Fossati wary of Bahrain threat

DOHA // The Qatar boss Jorge Fossati has warned his side against complacency when they host Bahrain in their second World Cup qualifier at Al Sadd Stadium today. A 3-0 victory over Uzbekistan on Saturday got their Group One campaign off to an ideal start in Doha. Bahrain, by contrast, suffered a 3-2 home defeat to Japan. However, Fossati was guarding against complacency ahead of the clash with their Gulf neighbours. "We should not celebrate our win against Uzbekistan too much because we still have a long way to go," the Uruguayan said.

"Despite the 3-2 defeat against Japan, we must not underestimate Bahrain because they will be looking for a win. Each match we play is separate from the others and our match against Bahrain has become the most important match for us." The midfield pair of Hussain Yasser and Wessam Rizik are back in the fold after missing the victory over Uzbekistan through suspension but Talal Al Bloushi is sidelined after picking up his second yellow card of the competition last time out.

Bahrain will be without the defender Mohamed Hussain after he was sent off in the second-half against Japan and Faouzi Aaish is also ruled out after collecting a second booking against the East Asians. Meanwhile, the Australia coach Pim Verbeek will not alter his gameplan for today's World Cup qualifier in Uzbekistan despite the hosts' desperation to bounce back from Saturday's defeat at the hands of Qatar. The Australians go into the game in confident mood after a 2-1 win in a friendly against Holland at the weekend.

* Agencies

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Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.

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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

Score

Third Test, Day 1

New Zealand 229-7 (90 ov)
Pakistan

New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat