Expo 2020 Dubai continues to be a haven for culture lovers in the new year.
After explosive New Year’s Eve concerts by EDM stars Armin Van Buuren and Dimitri Vegas, the world's fair returns to its eclectic programme of performances.
In January, there will be concerts ranging from chart-topping pop music to Balkan and Italian jazz, and from Hungarian folk to Spanish flamenco.
Here are seven shows to see this month. All are free to attend with an Expo pass.
1. Goran Bregovic
Country Pavilion: Serbia
What it is: With six million albums sold over a three-decade career, Goran Bregovic is one of Serbia’s most successful musicians and a star across the Balkans.
Bringing his Wedding and Funeral Orchestra, a vibrant ensemble featuring a brass and string section and male choir, Bregovic promises an upbeat show.
“I haven’t written anything sad in 20 years,” he said. “My music is cheerful, it invites people to dance, to rejoice, no matter what their religion or nation, I believe that the audience in Dubai will recognise it and that we will have a great time.”
Venue: Jubilee Stage
Time: 7pm to 9pm
Date: January 13
2. 'Faro' by Eduardo Guerrero
Country Pavilion: Spain
What it is: A lush flamenco show inspired by some of the lighthouses dotting Spanish coastal cities and towns.
Dancer Eduardo Guerro will channel the beauty of these edifices with pieces named after them, such as Faro de la Cerda de Santander in Aviles and Sacratif in Granada.
Fiery and wistful, Faro is set to be a memorable journey.
Venue: Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre
Time: 8pm to 10pm
Date: January 18
3. National Jazz Orchestra: All that Jazz
Country Pavilion: Italy
What it is: Originally conceived as an education project in 2016, the orchestra went on to perform across Italy and Europe with a repertoire highlighting the rich history of Italian music from the post-war period.
The Expo 2020 Dubai show will feature jazzed-up takes on Neapolitan folk songs and works by influential Italian composers.
Venue: Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre
Time: 9.30pm to 10.30pm
Date: January 24
4. Infinite Nights: Black Eyed Peas
What it is: The concert by the big-selling trio comes as part of the six-month Infinite Nights series, which has had the likes of Kadim Al Sahir, Nancy Ajram, Ragheb Alama and Alicia Keys take to the stage over the past few months.
Also being streamed live on the Expo website, the special show by the Black Eyed Peas has been "inspired by the pace and pulse of technology and music that explores and embraces new musical frontiers”, according to the official announcement.
You can also expect the group to play some of its biggest hits such as Where Is the Love?, Boom Boom Pow and I Gotta Feeling.
Venue: Al Wasl Plaza
Time: 8.30pm to 9.30pm
Date: January 25
5. Tania Libertad
Country Pavilion: Mexico
What it is: The veteran Peruvian-Mexican singer is a leading light in the world music scene.
With more than 44 albums recorded in a career spanning five decades, Libertad has performed alongside Spanish opera star Placido Domingo and South American music giants such as Puerto Rican mambo composer Tito Puente and Mexico's Vicente Fernandez.
With a sound mixing bolero and mariachi with Afro-Peruvian rhythms, Libertad's performance should be as enchanting as it is energetic.
Venue: Jubilee Stage
Time: 9pm to 11pm
Date: January 25
6. Iwal rock folk group
Country Pavilion: Algeria
What it is: With its delicate acoustic guitars, harmonica and piano, the folk group conjures a tender and ethereal sound with eclectic songs inspired by the mountainous Chaouis region of Eastern Algeria.
Venue: Jubilee Stage
Time: 9.30pm to 11pm
Date: January 26
7. Csik Band
Country Pavilion: Hungary
What it is: One of Hungary's most popular groups, Csik Band specialises in their native country's folk music tradition with a dash of rock and world music thrown in the mix. The group are widely acclaimed at home and were awarded the prestigious Fonogram Prize from the Hungarian Association of Record Producers.
Venue: Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre
Time: 5.30pm to 6.30pm
Date: January 29
Read more
The Square: Dubai Blues Festival to open new ‘hassle free’ events venue
Director: Romany Saad
Starring: Mirfat Amin, Boumi Fouad and Tariq Al Ibyari
The specs: 2018 Maserati Ghibli
Price, base / as tested: Dh269,000 / Dh369,000
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 355hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.9L / 100km
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
What is a black hole?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
'Project Power'
Stars: Jamie Foxx, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Dominique Fishback
Director: Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman
Rating: 3.5/5
'Tell the Machine Goodnight' by Katie Williams
Penguin Randomhouse
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Recipe: Spirulina Coconut Brothie
Ingredients
1 tbsp Spirulina powder
1 banana
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (full fat preferable)
1 tbsp fresh turmeric or turmeric powder
½ cup fresh spinach leaves
½ cup vegan broth
2 crushed ice cubes (optional)
Method
Blend all the ingredients together on high in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Carzaty%2C%20now%20Kavak%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELaunch%20year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECarzaty%20launched%20in%202018%2C%20Kavak%20in%20the%20GCC%20launched%20in%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20140%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Automotive%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECarzaty%20raised%20%246m%20in%20equity%20and%20%244m%20in%20debt%3B%20Kavak%20plans%20%24130m%20investment%20in%20the%20GCC%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RESULTS
Men
1 Marius Kipserem (KEN) 2:04:04
2 Abraham Kiptum (KEN) 2:04:16
3 Dejene Debela Gonfra (ETH) 2:07:06
4 Thomas Rono (KEN) 2:07:12
5 Stanley Biwott (KEN) 2:09:18
Women
1 Ababel Yeshaneh (ETH) 2:20:16
2 Eunice Chumba (BRN) 2:20:54
3 Gelete Burka (ETH) 2:24:07
4 Chaltu Tafa (ETH) 2:25:09
5 Caroline Kilel (KEN) 2:29:14
'Spies in Disguise'
Director: Nick Bruno and Troy Quane
Stars: Will Smith, Tom Holland, Karen Gillan and Roshida Jones
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Brief scores:
Toss: Nepal, chose to field
UAE 153-6: Shaiman (59), Usman (30); Regmi 2-23
Nepal 132-7: Jora 53 not out; Zahoor 2-17
Result: UAE won by 21 runs
Series: UAE lead 1-0
Mental%20health%20support%20in%20the%20UAE
%3Cp%3E%E2%97%8F%20Estijaba%20helpline%3A%208001717%3Cbr%3E%E2%97%8F%20UAE%20Ministry%20of%20Health%20and%20Prevention%20hotline%3A%20045192519%3Cbr%3E%E2%97%8F%20UAE%20Mental%20health%20support%20line%3A%20800%204673%20(Hope)%3Cbr%3EMore%20information%20at%20hope.hw.gov.ae%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE%20SPECS
%3Cp%3EBattery%3A%2060kW%20lithium-ion%20phosphate%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20Up%20to%20201bhp%3Cbr%3E0%20to%20100kph%3A%207.3%20seconds%3Cbr%3ERange%3A%20418km%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh149%2C900%3Cbr%3EAvailable%3A%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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
