Abu Dhabi will reinforce its status as the global home of jiu-jitsu when it hosts back-to-back world championship events at Zayed Sports City in November.
The Jiu-Jitsu World Championship is slated for November 3-11 followed by the 13th Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, also known as the World Pro, from November 14-19.
The two events will provide Emirati fighters with the perfect platform to continue developing their skills against the world’s best and offer the last opportunity to qualify for the World Games 2022, in the United States.
The World Pro follows the successful hosting of the 12th edition in April, reaffirming Abu Dhabi’s capability to host major events at the time of the pandemic.
“As we celebrate the country’s 50-year journey we also look forward to how we can support the vision of our leaders for the next 50, including promoting healthy, active lifestyle,” Mohammed Salem Al Dhaheri, vice president of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said.
“Furthermore with the UAE hosting Expo 2020, it has provided us with great inspiration and confidence in our organisation to host the two biggest jiu-jitsu championships in the world in the space of two weeks.
“These events follow the hosting of fifth Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championship and truly cement Abu Dhabi’s position as the capital of jiu-jitsu.
“The two championships in November will bring thousands of athletes under one roof and the jiu-jitsu fanbase around the world will have a chance to see the best of the best compete. It will certainly be a historic month for our sport.”
The Emirati jiu-jitsu athletes will be looking to build on recent strong performances on the international stage, having topped the Asian Championships medal table with four golds, four silvers and 10 bronze.
“We are confident our athletes will shine at both championships next month, especially after the high level of athleticism and technical skills displayed at the Asian Championship,” the UAE coach Ramon Lemos, said.
“Another thing that stood out was the performance of some of younger athletes, proving that the future is bright for the UAE.
“The final rounds of Mother of the Nation and Vice President Cup Leagues that took place recently were promising as we saw an increase in the technical levels in both men and women.
“These local championships provide a strong foundation for our athletes as they prepare to face the best in the world in November’s mega championships.”
Mohammed Hussain Al Marzouqi, the federation’s director, urged all world champions not to miss out and sign up for the 13th World Pro before registration closes at the end of October.
“After the successful hosting of 12th edition in April, an integrated plan and hard work was implemented to ensure the upcoming event could take place in November,” he said.
“This step reflects the commitment of the federation to welcome the largest number of athletes from all over the world, especially those who did not have the opportunity to participate in the last edition of the championship due to travel restrictions.”
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The biog
Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus
Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India
Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes
Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island
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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
