Beginners' luck paid off for an Emirati woman who scooped Dh77,777 ($21,175) in the UAE's richest raffle at the first time of asking.
Khuloud Juma Al Nuaimi, 35, was in disbelief after her name was called out during the live stream of the Emirates Draw on Sunday.
The Adnoc worker said she will use the windfall to wipe out Dh30,000 of debts, with the rest of the funds being put towards building a house for her family.
“I couldn’t believe it. I was watching the live stream on YouTube and when my name appeared, the first thing I thought was ‘is that my name on the screen?’ I checked my raffle ID numbers and they matched!” said Ms Al Nuaimi, who lives in Al Ain.
“My husband is travelling with his father for medical treatment, so I participated in his name as a surprise and I participated one more time for myself.
“This is the second time I've entered any type of raffle. I tried once six months ago but didn’t win. Then I heard about Emirates Draw so I participated and left it to God. When I won, I prayed and thanked him for winning.”
Ms Al Nuaimi was one of seven winners who each received Dh77,777 during Emirates Draw’s latest raffle for matching five of the seven numbers.
Abdullah Mohammed Aldossary, a father of six from Saudi Arabia, was with his family when he found out he had won.
“I’m so happy that I’m among the winners, especially since I only found out about Emirates Draw a week or 10 days ago,” he said.
“I selected my favourite numbers on the website and I thought that if God wills then I might win, and I did.”
A raffle ticket costs Dh50, which buys a pencil and coral poly. This is part of Emirates Draw’s Coral Reef Regeneration programme, which has helped to plant more than 3,000 coral polyps to date.
“Despite being a bit apprehensive at first, I was encouraged to participate when I realised I was actually purchasing a pencil and that no matter what the raffle results were, some of the proceeds would go towards helping the environment,” Mr Aldossary said.
The Emirates Draw grand prize for matching all seven numbers is Dh100 million.
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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
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
