• A reindeer is seen outside Stamford Bridge on Saturday prior to Chelsea’s Premier League contest against Sunderland. Clive Mason / Getty Images
    A reindeer is seen outside Stamford Bridge on Saturday prior to Chelsea’s Premier League contest against Sunderland. Clive Mason / Getty Images
  • A Jose Mourinho calendar shown on sale at a stall outside Stamford Bridge on Saturday before Chelsea’s Premier League match. Clive Mason / Getty Images
    A Jose Mourinho calendar shown on sale at a stall outside Stamford Bridge on Saturday before Chelsea’s Premier League match. Clive Mason / Getty Images
  • A Chelsea fan holds a banner to support Jose Mourinho prior to the Premier League match against Sunderland on Saturday at Stamford Bridge. Clive Mason / Getty Images
    A Chelsea fan holds a banner to support Jose Mourinho prior to the Premier League match against Sunderland on Saturday at Stamford Bridge. Clive Mason / Getty Images
  • Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink, left, Didier Drogba, centre, and owner Roman Abramovich watch Chelsea on Saturday. Clive Mason / Getty Images
    Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink, left, Didier Drogba, centre, and owner Roman Abramovich watch Chelsea on Saturday. Clive Mason / Getty Images
  • Branislav Ivanovic of Chelsea heads in their first goal on Saturday against Sunderland in the Premier League. Clive Rose / Getty Images
    Branislav Ivanovic of Chelsea heads in their first goal on Saturday against Sunderland in the Premier League. Clive Rose / Getty Images
  • Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic celebrates his opening goal for the team in their Premier League mathc against Sunderland on Saturday. Clive Rose / Getty Images
    Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic celebrates his opening goal for the team in their Premier League mathc against Sunderland on Saturday. Clive Rose / Getty Images
  • Chelsea caretaker manager Steve Holland directs his side during their Premier League match on Saturday against Sunderland. Dylan Martinez / Reuters
    Chelsea caretaker manager Steve Holland directs his side during their Premier League match on Saturday against Sunderland. Dylan Martinez / Reuters
  • Chelsea’s Pedro shoots and scores their second goal against Sunderland on Saturday in the Premier League. Glyn Kirk / AFP
    Chelsea’s Pedro shoots and scores their second goal against Sunderland on Saturday in the Premier League. Glyn Kirk / AFP
  • Chelsea’s Pedro celebrates after scoring the team’s second goal on Saturday against Sunderland. Glyn Kirk / AFP
    Chelsea’s Pedro celebrates after scoring the team’s second goal on Saturday against Sunderland. Glyn Kirk / AFP
  • Chelsea’s Oscar scores a penalty for their third goal against Sunderland on Saturday in their Premier League victory. Ian Kington / AFP
    Chelsea’s Oscar scores a penalty for their third goal against Sunderland on Saturday in their Premier League victory. Ian Kington / AFP
  • Chelsea players celebrate during their win over Sunderland on Saturday at Stamford Bridge. John Sibley / Action Images / Reuters
    Chelsea players celebrate during their win over Sunderland on Saturday at Stamford Bridge. John Sibley / Action Images / Reuters

Chelsea start post-Jose Mourinho life as Ivanovic, Pedro, Oscar score – in pictures


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Images of Chelsea in their 3-1 win over Sunderland on Saturday in the Premier League, as Branislav Ivanovic, Pedro and Oscar supplied the strikes for a victory in their first match since Jose Mourinho’s sacking. Click the arrows (desktop) or swipe (mobile) below to scroll through the photos.

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Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

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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