying place.
The top two sides in the six-team group are assured a place at the main event, in North America in 2026. Iran are clear at the top, six points ahead of the UAE and Qatar, who are third and fourth respectively.
But Qatar’s dramatic late win over second-placed Uzbekistan on Thursday means both the Gulf sides are within striking distance of second place.
If the UAE can claim the scalp of Qatar for the second time, at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, they would go above the Uzbeks if the Central Asian side were to lose against North Korea.
Ifs, buts, and maybes are only a distraction, though, according to Paulo Bento. The UAE coach is demanding his side focus solely on the task at hand, given that it is a very sizeable one on its own.
“When you start thinking too much ahead, it can be a problem,” Bento said. “We should create solutions ourselves.
UAE 3-0 Kyrgyzstan – in pictures
“[Qatar] are a team with quality and experience, who won the last two Asian Cups, and played in the 2022 World Cup as well.
“They have a coach [Tintin Marquez] who knows the context and the football in the country really well. We know that it is an important game for both teams, and we know we can compete well against them.
“It is going to demand a lot of things from our side, in many aspects of the game – not just the technical and tactical ones, but also the mental aspects.”
Bento said that win in Doha counts for nothing now, other than to prove to his players that their visitors are beatable.
“We know the game will not be exactly the same,” said Bento, who expects Khalifa Al Hammadi, the centre back who was withdrawn early with injury against Kyrgyzstan, to be fit to start.
“We should take certain things from the game we played against them, as well as other aspects that they showed in their next games. Based on that, we have to prepare the best strategy.
“We should be humble, and recognise the other side is a very good team, with clear goals for this qualifier, but we should also be ambitious in order to reach a good result.
“The only way that we can do that is to be organised as a team, be focused on our tasks, and try to manage all the moments of the game as well as possible in order to get the three points.”
After that bright start in Doha, the UAE’s form dipped, most notably in a game against North Korea in Al Ain. That draw represented two lost points, and came against the backdrop of a lukewarm atmosphere at a two-thirds empty Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain.
The national team tend to be at their best when they are feeding off fervent home support and right-back Khalid Al Dhanhani expects that to be the case against Qatar.
“For us it is more important because we are playing at home in front of our fans and in our country,” said Al Dhanhani, who scored a fine goal in that win in Qatar.
“We have to do our very best to achieve a win in this match. I believe with the players' qualities, with the fans’ support, and with the faith we have in our abilities, we can achieve the win.”
Akram Afif, Qatar’s talisman, placed equal weight on the backing of the fans. He said his side will be doing all they can to satisfy their own supporters.
“Fans are very important to us, of course,” Afif said. “We play for them and our goal is to make them happy. Trying to achieve a win in this game is our objective to try to make our fans satisfied.”
Company%20profile
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Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
MATCH INFO
Kolkata Knight Riders 245/6 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 214/8 (20 ovs)
Kolkata won by 31 runs
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
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Results:
6.30pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,400m.
Winner: Walking Thunder, Connor Beasley (jockey), Ahmad bin Harmash (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap (rated 72-87) Dh 165,000 1,600m.
Winner: Syncopation, George Buckell, Doug Watson.
7.40pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,400m.
Winner: Big Brown Bear, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.15pm: Handicap (75-95) Dh 190,000 1,200m.
Winner: Stunned, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Handicap (85-105) Dh 210,000 2,000m.
Winner: New Trails, Connor Beasley, Ahmad bin Harmash.
9.25pm: Handicap (75-95) Dh 190,000 1,600m.
Winner: Pillar Of Society, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
Fixtures:
Wed Aug 29 – Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore
Thu Aug 30 - UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman
Sat Sep 1 - UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal
Sun Sep 2 – Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore
Tue Sep 4 - Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu Sep 6 – Final
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
