To mark the start of its two-day Prime Day super sale, Amazon is hosting a free-to-stream online concert series, featuring Billie Eilish, H.E.R. and Kid Cudi.
The three-part "immersive" musical event, presented by Amazon Music, will premiere on June 17, and will be available to all customers for 30 days – regardless of an Amazon Prime subscription.
Each of the shows will last about 25 minutes and will be themed on different places, including Paris, the Dunbar Hotel in Los Angeles and outer space, blending together music and the art of storytelling, the e-commerce company said.
Fans can expect to hear music from Eilish's new album, Happier Than Ever, H.E.R.'s Back Of My Mind and Kid Cudi's Man on the Moon III.
Kid Cudi has collaborated with the International Space Orchestra as his backing band, the world's first orchestra made up of space scientists from Nasa's Ames Research Centre, the Seti Institute and the International Space University.
Eilish will celebrate the show by releasing a range of merchandise exclusively on Amazon, featuring a collection of T-shirts, sweatshirts, posters and accessories.
To stream the Prime Day Show free on Prime Video, you need to set up a free Amazon account. The event will also be available to watch on IMDb TV, Twitch, and through Amazon devices such as Fire TV, Echo Show and Fire tablets.
Shoppers who are Amazon Prime members in the UAE will get to enjoy two days of savings when the sale launches at midnight GST on Monday, June 21, running until Tuesday, June 22.
Deals will be on offer across every category on the e-commerce site, including electronics, fashion, home, beauty and kitchen.
“We’re excited to once again bring members in the UAE great deals on an incredible selection across all Amazon.ae categories during Prime Day this year,” said Ronaldo Mouchawar, vice president of Amazon Middle East and North Africa.
"Prime Day delivers great ways to shop, gift and save, and we are looking forward to carrying this tradition on.
“We obsess over making members’ lives easier, better and more fun, and Prime Day is one of the many ways we constantly innovate for them in addition to rolling out new membership benefits such as free same-day delivery and free delivery from Amazon US and UK.”
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MATCH INFO
Manchester United 2 (Heaton (og) 42', Lindelof 64')
Aston Villa 2 (Grealish 11', Mings 66')
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
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
