• Jordan Henderson, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah of Liverpool on the substitutes' bench during the Mersey derby against Everton. EPA
    Jordan Henderson, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah of Liverpool on the substitutes' bench during the Mersey derby against Everton. EPA
  • Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino warm up during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Everton. EPA
    Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino warm up during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Everton. EPA
  • Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Joe Gomez of Liverpool warm up prior to the Mersey derby. Getty
    Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Joe Gomez of Liverpool warm up prior to the Mersey derby. Getty
  • Liverpool's Mohamed Salah was left on the bench. PA
    Liverpool's Mohamed Salah was left on the bench. PA
  • Mohamed Salah (L) watched from the bench as Liverpool scored five against Everton. EPA
    Mohamed Salah (L) watched from the bench as Liverpool scored five against Everton. EPA
  • Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (centre) warms up with team-mates. PA
    Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (centre) warms up with team-mates. PA
  • Mohamed Salah ws rested for the game. Reuters
    Mohamed Salah ws rested for the game. Reuters
  • Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during the warm up. Reuters
    Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during the warm up. Reuters

Step aside, Drake: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah turns rap star in new commercial


  • English
  • Arabic

As one of the biggest superstars in sport, there is little wonder why major companies have lined up to be associated with Liverpool and Egypt footballer Mohamed Salah.

Salah is one of the faces for adidas, appearing in commercials alongside Lionel Messi, David Beckham, and Paul Pogba, and he teamed up with Messi again to shoot a series of Pepsi adverts.

Salah is also associated with Electronic Arts, Vodafone, and Uber, but of all his advertising campaigns, it is the new commercial he shot with Exxon Mobil Egypt that might be the most original.

In the majority of commercials starring Salah, an element of football is incorporated into the shoot. However, there is not a a football in sight in his new Exxon Mobil ad as Salah turns rap star to promote the oil and gas company.

Other people feature in the commercial with their own verses, but Salah is the star, rapping at a petrol station, in front of a lowrider, and even while sat at a log fire.

Do rap stars like Drake, Eminem, and Kendrick Lamar have anything to worry about? Is Salah the next king of the mic?

Watch it below and judge for yourself:

We have even translated the entire song, so English-language viewers can follow along:

0:10 Salah:

I'm not here to tell about my beginnings, my life, and my story,
And how I've become successful and how I have achieved fame.
Each one of you is successful. In my view, this is the truth.
You are [have] a 100 million stories which ought to be told first.

0:21 Man 1: (van driver)

My day has just started and seems peaceful,
But it's still going to be a long day.
I have a transport request from Al Maadi (most famous area in Cairo)
To Suez then Bardawil (lake in Egypt).
I'll dress lightly if it's hot, warmly if it's cold.
If it rains, I'll layer up.
No matter the circumstances,
Never will I say it's impossible.

0:32 Salah:

(speaking of mothers)

She’s always on the go, her day runs like the Olympics.

0:35 Mother:

I take care of my house, family and children.
I got dressed in chic style, I am well-groomed for I have a birthday party to attend.
Friends' gathering is important, they always show up on time.

0:43 Man 2 (in Mobil service center)

I've picked up my cousin from the airport, he was in Sweden,
I'll take him [home] then come back to collect him from Al Sa'id (upper Egypt).
During our trip, we have agreed
To take on a new project.
We have [indeed] started, life is beautiful and our business is growing.

0:55 Salah and others:

A 100 million people are moving in different directions
Each has a story about his success in life.

1:06 Man:

I travel on the road and I greet with the [sound of] sirens (of his truck).
I spend the night on the road, I eat and sleep in the cabin (of the truck).
The queue is long and we are worn out at the Mina [port],
The [Our] punctual arrival will make the ship move [sail/embark].

1:16 Salah:

He said he had bought a new car and decided he’ll pay in instalments.

1:19 Taxi driver:

To pay off the car instalments, I save up
By taking 100 trips a day.
I take care of my car and never do I engage a client in conversation.
All my clients love me and rate me five stars.

1:27 Salah:

A 100 million people are moving in different directions
Each has a story about his success in life.

1:35 (voice)

Besides their story, there are 100 million others.
Mobil moves millions.

The specs

Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6

Power: 400hp

Torque: 475Nm

Transmission: 9-speed automatic

Price: From Dh215,900

On sale: Now

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

Company%20profile%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EElggo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20August%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Luma%20Makari%20and%20Mirna%20Mneimneh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Education%20technology%20%2F%20health%20technology%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESize%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Four%20employees%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Pre-seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RACE CARD

6.30pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,600m

7.05pm: Meydan Sprint – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (Turf) 1,000m

7.40pm: Curlin Stakes – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (D) 2,200m

8.15pm: UAE Oaks – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,900m

8.50pm: Zabeel Mile – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,600m

9.25pm: Balanchine – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m

10pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,200m

10 tips for entry-level job seekers
  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
  • Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
  • Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
  • For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
  • Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
  • Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
  • Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
  • Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
  • Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
  • Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.

Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

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

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Alaan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Parthi%20Duraisamy%20and%20Karun%20Kurien%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%247%20million%20raised%20in%20total%20%E2%80%94%20%242.5%20million%20in%20a%20seed%20round%20and%20%244.5%20million%20in%20a%20pre-series%20A%20round%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Fighting with My Family

Director: Stephen Merchant 

Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Nick Frost, Lena Headey, Florence Pugh, Thomas Whilley, Tori Ellen Ross, Jack Lowden, Olivia Bernstone, Elroy Powell        

Four stars

Brief scores

Barcelona 2

Pique 36', Alena 87'

Villarreal 0

SERIE A FIXTURES

Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)

Cagliari v AC Milan (6pm)

Lazio v Napoli (9pm)

Inter Milan v Atalanta (11.45pm)

Sunday

Udinese v Sassuolo (3.30pm)

Sampdoria v Brescia (6pm)

Fiorentina v SPAL (6pm)

Torino v Bologna (6pm)

Verona v Genoa (9pm)

Roma V Juventus (11.45pm)

Parma v Lecce (11.45pm)

 

 

How has net migration to UK changed?

The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.

It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.

The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.

The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.

Who is Ramon Tribulietx?

Born in Spain, Tribulietx took sole charge of Auckland in 2010 and has gone on to lead the club to 14 trophies, including seven successive Oceania Champions League crowns. Has been tipped for the vacant New Zealand national team job following Anthony Hudson's resignation last month. Had previously been considered for the role. 

MATCH INFO

Manchester United 2
(Martial 30', McTominay 90 6')

Manchester City 0

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets