Dubai Police arrest gang after 1,100 bottles of alcohol found buried in desert

A gang of bootleggers who stashed more than 1,000 bottles of alcohol in a hole in the Dubai desert have been arrested by police.

The group had buried the illicit haul deep beneath the sands in Jebel Ali ahead of their sale.

Their plot was uncovered during the Eid break by patrolling police.

Officers snared seven men connected to the racket in three operations during the holiday, seizing 1,483 bottles in total.

“While patrolling the area, police officers noticed three Asian men taking out alcohol from a wooden box hidden in a hole in the desert and were caught red-handed,” said Brig Adel Al Suwaidi.

Police discovered a further 24 bags full of alcohol inside the makeshift storage area.

Two more members of the gang were arrested on Monday after being caught illegally transferring the bottles in their car.

“A police patrol moved immediately to the area and saw the two men’s vehicle and tried to stop them, but they did not respond and tried to escape,” said Brig Al Suwaidi.

Police officers followed the car, eventually bringing it to a stop before arresting both men.

“115 cans of alcoholic drinks of two different types were found in the vehicle at the time of the arrest,” said the senior official.

Another two men were arrested in the third operation after 258 bottles of liquor were found in their vehicle.

“The two men admitted that they are buying alcoholic drinks and then selling them in the industrial area to obtain financial gains using a rented car,” said Brig Al Suwaidi.

MORE US ELECTION OPINION

David Frum: Trump's bungling of coronavirus will reshape US politics

Hussein Ibish: How will 'President Joe Biden' deal with the Middle East?

Raghida Dergham: Can Trump's coronavirus strategy help reboot his re-election bid?

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

Zayed Sustainability Prize

Clean water and solar homes: Zayed prize finalists present sustainability solutions

Youth take centre stage for this year's Zayed Sustainability Prize

What is the Zayed Sustainability Prize?

While you're here

Nasser bin Nasser: Is US-China conflict in West Asia inevitable?

Sholto Byrnes: Time for an uninhibited China to lead Asia

Damien McElroy: BRI has changed the rules of the game

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