Fifa president Gianni Infantino announced that next year's Fifa Best Awards will be held in Dubai during a keynote speech at the World Sports Summit.
Infantino made the announcement during his speech, The Next 90 Minutes: Charting the On-Pitch Evolution of Football, to kick off the two-day summit.
"We are here in beautiful Dubai to celebrate sports and to celebrate football," Infantino said. "And I can announce here as well, a new partnership ... we will, as of next year, award the best players, coaches, teams, legends in the world here in Dubai."
The Fifa Best Awards reward the best men's and women's players, as well as coaches and teams. It is voted for by fans, media representatives, captains and national team coaches for their performances.
France and Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele won the 2025 men's Fifa Best award at a ceremony in Qatar on December 16, with Barcelona midfield maestro Aitana Bonmati collecting the women's prize.
The pair were also named men's and women's player of the year at the Globe Soccer Awards, also held in Dubai, on Sunday evening.
A star-studded roster of sporting talent has been assembled for the two-day World Sports Summit event, which runs on Monday and Tuesday at Madinat Jumeirah.
Tennis stars Novak Djokovic and Ons Jabeur, and Brazilian football legend Ronaldo Nazario, are among the big names set to speak on Monday.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, said the summit would help shape the future of sport in the UAE and abroad.
“This first-of-its-kind sports summit, originating in the UAE, will bring together sports leaders, specialists and individuals with proven leadership and professional expertise from across the global sports sector,” said Sheikh Hamdan.
“The summit will serve as a global platform for dialogue on sports development and for shaping its future through effective strategic initiatives, legislation and agreements.
The summit, organised by Dubai Sports Council, includes more than 70 speakers, including industry leaders, stars and legends under the theme “uniting the world through sport”.
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
