Plenty of people witter away their waking hours seeking fame, but what if it came to you unbidden and you neither wanted nor needed its financial rewards?
That’s the story of Royal Jordanian, a man with no real name and no face – just a helmet – who accidentally became a “motovlogging” superstar after posting videos of his two-wheeled exploits on YouTube for his mother to watch.
Known by his fans as RJ, he has turned down the fortunes of fame, refusing all offers of sponsorship, and a perspex veil of Stig-like secrecy has protected his identity for almost a decade.
He has also rejected every request for an interview, until his personal idol, five-time motorcycle world champion Mick Doohan, came calling on Zoom as part of an Arab Showcase for The National.
I never expected to be talking to a guy in a helmet looking like Darth Vader
RJ’s renowned passion for riding was what piqued the interest of the Australian racing legend and led to the video chat with Doohan sitting in his trophy room in Queensland and RJ in his home office in London wearing his trademark helmet and a wild grin underneath.
“It was the most surreal thing that has happened to me,” RJ said of the conversation. “It was just incredible. I'm in a job where I meet a lot of famous people and celebrities and so on, and nothing fazes me, but with Mick, I mean, he's something special.”
For his part, Doohan was most amused “to be talking to a guy in a helmet looking like Darth Vader” but declared it “an honour to have a general chit-chat to somebody who just loves motorcycles”.
RJ was at great pains, however, to explain that keeping his face covered was not a sign of disrespect for his hero.
“If I take off this helmet and I start speaking to the camera, like 99.9 per cent of social-media people out there, then it becomes about the person, and I want to avoid that. I don't want it to be about me. I want it to be about the love of motorcycles, and how that can actually affect your life,” he told Doohan.
If you can ride in Cairo, in Egypt, you can ride anywhere
“You know, more than other people, that if you put this helmet on, everything else disappears. You know, it's you and that motorcycle and the connection between the two.
“So I find it therapeutic. I mean, I call it my relief, my medicine in this crazy world. And this is what I’ve tried to portray.”
The two went on to talk animatedly about motorcycles, Doohan relating a story of how he and Formula One legend Michael Schumacher used to go for rides on Harley-Davidsons together (they were great friends, with Schumacher even calling his son “Mick” after Doohan).
They also discussed their favourite riding destinations, RJ advising Doohan that “if you can ride in Cairo, in Egypt, you can ride anywhere”, but that overall, for him, it had to be Oman.
Doohan ended the most surreal conversation of RJ’s life by suggesting that the two of them meet one day to go motorcycling, possibly through the mountains of Nepal. RJ, who almost always rides alone, even on enduro adventures, quickly decided that he would break that rule for Doohan.
“I would cut off my right leg to do that trip,” RJ insisted afterwards. Asked whether he wouldn’t need it to ride the bike, he gives a firm shake of the helmet.
“No problem,” is his answer, “I would just put a prosthetic one on.”
* The full Zoom conversation between RJ and Mick Doohan can be viewed on The National's YouTube channel here
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
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
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 611bhp
Torque: 620Nm
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Price: upon application
On sale: now
The specs: 2018 Maserati Levante S
Price, base / as tested: Dh409,000 / Dh467,000
Engine: 3.0-litre V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 430hp @ 5,750rpm
Torque: 580Nm @ 4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.9L / 100km
