Louis van Gaal, coached Bayern Munich until 2011, and could next be headed to London. AP Photo
Louis van Gaal, coached Bayern Munich until 2011, and could next be headed to London. AP Photo
Louis van Gaal, coached Bayern Munich until 2011, and could next be headed to London. AP Photo
Louis van Gaal, coached Bayern Munich until 2011, and could next be headed to London. AP Photo

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Louis van Gaal has said he would consider joining Tottenham Hotspur once his contract with the Dutch national team finishes after this year’s World Cup in Brazil.

The 62 year old, who has coached Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, was linked to the English Premier League club when Andre Villas-Boas was sacked in December.

Spurs eventually appointed youth development manager Tim Sherwood on an 18-month contract, but the Dutchman said he was still interested in the job.

“I will definitely not be in charge [of the Netherlands] for the Euro 2016 qualification campaign,” van Gaal was quoted as saying following Sunday’s draw for the European Championship.

“I don’t know where I will go next. Normally I go with my pension and go to live in Portugal, but maybe there will come a new challenge.

“I have said before that a challenge should be a club in the Premier League. That’s a challenge. Maybe Tottenham are coming but, first, we have to go to Brazil.”

Van Gaal has previously indicated his interest in managing in England, although he did not limit his options to the north London club.

Tottenham also approached current Ajax coach Frank de Boer before appointing Sherwood.

The Englishman has stated his job would be under threat should he fail to lead the club to Champions League qualification, an aim that took a hit when they lost 1-0 to struggling Norwich City.

They sit in fifth spot, six points behind fourth-placed Liverpool.

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

 

Company: Instabug

Founded: 2013

Based: Egypt, Cairo

Sector: IT

Employees: 100

Stage: Series A

Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors

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