Two of the country’s most important women will be celebrated during a public presentation and discussion on Tuesday, March 29.
Sheikh Zayed’s mother, Salama Bint Butti, and his wife, Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, are the subject of the next Multaqa talk in collaboration with the Zayed National Museum.
The presentation will touch upon the life stories of the women, with a focus on how they supported Sheikh Zayed and influenced his thinking and leadership.
Maitha Al Shamsi, a personal adviser to Sheikha Fatima, and Minister of State Maryam Al Roumi will lead the talk, as part of the Mother of the Nation Festival. It will be moderated by Salama Al Shamsi, the project manager for Zayed National Museum.
“Both our speakers supported Sheikha Fatima in her many projects regarding family and social development as well as humanitarian efforts, so they know details about her personal and professional life, which they will share with us,” says Salama Al Shamsi.
The details of Sheikha Salama’s life will be fascinating, she explains, because even while Sheikh Zayed, her youngest son, was a child, she was known to be a formidable woman.
This is the second annual series of the Multaqa talks, which aim to shed light on the content of the forthcoming national museum.
“Our aim throughout the whole Multaqa series is to share with the audience a glimpse of what they will see in the Zayed National Museum when it is completed,” says Salama Al Shamsi. “We want to share history, knowledge and research because ultimately the museum is a place for learning and exchanging thoughts and ideas.”
She stressed how important it was for the public to attend the discussions and to engage with the speakers.
“We are very keen to hear from the audience and the public about what they would like to see in their national museum,” she says.
“We want people to interact, be part of the development and in that way, become more aware of the deep history of the UAE.
We are to be a museum of the people, and for the people and so without them we won’t be able to achieve our goals.”
• Multaqa Zayed National Museum’s An Inspiration: Salama bint Butti & Fatima bint Mubarak will take place Tuesday, March 29, from 7pm to 8.30pm, on the main stage of the Mother of the Nation Festival, Abu Dhabi Corniche
aseaman@thenational.ae
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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.
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- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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