Following a wave of public outrage in Egypt over the recent casting of a black actress in the role of Cleopatra, an Egyptian television channel announced that it is producing a big-budget documentary film.
A committee of experts on history, archaeology and anthropology has been formed to ensure the film, titled Cleopatra, is “as historically accurate as possible”, a representative for the Al Wathaeqya channel, a subsidiary of the state-affiliated United Media Services, said.
Many Egyptians were angered by the trailer for the coming second season of the Netflix docuseries African Queens, which this season will focus on Cleopatra. The first season, which was widely watched, was about Njinga, a West African queen who ruled the Ambundu Kingdoms of Ndongo and Matamba during the 16th and 17th centuries.
The trailer of the second season states that Cleopatra, whose race has long been a point of discussion among scholars, was black African.
Since it was released, the trailer has been lambasted on Egyptian social media channels and by prominent personalities, including comedian and political dissident Bassem Youssef, who last week appeared in a televised interview with British journalist Piers Morgan to decry what he called the distortion and appropriation of Egyptian culture.
The producer of the series, Jada Pinkett Smith, who narrates the episodes, has also been accused by critics of promoting Afrocentric ideas at the expense of historical accuracy. Smith is yet to make a public statement on the matter.
Among the critics was the country's former Minister of Antiquities, Zahi Hawass, who asserted that Cleopatra was of Greek origin and called the series “completely fake”.
Hawass, a longtime critic of Afrocentrism, warned of a growing tendency by black Americans to depict Egyptian pharaohs as black.
He cited several pharaonic paintings that show ancient Egyptians standing side-by-side with black Africans with distinguishable physical features.
Furthermore, the secretary-general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mostafa Waziri, issued a statement last week saying that Cleopatra has been depicted on coins and statues that clearly show her features, which he says were not black African by any means.
A release date for the coming series has not been announced.
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
India cancels school-leaving examinations
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
