Casper Ruud to join Carlos Alcaraz at Mubadala World Tennis Championship

Two-time Grand Slam finalist Casper Ruud will join world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz in making his debut at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in December, organisers announced on Tuesday.

Ruud, 23, is the second player to be confirmed for the six-man tournament at Zayed Sports City's International Tennis Centre in Abu Dhabi, which takes place December 16-18.

Alcaraz, who beat Ruud in a thrilling US Open final last month, was the first male player to be announced, while the one-off women's match will be contested by world No 2 Ons Jabeur and former US Open champion Emma Raducanu.

“I’m really looking forward to visiting Abu Dhabi for the first time to contest the Mubadala World Tennis Championship,” Ruud said. “It’s been a tournament on my radar for some time and I know that the level of tennis is going to be of the highest quality. I’m excited to be involved and play in front of my fans over there in the UAE.”

Ruud is enjoying another superb season, adding to the five titles he won in 2021 with another three this year while also reaching two Grand Slam finals, at Roland Garros and the US Open. Ranked world No 3, the Norwegian reached a career-high No 2 following the US Open final.

“We are delighted to confirm Casper Ruud will be contesting this year’s championship," said John Lickrish, CEO Flash Entertainment, the tournament's owners. "To have the world No 1 and No 3, and the next generation of tennis superstars, is a real coup for the UAE capital and shows the popularity of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship.

"Just last month, these two players were contesting the final of the US Open and now there is every chance they could face each other in Abu Dhabi. That is what we are always looking to produce – an event featuring the very best.”

The 14th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship will continue its traditional format of hosting the two quarter-final matches on Day 1, with the top two seeds receiving byes into the second day's semi-finals. Day 1 will also host the match between Jabeur and Raducanu.

Day 2 then sees the fifth-place playoff between the losers from the quarter-finals and the two semi-finals, while the third day will host the third-place playoff and final.

Tickets start from Dh95 for adults and Dh45 for children on Day 1, Dh195 and Dh95 on Day 2, and Dh295 and Dh195 for Day 3.

Organisers have scheduled the Day 3 matches to take place earlier than usual to ensure fans are able to watch the 2022 World Cup final, which is scheduled to take place at 7pm UAE time.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.

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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

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MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid