In the personal museum of Maj Gen Obaid Al Ketbi, each corner tells a story.
The life of the former ambassador and army and police general has been rich in experiences, from serving in Kosovo and Iraq to becoming the chairman of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
What many people don’t know is that he also keeps a collection of precious personal belongings.
His home-grown gallery houses more than 15,000 items and occupies two storeys of his Abu Dhabi villa.
The National was invited on an exclusive tour.
The artefacts include swords and rifles, a field phone from the Second World War and the first model of car-phone, used in the 1970s.
“What is really interesting is that when I have people visit here, especially from outside the UAE, they look at the things from different parts of the world, and if they don’t find something from their country, they come back with a gift,” Maj Gen Al Ketbi said.
“For me, this is an open space where people can visit to see something from our culture.”
Next to an exotic Tajik crescent-shaped weapon whose handle has been crafted in the shape of a snake's head lies an original samurai sword as well as one of 15 original swords used in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.
“Every item you see here has a story behind it,” he said.
While many treasures found at the museum were gifts, he entered lengthy negotiations to acquire the film prop.
The sword was the last remaining piece of the 15 that were used on set; the first three are owned by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, the Japanese Emperor and former US President Barack Obama, respectively.
“I fought for the last remaining one. It was on display and not for sale,” he said.
Maj Gen Al Ketbi came across the sword at a gallery in Queenstown, New Zealand, while touring the region in which the film was shot.
“They did not want to sell it. We had to go through many negotiations and I had to convince them why I wanted to buy it,” he said.
“I told them I was impressed by the film itself and the story. I also explained how I love historical and antique pieces and that I would to have it as part of my collection back home.”
That he was the UAE ambassador to Australia at the time could have been a deal-breaker, but the Emirati used his powers of persuasion.
“I said: ‘Imagine if I take this back with me all the way from here to the UAE and I tell your story to anyone who visits me?’.”
The supervisor was eventually convinced and sold him the sword for an undisclosed sum.
“I believe it will be worth millions one day,” he said.
In the centre of the first room lie two remarkable chessboards.
The first was given to him by a Russian businessman. Its pieces have been crafted down to the smallest detail to represent replicas of a Russian and Swedish army that once faced each other in battle.
“It was custom-made. The beauty of it is that each piece has its own unique details,” he said.
Next to it is a chessboard with more traditional pieces, yet are all made of marble.
Another space features gifts from diplomats and political figures.
“The most interesting part is the exchange of gifts,” Maj Gen Al Ketbi said.
He pulled out a historical Japanese scroll and a notebook.
“This was a gift from the Japanese ambassador. It describes a battle that happened in the past.
“If you can read Japanese you will understand the story,” he said.
While significantly valuable pieces of art can be spotted in every corner, some collectibles are valuable to their owner simply because of the story they tell.
Maj Gen Al Ketbi has kept every personal belonging he had since he joined the UAE Armed Forces in 1976. Some items are older and were acquired by his parents.
He pointed to a framed document on the wall.
“This is my elementary school certificate as issued and framed in 1971,” he said.
“I have my old credit cards, mileage cards, ID cards, drivers’ licences, watches, pens, passports and mobile phones; I never throw anything away.”
His first mobile car-phone, obtained in 1978, was also on display.
“You had to get permission to use this phone in your car,” he said.
The device looked nothing like the handheld gadgets used today. It resembled a medium-sized briefcase.
“The number was 31320. It used to be five digits.”
In the third room, Maj Gen Al Ketbi keeps sporting prizes and memorabilia, including medals, T-shirts, photos and caps.
They are linked to Al Forsan, his initiative to promote Emirati involvement in sport.
“I formed Al Forsan in 2008 to encourage people to become healthier and exercise more,” he said.
The major general launched the project after adopting a more active lifestyle upon his return from a war zone.
He was part of the UAE mission that joined Nato’s Kfor peacekeepers on the Albanian border in 1999, to which thousands of Kosovan refugees had fled.
“In 1999, after I returned from Kosovo, I gained weight until I reached 107 kilograms,” he said.
A year later, he gradually adopted a healthier lifestyle. By 2008 he had shed more than 20kg and become a sports enthusiast.
At the centre of the room hangs “the largest medal in the world” as recognised by Guinness World Records.
The stories to be told about the items in the museum are countless, said Maj Gen Al Ketbi, and there is still more to come.
“I am trying to find more space, because I think I have more items to display,” he said.
“I really feel proud because everything I have received in life you will find it here.”
CREW
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Ipaf in numbers
Established: 2008
Prize money: $50,000 (Dh183,650) for winners and $10,000 for those on the shortlist.
Winning novels: 13
Shortlisted novels: 66
Longlisted novels: 111
Total number of novels submitted: 1,780
Novels translated internationally: 66
The biog
Born: near Sialkot, Pakistan, 1981
Profession: Driver
Family: wife, son (11), daughter (8)
Favourite drink: chai karak
Favourite place in Dubai: The neighbourhood of Khawaneej. “When I see the old houses over there, near the date palms, I can be reminded of my old times. If I don’t go down I cannot recall my old times.”
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
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
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Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
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
The Outsider
Stephen King, Penguin
The specs
Engine: 4 liquid-cooled permanent magnet synchronous electric motors placed at each wheel
Battery: Rimac 120kWh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry
Power: 1877bhp
Torque: 2300Nm
Price: Dh7,500,00
On sale: Now
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
History's medical milestones
1799 - First small pox vaccine administered
1846 - First public demonstration of anaesthesia in surgery
1861 - Louis Pasteur published his germ theory which proved that bacteria caused diseases
1895 - Discovery of x-rays
1923 - Heart valve surgery performed successfully for first time
1928 - Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
1953 - Structure of DNA discovered
1952 - First organ transplant - a kidney - takes place
1954 - Clinical trials of birth control pill
1979 - MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, scanned used to diagnose illness and injury.
1998 - The first adult live-donor liver transplant is carried out
MATCH INFO
Red Star Belgrade v Tottenham Hotspur, midnight (Thursday), UAE
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
MORE ON INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE
Brief scores:
Manchester City 3
Aguero 1', 44', 61'
Arsenal 1
Koscielny 11'
Man of the match: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Results:
6.30pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,400m.
Winner: Walking Thunder, Connor Beasley (jockey), Ahmad bin Harmash (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap (rated 72-87) Dh 165,000 1,600m.
Winner: Syncopation, George Buckell, Doug Watson.
7.40pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,400m.
Winner: Big Brown Bear, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.15pm: Handicap (75-95) Dh 190,000 1,200m.
Winner: Stunned, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Handicap (85-105) Dh 210,000 2,000m.
Winner: New Trails, Connor Beasley, Ahmad bin Harmash.
9.25pm: Handicap (75-95) Dh 190,000 1,600m.
Winner: Pillar Of Society, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
MATHC INFO
England 19 (Try: Tuilagi; Cons: Farrell; Pens: Ford (4)
New Zealand 7 (Try: Savea; Con: Mo'unga)
The%20specs
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