Two-time major champion and world No 2 Collin Morikawa will make his second appearance at the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic after organisers confirmed his participation for the 2022 tournament on Wednesday.
Morikawa, 24, has emerged as one of the leading players in world golf, following up his maiden major triumph at last year's PGA Championship with victory at The Open in July. He was also a star for the United States' dominant Ryder Cup victory over Europe in September, returning three-and-a-half points at Whistling Straits.
The American will hope to fare better at Emirates Golf Club compared to his debut, when he placed T68.
“I really enjoyed my first experience of the Dubai Desert Classic this year,” Morikawa said. “I’m looking forward to making the trip back over in January. For me it’s exciting to compete in an event as iconic as this and I am excited to have the chance to join so many great names on the list of winners.”
Morikawa will be joined on the Majlis course by defending champion Paul Casey. The Englishman claimed a four-shot victory for his 15th European Tour win, which took his worldwide tally to 21.
“Dubai was an emotional win for me in January,” said world No 27 Casey, a five-time Ryder Cup player. “Not only for reaching 15 European Tour wins, but with the history involved, joining such an illustrious list of players who have lifted the Dallah trophy, and it all happening at such an iconic event.
“It’s exciting to see the tournament become part of the Rolex Series; we know it will be a fantastic week with a great field and I can’t wait to have the chance to get my hands on one of the coolest trophies around once again.”
Casey, 44, is not the only Desert Classic champion to be announced for the 2022 event, with Sergio Garcia also confirming his participation.
The Spaniard, 41, took the title in 2017 before going on to clinch his maiden major at The Masters. In September, Garcia extended his record as Europe’s leading points scorer during his 10th Ryder Cup appearance.
“This is one of my favourite events and having won at Emirates Golf Club during such an important year in my career, I have so many good memories to draw from,” Garcia said.
“It’s an honour to be part of such an incredible group of past champions and it would mean a lot to me to be able to lift the Dallah trophy once again.”
The 2022 Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic, its 33rd edition, takes place January 27-30 and will be the first time the tournament will be played as a Rolex Series event. It will be the second tournament of the European Tour's ‘Desert Swing’, which gets under way the previous week at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, also a Rolex Series event.
“This first crop of major international stars confirmed for the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic in January underlines the prestige that our new title partner, Slync.io, and Rolex Series status have added to the tournament’s already exhaustive pedigree," Simon Corkill, executive tournament director, said.
"With a long history of world-class winners on our champions roster, we look forward to seeing Paul, Sergio, and Collin play their parts in claiming this coveted title at the start of the European Tour season.”
For more information about the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic, please visit: www.slyncdubaidesertclassic.com.
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
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1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
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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.
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