Cosmin Olaroiu has been confirmed as the new coach of the UAE.
The Romanian fills the vacancy created after Paulo Bento was sacked after the national team’s win over North Korea in Riyadh last month.
Olaroiu, coach of Sharjah in the domestic league, has been given a two-year contract.
His primary task will be to lead the UAE’s quest for a World Cup place, via two vital fixtures in the summer.
They face Uzbekistan at home on Thursday, June 5. It is a game they must win if they are to stand a chance of qualifying directly for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The top two sides in the six-team group will advance directly to the main event. Iran are already assured one of the two places.
Olariou has emerged as the standout candidate after guiding Sharjah to the AFC Champions League Two final.
The 55-year-old watched his side pull off a remarkable rescue mission on Tuesday, with two goals in added time seeing off Saudi Arabia's Al Taawoun to clinch a place in next month's championship match against Singapore's Lion City Sailors.
The never-say-die attitude is a trait of all Olaroiu’s teams – and the national team will need it for their upcoming qualifiers.
With two matches still to play, the UAE trail the second-placed Uzbeks by four points. If they beat them on home soil in the next fixture, they will move to within one point.
With a superior goal difference to the Uzbeks, it means they will need to better their performance on the final day to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1990.
The UAE’s final fixture is away to Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday, June 10, while Uzbekistan will host Qatar on the same day.
Despite being by far the most decorated coach in the 14 years since he first arrived in the country as coach of Al Ain, Olaroiu had curiously never been elevated to the role of national team coach – until now.
In 10 seasons in the UAE league, he has won 14 major trophies, including the UAE Pro League in each of his first three seasons in the country.
The first two of those came with Al Ain, then the third with Al Ahli after he made the switch to the Dubai-based club.
After Al Ain regained the title in 2014/15, Olaroiu became a champion again with Al Ahli the following season – his fourth league title in five seasons in the UAE.
Since 2011, when Olaroiu was first appointed Al Ain manager after trophy-laden stints in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the national team have had 11 managerial changes.
Bento, the most recent, had just under two years at the helm. Thrilling wins against Qatar, most notably, had brought Bento’s side to the position that they were still in with a chance of claiming the second place in the qualifying group, ahead of the Uzbeks.
However, the Portuguese coach paid for a downturn in form that led to his dismissal. He oversaw a poor Gulf Cup campaign, when the UAE failed to make it out of the group, then a turgid display in Iran on their return to the World Cup qualifying trail.
A 2-1 win over North Korea, which required a late stoppage time goal by Sultan Adil, assured that the UAE will, as a minimum, play in the next round of qualifying.
That is a set of fixtures in October, in a three-team group, against other sides who have finished third or fourth in their respective groups in Asian qualifying. The winner of that will make it to the World Cup.
Despite having those repechage fixtures assured, the performances led the UAE Football Association to fear an automatic qualifying place would be beyond Bento. He was summarily dismissed the morning after the North Korea game.
Now they hope Olaroiu will be able to galvanise the side at short notice. His Sharjah side are through to the final of the President's Cup, where they will face the Shabab Al Ahli side with whom they are also vying for the UAE Pro League crown.
Given his track record of rapidly turning sides into winners, as well as his deep understanding of the UAE game – he has coached many of the national team squad at club level – it is no wonder he was the FA’s first choice.
However, one thing Olaroiu is light on is international experience. Within a glittering club coaching career, both in his homeland and especially Asia – he has won trophies in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE and China – he has had one brief and ill-starred crack at international management.
During his stint as Al Ahli manager, he was given temporary leave to manage Saudi Arabia at the 2015 Asian Cup. They failed to make it out of their group.
FA CUP FINAL
Chelsea 1
Hazard (22' pen)
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
'Hocus%20Pocus%202'
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WTL%20SCHEDULE
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MATCH INFO
Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0
De Bruyne (70')
Man of the Match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
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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
RESULTS
Main card
Bantamweight 56.4kg: Mehdi Eljamari (MAR) beat Abrorbek Madiminbekov (UZB), Split points decision
Super heavyweight 94 kg: Adnan Mohammad (IRN) beat Mohammed Ajaraam (MAR), Split points decision
Lightweight 60kg: Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) beat Faridoon Alik Zai (AFG), RSC round 3
Light heavyweight 81.4kg: Taha Marrouni (MAR) beat Mahmood Amin (EGY), Unanimous points decision
Light welterweight 64.5kg: Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK) beat Nouredine Samir (UAE), Unanimous points decision
Light heavyweight 81.4kg: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Haroun Baka (ALG), KO second round
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
SPECS
Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 235hp
Torque: 350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
On sale: Now
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
if you go
The flights
Emirates have direct flights from Dubai to Glasgow from Dh3,115. Alternatively, if you want to see a bit of Edinburgh first, then you can fly there direct with Etihad from Abu Dhabi.
The hotel
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Located in the heart of Mackintosh's Glasgow, the Dakota Deluxe is perhaps the most refined hotel anywhere in the city. Doubles from Dh850
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Events and tours
There are various Mackintosh specific events throughout 2018 – for more details and to see a map of his surviving designs see glasgowmackintosh.com
For walking tours focussing on the Glasgow Style, see the website of the Glasgow School of Art.
More information
For ideas on planning a trip to Scotland, visit www.visitscotland.com
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
RESULT
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai 0 Al Ain 6
Al Ain: Caio (5', 73'), El Shahat (10'), Berg (65'), Khalil (83'), Al Ahbabi (90' 2)
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
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The stats
Ship name: MSC Bellissima
Ship class: Meraviglia Class
Delivery date: February 27, 2019
Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT
Passenger capacity: 5,686
Crew members: 1,536
Number of cabins: 2,217
Length: 315.3 metres
Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)
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
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
Company%20profile
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UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
