Ariana Grande now has the third most popular account on Instagram. AP
Ariana Grande now has the third most popular account on Instagram. AP
Ariana Grande now has the third most popular account on Instagram. AP
Ariana Grande now has the third most popular account on Instagram. AP

Ariana Grande makes Instagram history: singer reaches a milestone of 200 million followers


Evelyn Lau
  • English
  • Arabic

She’s sold millions of albums, toured the world and won numerous awards – and now Ariana Grande is also the most-followed woman on Instagram with 200 million fans.

The Thank U, Next singer quietly hit the milestone at the weekend, and became the second person and the first woman to reach the feat, following football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who was the first person to do so. She is trailed by Kylie Jenner and Selena Gomez with 193 million and 190 million followers, respectively.

Grande was congratulated on the accomplishment by her Rain on Me collaborator Lady Gaga, who wrote on Instagram: "[Congratulations] to my friend @arianagrande for 200 million followers! You're a queen! Wear that crown!"

The pair also performed their song at the MTV Music Video Awards on Sunday, August 30, and won Best Collaboration and Song of the Year.

Grande also took to Instagram to respond: “Thank u so much for having me @ladygaga I love u with all my heart always. u were so beyond brilliant tonight. so grateful to have been a part of this with u. & thank u again @mtv.”

The singer, 27, is quite active on the platform and shares several posts a day. But she has yet to comment on her Instagram achievement.

Some of the pop star’s more recent posts on the platform include poses with two high ponytails and a bathroom selfie to show off a jewelled face mask.

Grande rose to fame on the Nickelodeon show Victorious in 2009 before launching a solo career and producing hits such as The Way, Problem and 7 Rings.

Scroll through our gallery below to see the top 10 most followed accounts on Instagram:

  • 10. Justin Bieber currently has 145 million followers on Instagram as of Sept 2020. Getty Images
    10. Justin Bieber currently has 145 million followers on Instagram as of Sept 2020. Getty Images
  • 9. Beyonce has 153 million followers on Instagram as of Sept 2020. Instagram / Beyonce
    9. Beyonce has 153 million followers on Instagram as of Sept 2020. Instagram / Beyonce
  • 8. Football star Lionel Messi has 165 million followers on Instagram as of Sept 2020. Getty Images)
    8. Football star Lionel Messi has 165 million followers on Instagram as of Sept 2020. Getty Images)
  • 7. Kim Kardashian has 186 million followers on Instagram as of Sept 2020. Reuters
    7. Kim Kardashian has 186 million followers on Instagram as of Sept 2020. Reuters
  • 6. Selena Gomez has 190 million followers on Instagram as of Sept 2020. AP
    6. Selena Gomez has 190 million followers on Instagram as of Sept 2020. AP
  • 5. Kylie Jenner has 193 million followers on Instagram as of Sept 2020. AP
    5. Kylie Jenner has 193 million followers on Instagram as of Sept 2020. AP
  • 4. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has 196 million followers on Instagram as of Sept 2020. AP
    4. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has 196 million followers on Instagram as of Sept 2020. AP
  • 3. Ariana Grande has 200 million followers on Instagram as of Sept 2020. AP File
    3. Ariana Grande has 200 million followers on Instagram as of Sept 2020. AP File
  • 2. Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has 238 million followers on Instagram as of Sept 2020. Courtesy Juventus / Twitter
    2. Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has 238 million followers on Instagram as of Sept 2020. Courtesy Juventus / Twitter
  • 1. Instagram is the top followed account on Instagram with 362 million followers. Instagram
    1. Instagram is the top followed account on Instagram with 362 million followers. Instagram
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Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport - the specs:

Engine: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 

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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