Marcel Keizer is expected to travel to Portugal on Saturday to become the new manager of Sporting Lisbon, ending his surprisingly brief stint with Al Jazira.
The Dutchman, 49, is understood to have agreed in principle a deal with the 18-time Portuguese champions, only five months after his appointment at the Abu Dhabi club.
Jazira had been determined to keep hold of Keizer, who has impressed since his arrival in June, although the former Ajax manager made clear he wanted to accept the opportunity to work at a prominent European club.
Installed this summer as successor to Henk ten Cate, his popular compatriot, Keizer had signed a two-year contract with the capital side. It is understood Sporting paid the Arabian Gulf League club US$600,000 (Dh2.2 million) in compensation.
A member of Jazira's board of directors, Mohammed Al Suwai, took to Twitter to thank Keizer for his work, adding that the club had "tried to keep him" but his desire to return to Europe proved too big a pull for the Dutchman.
Sporting have been without a manager since dismissing Jose Peseiro, the former Al Wahda and Sharjah head coach, last week. At present, they sit third in this season’s Primeira Liga after nine matches.
Keizer had initially settled well at Jazira, impressing the club management as the 2016/17 UAE champions began the season brightly. Monday's 2-0 victory against Al Wasl ensured Jazira remain undefeated in the league and kept them in second place, two points off Sharjah following nine rounds. Keizer took training as usual on Wednesday night.
Sporting have been intent on installing a Dutch manager and are said to have turned to Keizer after attempts to recruit Peter Bosz, most recently of Borussia Dortmund, and Frank de Boer, who was sacked last year by Crystal Palace.
At Ajax, Keizer was promoted internally to first-team manager in June 2017, but dismissed six months later when the club failed to secure European football for the first time in 25 years. Before that he had spells in charge of lower league clubs in the Netherland, including FC Emmen and Cambuur, with whom he served as technical director.
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Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Analysis
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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
The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela
Edited by Sahm Venter
Published by Liveright
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Background: Chemical Weapons
Crops that could be introduced to the UAE
1: Quinoa
2. Bathua
3. Amaranth
4. Pearl and finger millet
5. Sorghum
