Bollywood fantasy film Brahmastra: Part One - Shiva and gritty biopic Gangubai Kathiawadi were the big winners at this year's International Indian Film Academy Awards.
Held across two days, on Friday and Saturday, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, Bollywood's biggest and brightest stars paid tribute to their colleagues and celebrated with some colourful performances.
The IIFA Awards are an annual celebration of all things Bollywood. Abu Dhabi was hosting the event for the second year in a row.
On Friday at IIFA Rocks, a night dedicated to music and fashion, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period biopic Gangubai Kathiawadi was the big winner in the technical categories, clinching trophies for cinematography, screenplay and dialogue. The film, about real-life gangster Ganga Harjivandas Kathiawadi, a mafia chief in 1960s Bombay, stars Alia Bhatt in the lead.
Bhatt won the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Female) for her performance in the film.
Hrithik Roshan won the leading actor trophy for his role in the Abu Dhabi-shot Vikram Vedha.
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Bollywood superstar Salman Khan was the final performer of the night, dancing to many of his hits from over the decades. All photos: IIFA -

Salman Khan on stage -

Hrithik Roshan with his Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male) award for Vikram Vedha -

Hrithik Roshan dances on stage with host Vicky Kaushal -

Hrithik Roshan and Vicky Kaushal dance next to Abhishek Bachchan -

Nora Fatehi's cabaret act included a medley of songs such as Piya Tu Ab To Aaja, Aaj Ki Raat and Aao Na -

Nora Fatehi on stage -

Jacqueline Fernandez took made an impressive entrance with the song Paani Paani. She continued with the thumping beats of Show Me the Thumka -

Kamal Haasan being honoured with the Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema award by A R Rahman -

Rakul Preet Singh paid tribute to old Bollywood, and performed classic hits including Aaiye Meherbaan, Babuji Dheere Chalna and Ajeeb Dastan -

Rakul Preet Singh on stage -

Kriti Sanon began her performance with the song Apna Bana Le from the film Bhediya -

Kriti Sanon was joined by viral Norwegian dance crew Quick Style -

Kriti Sanon on stage -

The cast of Netflix reality show Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives - Maheep Kapoor, Bhavna Pandey, Seema Kiran Sajdeh and Neelam Kothari -

Varun Dhawan was the first performer of the night -

Varun Dhawan made his entrance from the back of Etihad Arena and danced down the aisle to the tune of Naach Punjaban -

Varun Dhawan performs -

Varun Dhawan on stage -

Performers take part in the gala's Opening Act -

The performance combined Indian and Emirati cultures -

The opening performance took the audience on a cultural journey across the Emirates -

Dancers perform for Opening Act -

The event began with a performance called Opening Act -

Hosts Abhishek Bachchan and Vicky Kaushal dance on stage -

Abhishek Bachchan and Vicky Kaushal hosted the Bollywood event this year -

Vicky Kaushal and Abhishek Bachchan made their entrance together with a little dance routine, reciting couplets featuring names of films nominated this year -

Hosts Abhishek Bachchan and Vicky Kaushal on stage -

Anil Kapoor on stage -

Actor Anil Kapoor began the show by saying: 'When we came to Abu Dhabi last year, we were bestowed with love and this love has pulled us back to entertain you'
Anees Bazmee's Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, the horror comedy starring Kartik Aaryan and Tabu, won two awards – Best Choreography for title track and Best Sound Design.
Brahmastra: Part One - Shiva won the majority of the awards on Saturday at the gala event, including Best Playback Singer for Shreya Ghoshal (Female) and Arijit Singh (Male), as well as Best Supporting Actor (Female) for Mouni Roy.

Babil Khan, the son of late Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan, shared the Best Debut (Male) award with Shantanu Maheshwari. Khan was celebrated for his role in the film Qala, and Maheshwari for starring in Gangubai Kathiawadi.
Khushali Kumar won the Best Debut (Female) awards for Dhoka Around the Corner.

Here are all the winners at the IIFA Awards 2023:
- Best Film: Drishyam 2
- Best Director: R Madhavan for Rocketry: The Nambi Effect
- Best Actor in a Leading Role (Female): Alia Bhatt for Gangubai Kathiawadi
- Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male): Hrithik Roshan for Vikram Vedha
- Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female): Mouni Roy for Brahmastra: Part One - Shiva
- Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male): Anil Kapoor for Jugjugg Jeeyo
- Outstanding Achievement for Fashion in Cinema: Manish Malhotra
- Outstanding Achievement in Indian Cinema: Kamal Haasan
- Best Adapted Story: Aamil Keeyan Khan and Abhishek Pathak for Drishyam 2
- Best Original Story: Perveez Sheikh and Jasmeet Reen for Darlings
- Outstanding Achievement in Regional Cinema: Marathi film Ved, directed by Riteish Deshmukh
- Best Debut (Male): Shantanu Maheshwari for Gangubai Kathiawadi and Babil Khan for Qala
- Best Debut (Female): Khushali Kumar for Dhoka Around the Corner
- Best Playback Singer (Female): Shreya Ghoshal for the song Rasiya from Brahmastra: Part One - Shiva
- Best Playback Singer (Male): Arijit Singh for the song Kesariya from Brahmastra: Part One - Shiva
- Best Music Direction: Pritam for Brahmastra: Part One - Shiva
- Best Lyricist: Amitabh Bhattacharya for the song Kesarya from Brahmastra: Part One - Shiva
- Best Cinematography: Gangubai Kathiawadi
- Best Screenplay: Gangubai Kathiawadi
- Best Dialogue: Gangubai Kathiawadi
- Best Choreography for title track: Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2
- Best Sound Design: Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2
- Best Editing: Drishyam 2
- Best Special Effects (Visual): Brahmastra: Part One - Shiva
- Best Background Score: Vikram Vedha
- Best Sound Mixing: Monica O My Darling
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Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon arrives on the IIFA Rocks 2023 green carpet at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Photo: IIFA -

Bollywood star Vicky Kaushal. Photo: IIFA -

Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez. Photo: IIFA -

Actor Sunny Kaushal. Photo: IIFA -
Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Indian actor Vijay Varma. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Bollywood actress Rakul Preet Singh. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Indian actor Siddharth Nigam. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Bollywood actor Taaha Shah. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Bollywood actress Nora Fatehi. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Actress Esha Gupta. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
South Indian actress Pranitha Subhash. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Actor Vishal Kotian. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Rapper Badshah. Chris Whiteoak / The National -

Bollywood actress Nushrratt Bharuccha. AFP -

Romanian actress Iulia Vantur. AFP -

Indian actress Krystle D’Souza. AFP -

Indian television actor Rohan Gandotra. AFP -

Actress Niharica Raizada. AFP -

Bollywood actor and host of IIFA Rocks 2023, Rajkumar Rao. AFP -
Director and co-host for the night Farah Khan Kunder arrives. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Bollywood actress Sanjana Sanghi. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Norwegian dance troupe Quick Style. Chris Whiteoak / The National -

Indian fashion designer Manish Malhotra. AFP
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
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
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Profile
Company name: Jaib
Started: January 2018
Co-founders: Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour
Based: Jordan
Sector: FinTech
Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018
Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Where to donate in the UAE
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
The specs: 2019 Audi A8
Price From Dh390,000
Engine 3.0L V6 turbo
Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
Power 345hp @ 5,000rpm
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Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
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360Vuz PROFILE
Date started: January 2017
Founder: Khaled Zaatarah
Based: Dubai and Los Angeles
Sector: Technology
Size: 21 employees
Funding: $7 million
Investors: Shorooq Partners, KBW Ventures, Vision Ventures, Hala Ventures, 500Startups, Plug and Play, Magnus Olsson, Samih Toukan, Jonathan Labin
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
Results
2pm: Serve U – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Violent Justice, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
2.30pm: Al Shafar Investment – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,400m; Winner: Desert Wisdom, Bernardo Pinheiro, Ahmed Al Shemaili
3pm: Commercial Bank of Dubai – Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Fawaareq, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson
3.30pm: Shadwell – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer
4pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Rakeez, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar
4.30pm: Al Redha Insurance Brokers – Handicap (TB) Dh78,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Capla Crusader, Bernardo Pinheiro, Rashed Bouresly
SPECS
The biog
Name: Timothy Husband
Nationality: New Zealand
Education: Degree in zoology at The University of Sydney
Favourite book: Lemurs of Madagascar by Russell A Mittermeier
Favourite music: Billy Joel
Weekends and holidays: Talking about animals or visiting his farm in Australia
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
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Jetour T1 specs
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The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 502hp at 7,600rpm
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Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
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