The Holy Quran Academy in Sharjah has added a rare collection of antique Quran manuscripts dating as far back as the eighth century to its archives.
The new collection includes 17 rare artefacts, made up of manuscripts and complete Qurans, dating back to the Mamluk, Timurid and Ottoman eras.
Sherzad Abdul Rahman Taher, secretary general of the Holy Quran Academy, said the acquisition was part of ongoing efforts to grow the collection at the academy, which is now home to one of the largest collections of Qurans in the Islamic world.
“Our new collection includes 17 rare artefacts, some of which are manuscripts and some of them are complete Quran copies, dating from the 2-13 century AH [in the Islamic calendar, or eighth to 13th centuries],” said Taher.
“Each piece deserves to be in an independent museum due to its valuable religious value. The collection dates back to the Umayyad, Mamluk, Timurid, Safavid and Ottoman states, and [originate from] India, Turkey, China, Iran, North Africa, Morocco and Andalusia, and come in different shapes and sizes.
"The calligraphy on the copies indicates that some of them were written by the most famous calligraphers who used ornaments and decoration, using gold and precious stones, such as blue lapis lazuli."
The Holy Quran Academy in Sharjah is dedicated to the care of the Quran in all its forms, including manuscript, print, audio and digital.
The academy includes a number of museums, such as the Holy Quran museum, the Seven Readings Museum and the Museum of the Pillars of Quran.
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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
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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
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