• Men watch a film at the Cinema Park in October 2002 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Tickets cost around 10 US cents. Getty Images
    Men watch a film at the Cinema Park in October 2002 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Tickets cost around 10 US cents. Getty Images
  • Cinemagoers shove their money through a small window to buy tickets for a film at Cinema Park in 2002 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty Images
    Cinemagoers shove their money through a small window to buy tickets for a film at Cinema Park in 2002 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty Images
  • A boy stands next to a Bollywood poster, as he waits for a film to start Cinema Park in 2002 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty Images
    A boy stands next to a Bollywood poster, as he waits for a film to start Cinema Park in 2002 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Getty Images
  • Men wait in line to buy tickets for a film at Cinema Park in 2002. Getty Images
    Men wait in line to buy tickets for a film at Cinema Park in 2002. Getty Images
  • A boy watches a film alongside his father at Cinema Park in 2002. Getty Images
    A boy watches a film alongside his father at Cinema Park in 2002. Getty Images
  • The projectionist changes the film reel at Cinema Park in 2002. Getty Images
    The projectionist changes the film reel at Cinema Park in 2002. Getty Images
  • Men look at film posters outside the Cinema Park in 2005. AFP
    Men look at film posters outside the Cinema Park in 2005. AFP
  • People gather outside Cinema Park in October 2011. Getty Images
    People gather outside Cinema Park in October 2011. Getty Images
  • The projection operator stands by the old-fashioned machines in Cinema Park in October 2011. Getty Images
    The projection operator stands by the old-fashioned machines in Cinema Park in October 2011. Getty Images
  • Bollywood posters are displayed on a wall at Cinema Park in May 2012. AFP
    Bollywood posters are displayed on a wall at Cinema Park in May 2012. AFP
  • Cinema operator Rassoul changes a film roll as he shows a Bollywood movie at Cinema Park in May 2012. AFP
    Cinema operator Rassoul changes a film roll as he shows a Bollywood movie at Cinema Park in May 2012. AFP
  • Cinema operator Rassoul winds a roll of film as he shows a Bollywood movie at Cinema Park in May 2012. AFP
    Cinema operator Rassoul winds a roll of film as he shows a Bollywood movie at Cinema Park in May 2012. AFP
  • A man sits on a motorbike outside Cinema Park in May 2012. AFP
    A man sits on a motorbike outside Cinema Park in May 2012. AFP
  • Cinema Park being demolished on November 10, 2020. The demolition of the historic cinema has triggered sharp criticism. Filmmakers were outraged by the decision of the city council. Getty Images
    Cinema Park being demolished on November 10, 2020. The demolition of the historic cinema has triggered sharp criticism. Filmmakers were outraged by the decision of the city council. Getty Images
  • Actor and film producer Salim Schahin stands in front of Cinema Park as it is demolished on November 10, 2020. Getty Images
    Actor and film producer Salim Schahin stands in front of Cinema Park as it is demolished on November 10, 2020. Getty Images

Cinema Park: Filmmakers mourn as 70-year-old Afghan cinema is demolished


Alexandra Chaves
  • English
  • Arabic

“I cried today over the death of a loved one,” writes Afghan filmmaker Sahraa Karimi on Twitter. The “loved one” she refers to is Cinema Park, a 70-year-old cinema in Kabul that was demolished by Afghan authorities to make way for a new development this month.

"I am a film director; every movie theatre is my home," Karimi's statement continues. "The house in front of my eyes was destroyed and I just cried. I apologise to all the filmmakers, the citizens of Kabul, the people of Kabul. I could not stop the destruction of Cinema Park."

A video of Karimi weeping outside the ruins of Cinema Park has been making rounds on social media since early November, when the filmmaker protested inside the building in an attempt to stop it from being razed.

Karimi was among a number of film directors, artists and activists speaking out against Cinema Park's demolition, citing it as a significant landmark in Afghanistan's cultural history. Filmmakers such as Salim Shaheen and Mohammed Nabi Atai have also expressed their disapproval of the decision, with Atai stating that the building should be considered a historical site.

On social media, users shared the same sentiment with a corresponding trending hashtag, “#Don’t_destroy_cinema_park”.

In its golden age between the 1960s and 1970s – when Afghanistan was making great leaps towards modernisation and liberalisation – the cinema played Hollywood, Bollywood and Afghan films to audiences of both men and women. Built in the 1950s, it managed to survive the invasion of the Soviets in 1979, but underwent significant damage during the consequent Afghan Civil War and was eventually shut down during Taliban rule.

Despite reopening after the fall of the Taliban in 2001, Cinema Park failed to secure any investment. The building, still scarred by bullets and bomb attacks, further decayed from neglect, even though it continued to show up to four films per week. In its last week, the cinema hall had about eight employees. Authorities, however, saw the venue as a shelter for drug addicts and continued to call for its destruction.

People gather outside Cinema Park in October 2011 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Kaveh Kazemi / Getty Images
People gather outside Cinema Park in October 2011 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Kaveh Kazemi / Getty Images

First, Vice President Amrullah Saleh ordered the demolition that was carried out by Kabul Municipality on November 9. The following day, Saleh addressed critics in a tweet, asking them to support the government's new plans for the area.

"I am impressed with the amount of love and attachment some show to cinema and the art of film. I invite them to make intellectual and other type of contributions to the architectural concept that we are developing to replace the demolished one," Saleh wrote, adding the cinema hall was a "broken building" from the 1960s that was "of no use".

However, activists have questioned the decision to tear down Cinema Park rather than preserve its history. Afghan politician and parliament speaker Mir Rahman Rahmani said in a statement, as reported by local news channel TOLOnews: "Destruction of homes, the destruction of Cinema Park and booths is carried out under the guise of bringing reforms."

This month, TOLOnews obtained a copy of a contract revealing that companies had been bidding to erect businesses in Shahr-e Naw Park, where Cinema Park is located, which contradicts statements by Kabul Municipality that it had received no project proposals for the site.

The document, dated 10 months ago, shows the government was offered $38 million to lease the park for 40 years, with plans to transform it into a venue with restaurants, markets and an entertainment centre. The money would be split among the Ministry of Finance and Kabul Municipality. The former claimed to be unaware of the report.

THE SIXTH SENSE

Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Rating: 5/5

SQUADS

UAE
Mohammed Naveed (captain), Mohamed Usman (vice-captain), Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Imran Haider, Tahir Mughal, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed, Fahad Nawaz, Abdul Shakoor, Sultan Ahmed, CP Rizwan

Nepal
Paras Khadka (captain), Gyanendra Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Pradeep Airee, Binod Bhandari, Avinash Bohara, Sundeep Jora, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Rohit Paudel, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi, Basant Regmi, Pawan Sarraf, Bhim Sharki, Aarif Sheikh

Also on December 7 to 9, the third edition of the Gulf Car Festival (www.gulfcarfestival.com) will take over Dubai Festival City Mall, a new venue for the event. Last year's festival brought together about 900 cars worth more than Dh300 million from across the Emirates and wider Gulf region – and that first figure is set to swell by several hundred this time around, with between 1,000 and 1,200 cars expected. The first day is themed around American muscle; the second centres on supercars, exotics, European cars and classics; and the final day will major in JDM (Japanese domestic market) cars, tuned vehicles and trucks. Individuals and car clubs can register their vehicles, although the festival isn’t all static displays, with stunt drifting, a rev battle, car pulls and a burnout competition.

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

GIANT REVIEW

Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan

Director: Athale

Rating: 4/5

Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes

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

Roll%20of%20Honour%2C%20men%E2%80%99s%20domestic%20rugby%20season
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BMW%20M4%20Competition
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MATCH INFO

Mainz 0

RB Leipzig 5 (Werner 11', 48', 75', Poulsen 23', Sabitzer 36')

Man of the Match: Timo Werner (RB Leipzig)

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESmartCrowd%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiddiq%20Farid%20and%20Musfique%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%20%2F%20PropTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24650%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2035%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%20institutional%20investors%20and%20notable%20angel%20investors%20(500%20MENA%2C%20Shurooq%2C%20Mada%2C%20Seedstar%2C%20Tricap)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
T20 World Cup Qualifier

Final: Netherlands beat PNG by seven wickets

Qualified teams

1. Netherlands
2. PNG
3. Ireland
4. Namibia
5. Scotland
6. Oman

T20 World Cup 2020, Australia

Group A: Sri Lanka, PNG, Ireland, Oman
Group B: Bangladesh, Netherlands, Namibia, Scotland

Tamkeen's offering
  • Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
  • Option 2: 50% across three years
  • Option 3: 30% across five years 
Dhadak 2

Director: Shazia Iqbal

Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri 

Rating: 1/5

'Dark Waters'

Directed by: Todd Haynes

Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, William Jackson Harper 

Rating: ****

The specs: 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman

Price, base / as tested Dh222,500 / Dh296,870

Engine 2.0L, flat four-cylinder

Transmission Seven-speed PDK

Power 300hp @ 6,500rpm

Torque 380hp @ 1,950rpm

Fuel economy, combined 6.9L / 100km

BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)

Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm) 
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm) 
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm) 
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn  (4.30pm) 
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm) 
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)

Sunday, May 17

Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)

Monday, May 18

Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)

The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

MATCH INFO

Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD

* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10

SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2014
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UAE squad

Humaira Tasneem (c), Chamani Senevirathne (vc), Subha Srinivasan, NIsha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Esha Oza, Ishani Senevirathne, Heena Hotchandani, Keveesha Kumari, Judith Cleetus, Chavi Bhatt, Namita D’Souza.

HAJJAN
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Abu%20Bakr%20Shawky%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3EStarring%3A%20Omar%20Alatawi%2C%20Tulin%20Essam%2C%20Ibrahim%20Al-Hasawi%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Brief scores:

Pakistan (1st innings) 181: Babar 71; Olivier 6-37

South Africa (1st innings) 223: Bavuma 53; Amir 4-62

Pakistan (2nd innings) 190: Masood 65, Imam 57; Olivier 5-59

How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
  • Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying