Friday: Brighton v Chelsea (midnight KO UAE)
Brighton knocked Chelsea out of the FA Cup on Sunday but are aiming to avoid a third league defeat in a row, the last of which was a humiliating 7-0 drubbing at Nottingham Forest.
Chelsea are back into the top four after edging out London-rivals West Ham United before the FA Cup weekend and have now lost just once in five games.
Prediction: Brighton 1 Chelsea 1
Saturday: Leicester City v Arsenal (4.30pm)
Leicester fell to a disastrous 4-0 thrashing at Everton in their last league game which was their seventh defeat in eight games and leaves them third bottom of the table, two points from safety.
Arsenal go into this game having enjoyed a Dubai training camp after their League Cup exit at Newcastle United. They are second in the table, seven points behind leaders Liverpool, following the Gunners' 5-1 demolition of Manchester City.
Prediction: Leicester 0 Arsenal 2
Aston Villa v Ipswich Town (7pm)
Villa lost a Midlands derby at Wolves in their last league outing, but picked themselves up to knock Tottenham out of the FA Cup on Sunday. Unai Emery's side are eighth in the standings, four points off the top six.
Ipswich are second bottom, three points away from safety and have lost four games on the spin, the last of which a frustrating home loss to bottom club Southampton.
Prediction: Villa 3 Ipswich 1
Fulham v Nottingham Forest (7pm)
Fulham have just enjoyed successive 2-1 away wins, against Newcastle in the league and third-tier Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup. The Cottagers are ninth, 11 points behind Forest who are third.
Forest's superb season goes on after recovering from a five-goal battering at Bournemouth by smashing seven past Brighton, although they needed penalties to beat third-tier Exeter City in the FA Cup on Tuesday. They are three points behind second-placed Arsenal and 10 shy of Liverpool.
Prediction: Fulham 1 Forest 2
Manchester City v Newcastle (7pm)
City will be attempting to pick themselves up from a demoralising 3-2 Uefa Champions League play-off first leg defeat at home to Real Madrid which saw them concede two late goals at the Etihad Stadium.
Newcastle have lost two out of their last three league games but avoided a potential FA Cup banana skin by beating third-tier Birmingham City 3-2 in the FA Cup on Saturday.
Prediction: Man City 2 Newcastle 2
Southampton v Bournemouth (7pm)
Southampton ended a run of six consecutive top-flight defeats by winning at Ipswich – only their second victory of the campaign – but remain anchored at the bottom of the table and are 10 points away from safety.
Bournemouth lost for the first time in 11 games when they were beaten 2-0 by Liverpool in the league but then defeated Everton by the same scoreline in the FA Cup last weekend.
Prediction: Southampton 1 Bournemouth 3
West Ham v Brentford (7pm)
West Ham are down in 15th place – albeit 10 points clear of the relegation zone – having won just once in six games, the last of which a 2-1 loss at Chelsea.
Brentford's up-and-down form shows no sign of ending after they followed up a hard-fought win at Crystal Palace by losing 2-0 at home to Tottenham Hotspur, leaving them 11th in the table.
Prediction: West Ham 1 Brentford 2
Crystal Palace v Everton (7pm)
Palace have won their last two matches 2-0 – away to Manchester United in the league and fourth-tier Doncaster in the FA Cup – as they maintain a run that has seen them lose just once in nine games.
Everton made it 10 points out of a possible 12 when James Tarkowski struck in the 98th minute to earn a draw in the last Merseyside derby against Liverpool at Goodison Park. David Moyes' men are now 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
Prediction: Palace 2 Everton 1
Sunday: Liverpool v Wolves (6pm)
Liverpool were denied a Merseyside derby victory on Wednesday night when Everton grabbed a last-gasp leveller, but the draw still increased their lead at the top of the table. That came four days after a largely second-string Reds side was knocked out of the FA Cup by second-tier Plymouth.
Wolves ended a four-game losing streak in the league by defeating Villa 2-0 then followed it up with a victory by the same scoreline in the FA Cup against second-tier Blackburn Rovers on Sunday.
Prediction: Liverpool 4 Wolves 1
Tottenham v Manchester United (8.30pm)
Spurs battled to a 2-0 league victory at Brentford, ending a run of four consecutive defeats, only to then suffer League Cup and FA Cup exits at the hands of Liverpool and Aston Villa, respectively.
Manchester United needed a controversial winner from Harry Maguire to edge out Leicester in the FA Cup, giving them a much-needed boost after losing at home to Palace three days earlier.
Prediction: Spurs 2 Man United 2
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
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
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
The five pillars of Islam
Specs – Taycan 4S
Engine: Electric
Transmission: 2-speed auto
Power: 571bhp
Torque: 650Nm
Price: Dh431,800
Specs – Panamera
Engine: 3-litre V6 with 100kW electric motor
Transmission: 2-speed auto
Power: 455bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: from Dh431,800
Astroworld
Travis Scott
Grand Hustle/Epic/Cactus Jack
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
RACE CARD
5pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Purebred Arabian Cup Conditions (PA); Dh 200,000 (Turf) 1,600m
5.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup Conditions (PA); Dh 200,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Cup Listed (TB); Dh 380,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Group 3 (PA); Dh 500,000 (T) 1,600m
7pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Jewel Crown Group 1 (PA); Dh 5,000,000 (T) 2,200m
7.30pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Handicap (PA); Dh 150,000 (T) 1,400m
8pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 (T); 1,400m
MIDWAY
Produced: Lionsgate Films, Shanghai Ryui Entertainment, Street Light Entertainment
Directed: Roland Emmerich
Cast: Ed Skrein, Woody Harrelson, Dennis Quaid, Aaron Eckhart, Luke Evans, Nick Jonas, Mandy Moore, Darren Criss
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Paris%20Agreement
%3Cp%3EArticle%2014%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E1.%20%5BThe%20Cop%5D%20shall%20periodically%20take%20stock%20of%20the%20implementation%20of%20this%20Agreement%20to%20assess%20the%20collective%20progress%20towards%20achieving%20the%20purpose%20of%20this%20Agreement%20and%20its%20long-term%20goals%20(referred%20to%20as%20the%20%22global%20stocktake%22)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E2.%20%5BThe%20Cop%5D%20shall%20undertake%20its%20first%20global%20stocktake%20in%202023%20and%20every%20five%20years%20thereafter%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
Iceland 0 England 1 (Sterling pen 90 1)
Man of the match Kari Arnason (Iceland)
Hamilton’s 2017
Australia - 2nd; China - 1st; Bahrain - 2nd; Russia - 4th; Spain - 1st; Monaco - 7th; Canada - 1st; Azerbaijan - 5th; Austria - 4th; Britain - 1st; Hungary - 4th; Belgium - 1st; Italy - 1st; Singapore - 1st; Malaysia - 2nd; Japan - 1st; United States - 1st; Mexico - 9th
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
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World%20Food%20Day%20
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