Mick Jagger once sang "what a drag it is getting old", but the senior artist is showing little sign of slowing down as he turns 80 on Wednesday.
The Rolling Stones frontman is still performing for packed arenas, most recently touring Europe to mark the band's 60th anniversary.
The star of 1960s counterculture underwent a heart valve replacement in 2019, but his regime of running, kick-boxing, cycling and yoga has maintained his svelte figure and longevity as an energetic showman.
The band completed its 14-date Sixty tour last year, although they had to cancel one date when Jagger caught Covid-19.
It was the first time the band had performed without drummer Charlie Watts, who died in 2021.
The remaining members plan to release a new album in tribute to their late drummer later this year, the first LP of original material since A Bigger Bang in 2005.
It will reportedly feature Beatles member Paul McCartney and former Stones bassist Bill Wyman, 86, more than 30 years after his departure from the band.
Beyond the Stones, Jagger teamed up with Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl in 2021 to record Eazy Sleazy, a song about life during the pandemic.
With songs such as Jumpin' Jack Flash, Gimme Shelter, Sympathy for the Devil and Not Fade Away, Jagger's band helped detonate the cultural and social explosion of the 1960s.
The charismatic frontman built a reputation for pushing boundaries.
Establishment figure
Michael Philip Jagger was born on July 26, 1943, to middle-class parents in Dartford, south of London.
He started jamming with childhood friend Keith Richards in 1960 after they discovered a mutual love of the blues, and have enjoyed a productive, if love-hate, relationship ever since.
Jagger dropped out of the London School of Economics to pursue his dream, and in 1965, the band had their first smash hit with (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction.
A string of massive hits across five decades followed, including Brown Sugar, Honky Tonk Women and Paint It Black.
Despite all his controversies, Jagger has always kept a careful eye on the commercial side of things and has amassed a £310 million ($400 million) fortune, according to The Sunday Times Rich List 2021.
For all his image as a subversive figure, Jagger become a pillar of the establishment late in his life.
He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2002 and is frequently spotted at Lord's, watching the England cricket team.
The rocker became a father for the eighth time in 2016 when American dancer Melanie Hamrick, his current partner, gave birth to a son.
He already had seven children from four previous relationships.
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
Zayed Sustainability Prize
