DUBAI // Four men were accused of kidnapping the nephew of a man they claim conned them out of Dh37,000, the Dubai Criminal Court heard on Sunday.
The accused were allegedly seeking revenge against the man who had promised to issue them work visas but never delivered.
SL, 30, SM, 24, MA, 35, all Bangladeshi, denied charges of kidnapping. The fourth man, compatriot MJ, is still at large.
Prosecutors told the court that on June 8, the defendants lured the victim into a car then drove him to a house in Satwa area where he was locked up for four days.
The victim, RA, said in court records that when he was locked up, he was informed by the defendants that he would remain so until his uncle repaid the money he took from the men.
RA said the defendants told him they paid his uncle for work visas, but did not receive the visas or their money back. He also said he was allowed to phone his mother and update her on his situation before the mobile was taken away.
He noted that none of the men had assaulted him.
Police said they received a report of the incident through their website but records did not mention who sent the report. Police found RA at a flat. Three of the men were arrested.
The next hearing will be on November 5.
salamir@thenational.ae
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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