More than €52 million ($57.96m) in European Commission money was directly or indirectly given to organisations with alleged links to the Muslim Brotherhood between 2007 and 2020, according to a new report.
The lion's share of funding from the EU's executive branch was received by controversial aid agency Islamic Relief Worldwide, with €36.2m, in a story first reported by French magazine Le Point.
Heshmat Khalifa, the former director of Islamic Relief, quit his role in 2020 after anti-Semitic remarks were discovered on his Facebook profile.
After investigating Islamic Relief, the UK’s Charity Commission concluded the charity “has overseen significant improvements to the recruitment and oversight of trustees and senior staff”. Islamic Relief denies it is linked to the Muslim Brotherhood despite claims to the contrary by some European politicians.
Islamic Relief is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the UAE and Israel accuses it of having links to Hamas.
Commission data shows that nearly €1 million was given to Islamic Relief Worldwide, its international headquarters, in 2020 – the last year for which figures are available.
In September 2021, responding to a question about Islamic Relief’s branches in Germany and Sweden, the European Commissioner for aid Janez Lenarcic said: “As a matter of principle, the commission does neither discriminate on grounds of religion or beliefs nor classify partner organisations based on religious affiliation.
“The commission takes a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to any misconduct by partner organisations receiving EU funds, including support for terrorism, and will immediately take action should it become aware of any proven evidence in this respect by excluding from union financing entities guilty of terrorism financing or terrorism offences under the Early Detection and Exclusion System.”
Egyptian Essam El Haddad, a co-founder of Islamic Relief, was a senior adviser to the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohammed Morsi when he was president of Egypt.
Prominent European politicians such as Nicola Beer, one of the European Parliament’s vice-presidents, have criticised the commission for funding Islamic Relief.
“European funds must not fall into the hands of organisations that are responsible for anti-Semitism or other hatred,” Ms Beer said last year.
Seccours Islamique France – or Islamic Relief France – also received €5.05m from the commission between 2007 and 2020.
The European Network Against Racism (Enar), a grouping of organisations around Europe, was given €7.32m. In 2015, referring to Belgian media reports, MEP Frederique Ries said Enar could be linked to the Muslim Brotherhood. She said she was concerned about the nature of subsidies given to groups such as Enar.
“Since the 1950s, members and supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood have taken up residence in various European countries and have set up numerous associations. The scale of this hidden but highly influential network is unknown and the values it stands for are largely at odds with democratic principles,” the MEP said in a parliamentary question.
Tips for taking the metro
- set out well ahead of time
- make sure you have at least Dh15 on you Nol card, as there could be big queues for top-up machines
- enter the right cabin. The train may be too busy to move between carriages once you're on
- don't carry too much luggage and tuck it under a seat to make room for fellow passengers
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
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Who are the Soroptimists?
The first Soroptimists club was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. The name comes from the Latin word soror which means sister, combined with optima, meaning the best.
The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.
Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Lecce v SPAL (6pm)
Bologna v Genoa (9pm)
Atlanta v Roma (11.45pm)
Sunday
Udinese v Hellas Verona (3.30pm)
Juventus v Brescia (6pm)
Sampdoria v Fiorentina (6pm)
Sassuolo v Parma (6pm)
Cagliari v Napoli (9pm)
Lazio v Inter Milan (11.45pm)
Monday
AC Milan v Torino (11.45pm)
