Rio Carnivale, January 17
The country's premiere Brazilian eatery will attempt to bring some of the glamour and spice of one of the world's biggest festivals. Chamas at InterContinental Abu Dhabi will have an all-Brazilian samba group performing while patrons gorge on an epic churrascaria buffet full of the meaty goodness Chamas is known for. Visit www.dining-intercontinental-ad.ae for details.
Burns Night, January 25
The life of the beloved Scottish poet Robert Burns will be celebrated with haggis and more at the Burns Supper at the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi. As well as the five-course meal on offer, the comic actors Mark Cox and Jane McCarry from Still Game are appearing as special guest speakers. Visit www.adscots.com for more info.
Australia Day, January 26
With a large Aussie expatriate community, Australia Day is always something to look forward to on the UAE entertainment calendar. Last year, the Aussie rock legends Hunters and Collectors came out of semi-retirement for a performance at Dubai's XL Beach Club. This year, Abu Dhabi's Le Meridien is promising a party showing "what's great about Australia". Apparently, that means "Aussie BBQ buffet with fresh seafood, prime cuts of Aussie meat and Aussie meat pie" (www.lemeridien.com). Meanwhile, in Dubai, the Australian Business Council Dubai is hosting a barbecue at Barasti Beach with a musical performance by the Boomeranging Beach Bunch (www.abcduae.com).
Chinese New Year, February 10
Based on the Chinese lunar calendar, the Year of the Water Snake is looming. While nothing has been announced yet, Abu Dhabi's Chinese eateries put on a feast last year with the Shang Palace serving an eight-course set menu. The Royal Orchid focused its attentions on dim sum, serving a wide variety of the popular treat as part of a set menu.
St Patrick's Day, March 17
The Irish cultural celebration is always good craic, courtesy of an almost annual performance by a rock legend. In what has to be one of the quirkiest musical talking points of the UAE, Bob Geldof often returns to Dubai to perform a rather intimate show at the Irish Village. While it has not been announced yet, Geldof is a hot tip to arrive if he can get all that humanitarian work out of the way first.
Filipino Independence Day, June 12
The UAE's passionate Filipino community doesn't mess around when it comes to the country's independence day celebrations. The event is used to mark festivals across various emirates. Last year, Abu Dhabi's Sheraton held a two-day festival full of local delicacies and live bands, while Dubai's Al Safa Stadium was the venue for a cultural bazaar with items flown in from the motherland.
Canada Day, July 1
A live funk band was called in last year to celebrate Canada Day in Dubai's JamBase. Revellers dressed up for the occasion by adhering to the red and white "or anything Canadian" dress code. In Abu Dhabi's Le Royal Meridien, Canadians flocked to PJ O'Reilly's to celebrate and for some local networking.
Bastille Day, July 14
That's the English term for the French National Day. France's already high reputation for culinary excellence is taken to new heights with exquisite meals offered in the UAE's French eateries. In previous years, Choices at Al Bustan Rotana hosted a Bastille Day Buffet, while Abu Dhabi's Le Beaujolais normally marks the day with its own range of French treats.
Thanksgiving, November 28
It may be celebrated mostly in the United States (as well as Canada, Puerto Rico, Liberia and Australia's Norfolk Island, on different dates), but the celebration often involves a lot of food and a big juicy turkey no matter where it's held. Many UAE establishments add turkey stations to their buffets during the festivities. Last year, Traiteur in Dubai's Hyatt Park had a themed buffet featuring a maple-glazed whole roast turkey with cranberry relish, while St Regis's American-themed 55th&5th The Grill had a six-course feast including a "slow-cooked turkey breast with lobster brioche stuffing".
Diwali, November 30
Marking the start of the Hindu calendar for many, Diwali has all the pomp and goodwill of a new year's celebration. Celebrated by Hindus, the event is part of the region's cultural fabric. With plenty of concerts in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai featuring Bollywood stars, Diwali is often celebrated with intimate parties at home, hence the roaring trade done by Indian sweet shops the week before.
sasaeed@thenational.ae
Company profile
Company: Rent Your Wardrobe
Date started: May 2021
Founder: Mamta Arora
Based: Dubai
Sector: Clothes rental subscription
Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded
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Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
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
Notable cricketers and political careers
- India: Kirti Azad, Navjot Sidhu and Gautam Gambhir (rumoured)
- Pakistan: Imran Khan and Shahid Afridi (rumoured)
- Sri Lanka: Arjuna Ranatunga, Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillakaratne Dilshan (rumoured)
- Bangladesh (Mashrafe Mortaza)
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End of free parking
- paid-for parking will be rolled across Abu Dhabi island on August 18
- drivers will have three working weeks leeway before fines are issued
- areas that are currently free to park - around Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Maqta Bridge, Mussaffah Bridge and the Corniche - will now require a ticket
- villa residents will need a permit to park outside their home. One vehicle is Dh800 and a second is Dh1,200.
- The penalty for failing to pay for a ticket after 10 minutes will be Dh200
- Parking on a patch of sand will incur a fine of Dh300
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