Mayyas and Firdaus Orchestra speak of 'honour' to perform with Beyonce in Dubai

Mayyas and Firdaus Orchestra achieved this weekend what many in the entertainment industry could only dream of — sharing a stage with Beyonce.

Queen Bey, as she's popularly known, hit the stage in Dubai to celebrate the grand preview of the much-awaited Atlantis The Royal, drawing in A-list celebrities from all over the world, including Kendall Jenner, Rebel Wilson and Amir Khan.

With her were the Lebanese dance troupe and America's Got Talent 2022 winners, alongside the all-female orchestra that debuted to the public at Expo 2020 Dubai.

"It was an absolute honour to share the stage with the one and only Queen Beyonce," Mayyas posted on its official Instagram account following the performance.

"This moment is dedicated to all the dreamers and believers of the world. Thank you @beyonce and the @parkwood team for allowing us to be a part of your magical world."

Firdaus Orchestra, a 48-member all-female orchestra mentored by Academy Award-winning composer A R Rahman, performed a specially arranged version of Spirit of Rangeela with the superstar on the night.

"Check check check," they wrote on Instagram alongside a gallery of images of them on stage and behind the scenes. "Forever grateful to our home @expocitydubai and our mentor @arrahman ... for our spotlight moment last night!

"Thank you Beyonce and team for an irreplaceable night."

Paying tribute to the region with music and fashion

Putting these regional acts into the limelight was not the only way Beyonce paid tribute to the Arab world. She also chose a series of regional designers for her stage wardrobe.

Opening the show, she appeared wearing a custom-made canary yellow corset-style gown, framed with extravagant feathers, by Dubai house Atelier Zuhra.

For her second look of the night, she chose Lebanese designer Nicolas Jebran, who created a red princess-cut dress with gold sequin detailing and embellished sleeves.

The singer wowed crowds with an hour-long set that included an eclectic mix of hits from her extensive back catalogue, as well as a surprise guest performance by her eldest daughter, Blue Ivy, 11.

Her performance was followed by a spectacular fireworks display and a DJ set from Swedish House Mafia.

Spanning 63 hectares and housing 795 rooms and suites, as well as countless hospitality venues and no fewer than 90 swimming pools, the resort’s opening has been anticipated for years.

There will be 17 restaurants at the resort, including the Middle East's first Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, from the famed British chef; Cantonese restaurant Hakkasan; and Ariana's Persian Kitchen by the Iranian-American celebrity TV chef and cookbook author Ariana Bundy.

Scroll through the gallery below to see celebrities at Atlantis The Royal's preview weekend

Sarfira

Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal

Rating: 2/5

The Byblos iftar in numbers

29 or 30 days – the number of iftar services held during the holy month

50 staff members required to prepare an iftar

200 to 350 the number of people served iftar nightly

160 litres of the traditional Ramadan drink, jalab, is served in total

500 litres of soup is served during the holy month

200 kilograms of meat is used for various dishes

350 kilograms of onion is used in dishes

5 minutes – the average time that staff have to eat

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

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