A senior member of the Qatari ruling family has been accused of shielding a senior business associate who is wanted in the United States over the death of a woman in an illegal 180kph car race.
Mustapha Atat, a close associate of Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, fled from the US where he faced criminal charges in connection with the crash during the drag race on the streets of Detroit, Michigan, in October 2001.
Mr Atat’s rival in the race, Aaron Reynolds, lost control of his car in the early hours of the morning and ploughed into a small crowd, killing Denise Jones, 35.
Reynolds later pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, failing to stop at the scene of a fatal accident and illicit drag racing but Mr Atat fled for Lebanon before he could be prosecuted on similar charges, according to US court documents. An arrest warrant for second degree murder was issued for him in July 2002.
Mr Atat settled in Qatar with his family in 2007 and was a driver for Sheikh Khalid's Al Anabi car-racing team. Former employees claim that Mr Atat has continued to work closely with Sheikh Khalid, even after renewed publicity about the case after it featured in a 2009 edition of US television show America's Most Wanted.
Mr Atat, wearing a branded t-shirt of one of Sheikh Khalid’s race teams, featured in a 2016 Facebook video produced by Qatar Racing Club at a workshop with other members of the team.
He was also pictured on top of the podium in February this year at a drag event in Qatar with a winner’s cheque for 12,000 Qatari rials ($3,300).
Mr Atat told The National that he continued to work for Sheikh Khalid until 2013 but had been working for himself in Lebanon for at least three years.
He said that he left the US in 2001 because he refused to give evidence as a witness at the trial of Reynolds. He said he would not return and claimed that the Americans suing Sheikh Khalid were motivated by money.
“Sheikh Khalid did a lot for me and my family and helped my kids go to college,” said Mr Atat. “He’s that kind of man.”
In a statement in 2010, Sheikh Khalid, a brother of the emir, Sheikh Tamim, said that he had only came to know Mr Atat after he moved to Qatar and was not aware of the full details of the crash in the US.
He said he had asked Mr Atat to “separate himself from Al Anabi Racing” in Qatar and “expressed my hope that he will take the necessary steps to resolve his personal legal issues”.
Former employees – who are suing Sheikh Khalid, 34, in the US over alleged unpaid wages, false imprisonment and assaults on staff– say that the statement was a smokescreen and that Mr Atat remained an integral part of his operation.
“I was physically sitting next to Mr Al Thani when this statement was issued by his attorney in London, England,” said Terry Hope, one of the six Americans suing Sheikh Khalid in a signed witness statement. “Mr Al Thani laughed and said: ‘That should shut them up for a while’.
“I personally observed Mr Atat continue working for Mr Al Thani and Mr Al Thani told us not to take videos and pictures of Mr Atat working for him.”
The race in Detroit went ahead despite four police officers turning up – and one even gambled on the outcome, according to court papers.
A court in Michigan in 2003 ordered the drivers to pay $25 million to the estate of Ms Jones who was among a crowd of 150 to 300 people watching the race.
Mr Atat said that he was not liable for any compensation claim. The lawyer for the family of Ms Jones did not return requests for comment.
Information about Mr Atat’s role in the organisation is detailed in court papers filed in Boston, Massachusetts, in which the six accuse Sheikh Khalid of brutal treatment of staff, including beating to death his own wife’s Indian chauffeur in the Qatari desert.
The National reported last month that Sheikh Khalid was accused of administering repeated powerful electric shocks to a migrant worker through an electronic dog collar after accusing his employee of mistreating a dog.
Mr Hope was employed by the sheikh for a decade from 2008 to run his car-racing team in the United States and the Middle East. Over three years, Sheikh Khalid spent some $100 million on building teams and competing, according to legal papers filed by Mr Hope and five other men.
PROFILE
Name: Enhance Fitness
Year started: 2018
Based: UAE
Employees: 200
Amount raised: $3m
Investors: Global Ventures and angel investors
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
Read more about the coronavirus
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
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
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
Common%20symptoms%20of%20MS
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Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
