His face still cannot be revealed and until today even the name of Corporal Yassin al Hosni had never been made public.
One of the country's top snipers, Cpl Hosni is a key member of the secretive anti-terror and serious crimes intervention squad known simply as "Q7".
"I protect people and serve my country in the shadows," he said in an exclusive interview as The National was given unprecedented access to his unit.
It is the job of Q7 to carry out operations considered too dangerous for regular police units. Typically these will include responses to hostage-taking, combating terrorism and dealing with major crimes usually involving firearms or other weapons.
Members of the unit agreed to speak only on condition that no details of past or present operations were revealed.
Now 38, Cpl Hosni joined Q7 in 1990 and believes he has one of the best jobs in the country.
Wearing his distinctive "zigzag" camouflage outfit and carrying a state of the art sniper rifle, he explained his passion for a job that is often done through the lens of his fitted telescopic sight.
"I like how it brings images closer and I have to concentrate and self-impose a great level of restraint and patience," he said.
Trim and confident, the Sharjah-born policeman likes to boast that he can stay in position for hours at a time, a whole day if necessary. "I am so patient and solid that people love having me as a friend," he said with a smile.
Formed in 1987, the unit is based in Abu Dhabi but, as the name indicates, covers all seven emirates, with the Q standing for qowa, or "force".
The commander is Lt Col Mubarak Abdullah al Muhayri, who describes his men as a Special Weapons And Tactics - or Swat - team.
"Secrecy is part of our weapon, where Swat members lay low and don't tell people outside what they do," he said. "Only in times of crisis do we come out."
The team consists of at least 500 men and Lt Col Muhayri advises would-be recruits that it is "a tough job".
Almost all of the squad are Emirati, with non-nationals restricted to non-operational roles.
Training is carried out with help from experts from all over the world including, at present, a team from the United States.
"We get something from each expert, then modify it to fit our traditions and culture," he said.
Members of the squad are ready to be called into action anywhere in the country. There are also specialised units trained to assist other police branches during riots, aircraft hijackings, kidnappings, bomb disposal operations and even family disputes that become violent.
They are also assigned to internal protection duties for leading members of the Government and important foreign visitors.
"Hidden security is more important than the obvious protection," Lt Col Muhayri said. He believes the unit owes its success to the special skills of its members.
"Sometimes we need just five men to carry out one operation," he said. "It is about expertise, not numbers."
Training begins with a rigorous test of physical, mental and emotional strengths that extends over six months and weeds out all but a handful of the dozens of young male applicants.
Those accepted are expected to commit themselves to the squad for the rest of their working lives.
"Out of every 50 that apply, only 10 get through the tests and join the force," Lt Col Muhayri said. "We are like a family here, where the Swat members stay in a dormitory, two in each room, and work together like brothers."
The result is what he calls the fittest team of men in the Emirates. "They challenge themselves and push their own limits," he said.
Born in Al Ain, Lt Col Muhayri has risen through the ranks during 20 years in Q7 and prides himself on his fitness at the age of 43. "I lived through what the young men are going through, and so I understand them and try to help them in any way I can," he said.
"There is time for family, and sometimes my wife is worried about me, given the dangerous aspect of my job, but that is life. These days car accidents are more dangerous."
Asked what motivated his men, he insisted: "We don't join the force for the fame. If anything, no one knows about us. It is about doing something for the country.
"The force builds our personality and is a great challenge to us mentally and physically."
Active duty ends when officers reach 35 after which they are transferred to administrative and training duties. Cpl Hosni's firearms expertise earns him an exemption.
Unlike similar units in the West, the Emirati Swat team allows its members to grow beards provided they are neatly trimmed.
Traditional dress has been discontinued for protection duties and replaced by suits with special pockets for guns.
Unit members are expected to stay in peak physical condition, with an emphasis on the "white weapon", a technique that involves using parts of the body and ordinary items such as keys or sticks to disable attackers rather than relying on firearms.
There is also a small number of female recruits, used on special operations where women and children are involved.
In a typical training session held recently, four members of Q7 prepared to jump from a helicopter hovering at a height of 12 metres.
The team included Sergeant Ibrahim al Dahmani, from Ras al Khaimah, who joined the force when he was 18 and is now a fighter on the front lines. Well over six feet tall, he has a striking physique that has earned him the nickname "Hercules".
Now 27, Sgt Dahmani remembers his initial training as one of the toughest six months of his life. "They put us through every imaginable and unimaginable scenario to train us to become fighters," he said.
Most members of Sgt Dahmani's family serve in the Army but as he put it: "I wanted to try something different."
At the unit's base neighbouring a BMW dealership near the Maqta Bridge, he enjoys a reputation as a good-natured joker and believes having a sense of humour is an important aid in relieving stress.
"During an operation, it becomes so intense that it is only natural that we turn to humour as a break," he said.
Lt Col Muhayri, his commander, warned that crime was evolving as society changed, adding: "We always have to be one step ahead of the criminals." But he offered a reassuring message on terrorism, describing its absence as one result of the UAE being a stable country.
In the near future, Q7 plans to unveil a new logo. "The image of the logo will embody our strength and reflect our secrecy," Lt Col Muhayri said.
Until then, he says, the message of the unit can be summed up in a few simple words: "We are proud to be of the UAE and to be here for the UAE."
Visit www.thenational.ae for more pictures of Q7 in action
The specs: 2018 Audi RS5
Price, base: Dh359,200
Engine: 2.9L twin-turbo V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 450hp at 5,700rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 1,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)
Nancy Ajram
(In2Musica)
WandaVision
Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany
Directed by: Matt Shakman
Rating: Four stars
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
TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
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 biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
SPEC SHEET
Display: 10.4-inch IPS LCD, 400 nits, toughened glass
CPU: Unisoc T610; Mali G52 GPU
Memory: 4GB
Storage: 64GB, up to 512GB microSD
Camera: 8MP rear, 5MP front
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 3.5mm audio
Battery: 8200mAh, up to 10 hours video
Platform: Android 11
Audio: Stereo speakers, 2 mics
Durability: IP52
Biometrics: Face unlock
Price: Dh849
