AL JAZIRA 1 AL WAHDA 1
Al Jazira - Vucinic 87'
Al Wahda - Tagliabue 90'
ABU DHABI // Jose Peseiro, the Al Wahda coach, said he was disappointed not to win but enthusiastic at the "spectacle" put on by the competition's top two teams when they met at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.
He said a draw was acceptable after such a spirited match.
Sebastian Tagliabue fired a late equaliser for Al Wahda to snatch the 1-1 draw against Al Jazira to stay on top of the Arabian Gulf League table.
The capital’s derby reached a climax in the final few minutes with Mirko Vucinic’s 87th-minute goal cancelled out two minutes later, and the crowd were on the edge of their seats until the final whistle was blown.
“The two teams provided a UAE National Day spectacle,” said Jose Peseiro, the Wahda coach.
“It was a good game with both teams creating scoring chances. I must congratulate my players for the fighting spirit they showed to score the equaliser after Jazira had score first.
“When two big teams play it is not easy to create many scoring chances. The goals arrived late in the game but they could have also come earlier in the game.
“If we can’t win a draw is the next best result. So we are happy to return from an away point.”
Eric Gerets, the Jazira coach, felt they could have even lost the game at the end.
“Our players thought the match was over having scored three minutes from time,” said the Belgian. “We could have even lost at the end. So it was a disappointment after scoring a beautiful goal.”
Vucinic’s strike from outside the six-yard box off a chipped pass from Jonathan Pitroipa had the home fans on their feet.
Their joy was short lived as Tagliabue chested a long ball from the Moroccan international Adil Hermach before smashing it to the back of the net.
Adel Al Hosani, the Wahda goalkeeper, was outstanding. He made two excellent saves, blocking a powerfully struck low shot from Ali Mabkhout and recovered quickly to save the second on the rebound from Vucinic.
Al Hosani denied Vucinic from scoring in the second half with a superb reflex save. He dived to his right to push out a header from the former Juventus striker from inside the six-yard box.
Apart from Ismail Matar, the Wahda forward who has not played a full game this season for the club or the national team, both teams had their best players in their line-ups as the league resumed from a month’s break.
apassela@thenational.ae
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wes%20Ball%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Owen%20Teague%2C%20Freya%20Allen%2C%20Kevin%20Durand%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Profile of Tamatem
Date started: March 2013
Founder: Hussam Hammo
Based: Amman, Jordan
Employees: 55
Funding: $6m
Funders: Wamda Capital, Modern Electronics (part of Al Falaisah Group) and North Base Media
The Florida Project
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe
Four stars
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The biog
Favourite food: Tabbouleh, greek salad and sushi
Favourite TV show: That 70s Show
Favourite animal: Ferrets, they are smart, sensitive, playful and loving
Favourite holiday destination: Seychelles, my resolution for 2020 is to visit as many spiritual retreats and animal shelters across the world as I can
Name of first pet: Eddy, a Persian cat that showed up at our home
Favourite dog breed: I love them all - if I had to pick Yorkshire terrier for small dogs and St Bernard's for big
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
Ultra processed foods
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
