Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed chat with footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, right. Photo: Sheikh Hamdan / Instagram
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed chat with footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, right. Photo: Sheikh Hamdan / Instagram
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed chat with footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, right. Photo: Sheikh Hamdan / Instagram
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed chat with footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, right. Photo: Sheikh Hamdan / Instagram

Cristiano Ronaldo meets Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Hamdan in Dubai


Ian Oxborrow
  • English
  • Arabic

Footballing royalty met UAE royalty as Cristiano Ronaldo was pictured with the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed.

Ronaldo has been in Dubai for a few days and has been making the most of the warm weather with time spent on the beach and also training at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed chat with football star Cristiano Ronaldo. Photo: Sheikh Hamdan / Instagram
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed chat with football star Cristiano Ronaldo. Photo: Sheikh Hamdan / Instagram

The Manchester United star was pictured in Sheikh Hamdan's Instagram stories, along with his son Cristiano Junior.

Sheikh Mohammed on Thursday attended the Arab Health 2022 event in Dubai. The event brings together more than 3,500 exhibitors from 60 countries, all aiming to develop solutions to pressing health challenges both today and in the future. Sheikh Hamdan was present on the first day.

Dubai's Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed shares a joke with footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, right. Photo: Sheikh Hamdan / Instagram
Dubai's Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed shares a joke with footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, right. Photo: Sheikh Hamdan / Instagram

Ronaldo and Sheikh Hamdan have met before, having been pictured running together on treadmills in December 2020.

Premier League stars from several teams are currently in Dubai.

Members of the Liverpool squad took the opportunity to play another sport - golf.

Andrew Robertson, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain took part in the Dubai Desert Classic pro-am, and were joined by Everton's Jordan Pickford and Manchester United's Harry Maguire in teeing off at Emirates Golf Club.

Manchester City's Ruben Dias has been involved in the more cultural side of the city, appearing at Expo 2020 Dubai, where Jack Grealish is set to make an appearance as well.

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Premier League stars in Dubai in January 2022

  • Jordan Pickford of Everton tees off on the 8th hole during a pro-am round prior to the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic. Getty Images
    Jordan Pickford of Everton tees off on the 8th hole during a pro-am round prior to the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic. Getty Images
  • Diogo Dalot at Dubai Miracle Garden. Courtesy Instagram
    Diogo Dalot at Dubai Miracle Garden. Courtesy Instagram
  • Harry Maguire of Manchester United tees off on the 8th hole during a pro-am round prior to the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on January 26, 2022 in Dubai. Getty Images
    Harry Maguire of Manchester United tees off on the 8th hole during a pro-am round prior to the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on January 26, 2022 in Dubai. Getty Images
  • Manchester City and Portugal defender Ruben Dias has been at Expo 2020 Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Manchester City and Portugal defender Ruben Dias has been at Expo 2020 Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Tyrone Mings on a Dubai waterslide. Courtesy Instagram
    Tyrone Mings on a Dubai waterslide. Courtesy Instagram
  • Andrew Robertson of Liverpool and Scotland plays in the pro am ahead of the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on January 25, 2022 in Dubai. Getty Images
    Andrew Robertson of Liverpool and Scotland plays in the pro am ahead of the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on January 25, 2022 in Dubai. Getty Images
  • Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of England and Liverpool plays in the pro am ahead of the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club in Dubai. Getty Images
    Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of England and Liverpool plays in the pro am ahead of the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club in Dubai. Getty Images
  • Jesse Lingard trains at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex in Dubai. Courtesy Instagram
    Jesse Lingard trains at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex in Dubai. Courtesy Instagram
  • Manchester City's Jack Grealish is set to make an appearance at Expo 2020 Dubai on Friday. AP Photo
    Manchester City's Jack Grealish is set to make an appearance at Expo 2020 Dubai on Friday. AP Photo
  • Marcus Rashford has been training at Nad Al Sheba in Dubai. Courtesy Instagram
    Marcus Rashford has been training at Nad Al Sheba in Dubai. Courtesy Instagram
  • Cristiano Ronaldo was also training at Nad Al Sheba in Dubai, plus enjoying some time on the beach.
    Cristiano Ronaldo was also training at Nad Al Sheba in Dubai, plus enjoying some time on the beach.
  • James Milner of England and Liverpool during a practice round prior to the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on January 25, 2022 in Dubai. Getty Images
    James Milner of England and Liverpool during a practice round prior to the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on January 25, 2022 in Dubai. Getty Images
  • Conor Coady with Tyrone Mings in Dubai. Courtesy Instagram
    Conor Coady with Tyrone Mings in Dubai. Courtesy Instagram
The specs

Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 180hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 250Nm at 3,00rpm

Transmission: 5-speed sequential auto

Price: From Dh139,995

On sale: now

The specs

The specs: 2019 Audi Q8
Price, base: Dh315,000
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 340hp @ 3,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 2,250rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
 

The story in numbers

18

This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens

450,000

More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps

1.5 million

There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m

73

The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association

18,000

The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme

77,400

The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study

4,926

This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee

Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Calendar 2018/19

July 29: OTA Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan

Sep 22-23: LA Convention Centre in Los Angeles, US

Nov 16-18: Carioca Arena Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Feb 7-9: Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE

Mar 9-10: Copper Box Arena in London, UK

The Porpoise

By Mark Haddon 

(Penguin Random House)
 

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Shipping%20and%20banking%20
%3Cp%3EThe%20sixth%20sanctions%20package%20will%20also%20see%20European%20insurers%20banned%20from%20covering%20Russian%20shipping%2C%20more%20individuals%20added%20to%20the%20EU's%20sanctions%20list%20and%20Russia's%20Sberbank%20cut%20off%20from%20international%20payments%20system%20Swift.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

The%20Witcher%20-%20season%20three
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHenry%20Cavill%2C%20Freya%20Allan%2C%20Anya%20Chalotra%3Cstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
TWISTERS

Director: Lee Isaac Chung

Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos

Rating: 2.5/5

Despacito's dominance in numbers

Released: 2017

Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon

Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube

Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification

Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.

Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards

RESULTS

Manchester United 2

Anthony Martial 30'

Scott McTominay 90 6' 

Manchester City 0

The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%20four-cyl%20turbo%20%2B%20mild%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E204hp%20at%205%2C800rpm%20%2B23hp%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C800rpm%20%2B205Nm%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E9-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7.3L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2FDecember%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh205%2C000%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Scoreline:

Barcelona 2

Suarez 85', Messi 86'

Atletico Madrid 0

Red card: Diego Costa 28' (Atletico)

Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
Goes well with: chocolate and caramel, saffron, cardamom and cloves. Also works well with honey and dates.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO

Champions League quarter-final, first leg

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE)

Matches can be watched on BeIN Sports

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

US PGA Championship in numbers

Joost Luiten produced a memorable hole in one at the par-three fourth in the first round.

To date, the only two players to win the PGA Championship after winning the week before are Rory McIlroy (2014 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational) and Tiger Woods (2007, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational). Hideki Matsuyama or Chris Stroud could have made it three.

Number of seasons without a major for McIlroy, who finished in a tie for 22nd.

4 Louis Oosthuizen has now finished second in all four of the game's major championships.

In the fifth hole of the final round, McIlroy holed his longest putt of the week - from 16ft 8in - for birdie.

For the sixth successive year, play was disrupted by bad weather with a delay of one hour and 43 minutes on Friday.

Seven under par (64) was the best round of the week, shot by Matsuyama and Francesco Molinari on Day 2.

Number of shots taken by Jason Day on the 18th hole in round three after a risky recovery shot backfired.

Jon Rahm's age in months the last time Phil Mickelson missed the cut in the US PGA, in 1995.

10 Jimmy Walker's opening round as defending champion was a 10-over-par 81.

11 The par-four 11th coincidentally ranked as the 11th hardest hole overall with a scoring average of 4.192.

12 Paul Casey was a combined 12 under par for his first round in this year's majors.

13 The average world ranking of the last 13 PGA winners before this week was 25. Kevin Kisner began the week ranked 25th.

14 The world ranking of Justin Thomas before his victory.

15 Of the top 15 players after 54 holes, only Oosthuizen had previously won a major.

16 The par-four 16th marks the start of Quail Hollow's so-called "Green Mile" of finishing holes, some of the toughest in golf.

17 The first round scoring average of the last 17 major champions was 67.2. Kisner and Thorbjorn Olesen shot 67 on day one at Quail Hollow.

18 For the first time in 18 majors, the eventual winner was over par after round one (Thomas shot 73).

EMIRATES'S%20REVISED%20A350%20DEPLOYMENT%20SCHEDULE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEdinburgh%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20November%204%20%3Cem%3E(unchanged)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBahrain%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20November%2015%20%3Cem%3E(from%20September%2015)%3C%2Fem%3E%3B%20second%20daily%20service%20from%20January%201%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EKuwait%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20November%2015%20%3Cem%3E(from%20September%2016)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMumbai%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%201%20%3Cem%3E(from%20October%2027)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAhmedabad%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%201%20%3Cem%3E(from%20October%2027)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColombo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%202%20%3Cem%3E(from%20January%201)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMuscat%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cem%3E%20%3C%2Fem%3EMarch%201%3Cem%3E%20(from%20December%201)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ELyon%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20March%201%20%3Cem%3E(from%20December%201)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBologna%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20March%201%20%3Cem%3E(from%20December%201)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%20Emirates%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Updated: January 28, 2022, 3:03 AM