The UAE is home to more than 9,000 mosques of all shapes and sizes, each with its own unique story. While some, like the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, have become global landmarks, others, such as Al Bidiya Mosque in Fujairah, built in 1446, have become an intrinsic part of the country's history.
Meanwhile, mosques such as The Musalla in Abu Dhabi’s Al Hosn site and The Mosque of Light in Dubai have won global architectural awards and praise.
This Ramadan, two of the The National's photographers embarked on a project to capture a time-lapse of some of the UAE's mosques at sunset.
While these mosques are striking in their own right, they assume a special resonance during this spiritual time of the year.
Places of worship captured by Victor Besa and Chris Whiteoak include the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which last year welcomed more than 3.3 million visitors in the first six months of the year.
The mosque took 11 years to complete and was inaugurated in 2007, highlighting the legacy of UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
Besa also captured the Bani Hashim Mosque in Abu Dhabi's Al Maqtaa area, which is a replica of Palestine’s Dome of the Rock, as well as the Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan Mosque.
Opened in 2011 the Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan Mosque stands out for its square minaret and overlapping roof tiles that are typical of many mosques found in Morocco.
It is in Al Nahyan neighbourhood of Abu Dhabi, a quiet area of villas, small Baqalas and a popular public park.
The Ali Mohammed Sadiq Al Blushi Masjid Mosque, informally known as the Blue Mosque due to its striking blue pillars, is alongside the E11 motorway on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile, Al Salam Mosque is in Al Barsha, behind the tourist hotspot Mall of the Emirates. Built in 2014, it is a popular place of prayer, big enough to accommodate 1,500 worshippers.
It has noticeable pink paintwork and gold finishing which makes it stand out from a distance. It also features beautiful Emirati architecture inspired by Andalusian and Ottoman designs.
There's also the Mohammed Abdulkhaliq Gargash Masjid mosque in Al Quoz, named after the Emirati businessman who died in 2016. The mosque was designed by Dabbah Architects founder Sumaya Dahhbagh.
This makes it one of the first mosques in the emirates to be designed by a woman. It is notable for its sleek white stone facades that contain geometric forms and calligraphy.
Jumeirah Mosque, also in Dubai, welcomes visitors of all faiths to learn about Islam and local culture. Large enough to hold 1,200 worshippers, the mosque is made entirely from white stone in the medieval Fatimid tradition and its twin minarets are a sight to behold.
It is open to the public with daily tours provided by the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding.
And then there's Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque, which was inspired by the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. It is one of the largest in the country, capable of accommodating about 2,000 worshippers. The building is a gift to Dubai by Khalaf Al Habtoor, founder of Al Habtoor Group conglomerate, and also contains a research library and Islamic centre with a lecture hall.
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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
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History's medical milestones
1799 - First small pox vaccine administered
1846 - First public demonstration of anaesthesia in surgery
1861 - Louis Pasteur published his germ theory which proved that bacteria caused diseases
1895 - Discovery of x-rays
1923 - Heart valve surgery performed successfully for first time
1928 - Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
1953 - Structure of DNA discovered
1952 - First organ transplant - a kidney - takes place
1954 - Clinical trials of birth control pill
1979 - MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, scanned used to diagnose illness and injury.
1998 - The first adult live-donor liver transplant is carried out
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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
