ABU DHABI // The big names in world tennis squared off in the capital on Thursday – Ferrer, Murray, Jned …
The hitout was a dream come true for Ghaith Jned, 13, who came face to face with tennis royalty at Zayed Sports City.
“I feel like I am king, I am playing with the number one in the world,” said Ghaith, 13, an aspiring tennis star from Syria.
“Not everyone can play with him, not everyone. Many people hope to play with him, but they can’t.”
Ghaith is one of about 80 young tennis players from Abu Dhabi and Dubai who won the chance to meet and train with the world’s top tennis stars after taking part in Mubadala’s Community Cup Clinic.
Although the Syrian teen did not play Spanish number one Rafael Nadal, who will meet a different group today, he was able to team up with one of his compatriots, David Ferrer.
The youths were selected based on their high standing in the cup, a one-day tennis tournament held last month.
It is offered as part of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship, a three-day competition featuring six of the world’s top-ranked players, which started on Thursday.
“It’s really a chance for them to be able to see their role models live, to have a chance to play with them and be inspired,” said Vickie Gunnarsson, the event director.
“What we really want to do is use them as a platform to reach out to the community and get people active, especially among the youth, to tackle obesity and diabetes and get people moving and promote a healthy lifestyle in the UAE.
“Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, for example, are great role models in leading that healthy lifestyle. So we want to bring their lifestyle closer to the attention of the children.”
On the opening day the children were matched against Ferrer, third in the world rankings, and this year’s Wimbledon champion, Andy Murray. The Scot is ranked fourth.
Each player spent an hour rallying with the youths, playing in teams of two so the youngsters had a chance to perform across the net from their idols and beside them.
“He kept saying if you hit a good shot, ‘Oh, that’s great,’ and he would look at you and smile, thumbs up,” said Indian Simran Kaur, 16, who lives in Dubai.
“If you missed he said, ‘It’s all right, next point.’ It’s just really encouraging. It makes you want to do well next time.”
After the match, the young players crowded around Ferrer and inundated him with questions ranging from his training technique to his favourite food – paella.
“I like that he [Ferrer] took time to talk to us,” said Dubai resident Simran Noronha, 17, from India. “He told us how much he takes care before every tournament and how he trains.
“I learnt a lot about mental toughness and how important it is in a match and before the match especially, and it’s really important to not think about winning or losing. It’s just you can give it your best, that’s all you can do.
“He’s really nice, he has a really good heart and he takes time to actually help other players, so that’s really nice.”
Ghaith’s father, Mohannad Jned, 40, who owns a tennis school in Abu Dhabi, said it was a thrill to see his students, and his son, take on their tennis heroes.
“You know this thing for them, it’s a big chance and it’s really like a dream because when I was in his age I never got this chance,” said Mr Jned. “I never even dreamed to meet these stars face to face. It gives them a big boost.”
Sushant Satish, 13, who just returned from India where he played in the CBSE Nationals competition, said meeting Murray was an exhilarating experience.
“To play against the legends, it’s always a dream come true,” said the Dubai resident, 13. “It was a good experience because it’s not every day that you can play with them.
“Mubadala provides a very good opportunity to play with them, rally and ask them questions about how they practise.”
Sushant’s father, T C Satish, said the experience was also a thrill for parents.
“It’s a dream come true, not just for him but for me too,” said Dr Satish, a dermatologist. “To see one of the biggest stars in action partnering with my son and sometimes playing against my son, it’s a fantastic feeling.”
The clinics, which are free to watch, resume today with Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka taking to the court at 10am, followed by Nadal an hour later. Both clinics take place at the practice court.
Although Nadal didn’t play on Thursday he still drew a large crowd, with hundreds of fans lining up – some for nearly two hours – to get his autograph.
“I can’t even talk right now,” said an excited Ferzana Nizar, 48, after meeting the Spanish champ during the autograph session.
“I told him, ‘I want you to win all four Grand Slams this year’,” said the expatriate, who drove from Dubai. “He said, ‘I’ll try’.”
rpennington@thenational.ae
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
What is the definition of an SME?
SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.
A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors.
Venom
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed
Rating: 1.5/5
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
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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
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
