Excitement about Manchester City’s upcoming Champions League final is reaching fever pitch among young fans in the UAE.
Manchester City, owned by Sheikh Mansour, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, were presented with the Premier League trophy on Sunday, capping a spectacular run of success over the past 12 years.
Under Sheikh Mansour’s ownership, the team have now won five Premier League titles, two FA Cups and six League Cups.
But the coveted Champions League title continues to elude them.
I'm so confident we are going to win. Guardiola has never lost a Champions League final
City hope to change that when they play in their first Champions League final this Saturday against Chelsea in Porto.
“It’s been a great few years, with lots of success on the pitch with lots of different trophies,” said Kristian Mahon, a Mancunian who is head coach for Manchester City Schools' Abu Dhabi programme.
"But this is the one trophy so far the club hasn't won. So it would be lovely to win it," he told The National at one of the programme's training sessions.
Young player Hamad Al Neyadi, 15, an Emirati from Abu Dhabi, has been a supporter of the club since he was small.
“Everyone is playing good and the coaches are training them hard. They are focusing on winning the Champions League. They have never won it before, so I am excited for them,” he said.
Fellow Emirati, Humaid Al Ameri, 17, said the team’s success will depend on who plays on the night. But he is confident the team can win.
“If we have a bad line-up we will lose,” he said. “I don’t want to see [Raheem] Sterling and [Gabriel] Jesus. Sterling has not scored easily. I want to see [Phil] Foden playing.”
Qaiss Awad, 18, who has been part of the Manchester City Schools programme for nine years, thinks they will win.
“If we have the passion and put in the hard work they can definitely make it. Man City will become one of the best teams in the world, even more so than now,” the Palestinian said.
His father, Omar Awad, who is another huge Manchester City fan, agreed and said the team's achievements were all the more impressive because they have not relied on one or two star players.
"We have not been like Madrid, Barcelona and some of the other teams, where they get big names to reach their goal. We have got the quality players instead of the big stars," he said.
“I’m so confident we are going to win. [Pep] Guardiola has never lost a Champions League final.”
Mr Mahon said he and most of the other coaches involved in the programme have been involved with the club for a long time and have seen it grow.
"You have always seen the good people behind the club, and with that the sky is the limit in terms of where it could go because of the decisions they are making," Mr Mahon said.
“It’s great to see and it’s not only here, but in other areas and parts of the world where we are seeing a Manchester City affinity growing, all the time.”
More than 1,000 boys and girls in the UAE take part in the Manchester City Football Schools programme, which has been running for 10 years across the UAE.
City Football Schools operate seven venues across Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Players aged 3 to 16 can play at Zayed Sports City, Emirates Palace and Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi. In Dubai, the venues are Brighton College, Jumeirah Baccalaureate School, Koora Dome and Uptown School in Mirdif.
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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
Dunki
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The specs: 2019 BMW X4
Price, base / as tested: Dh276,675 / Dh346,800
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged in-line six-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 354hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 1,550rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.0L / 100km
The Sand Castle
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Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
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2. Prayer
3. Hajj
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5. Zakat
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Director: Jesse Armstrong
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Company%20Profile
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Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Geneva from Dh2,845 return, including taxes. The flight takes 6 hours.
The package
Clinique La Prairie offers a variety of programmes. A six-night Master Detox costs from 14,900 Swiss francs (Dh57,655), including all food, accommodation and a set schedule of medical consultations and spa treatments.
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MWTC
Tickets start from Dh100 for adults and are now on sale at www.ticketmaster.ae and Virgin Megastores across the UAE. Three-day and travel packages are also available at 20 per cent discount.
Opening Premier League fixtures, August 14
- Brentford v Arsenal
- Burnley v Brighton
- Chelsea v Crystal Palace
- Everton v Southampton
- Leicester City v Wolves
- Manchester United v Leeds United
- Newcastle United v West Ham United
- Norwich City v Liverpool
- Tottenham v Manchester City
- Watford v Aston Villa
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
World Cricket League Division 2
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UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
