Mega dance festival Tomorrowland is taking its New Year's Eve celebrations online.
After the success of its debut digital event, Tomorrowland Around the World in June, the Belgian music festival returns with another star-studded list of DJs who will perform within eye-popping new virtual worlds and multiple stages created from scratch.
The festival, called Tomorrowland 31.12.2020, which streams tonight on its website until Thursday, January 14, features leading spinners Armin Van Buuren, David Guetta, Martin Garrix and Lost Frequencies.
Due to the technological aspects at play, all of the artist pre-recorded sets at purpose-built studios in Belgium and Los Angeles during November, with a green screen and dozens of cameras capturing every break and fade on the decks.
Speaking to The National, Belgian artist Lost Frequencies, real name Felix De Laet, described the recording experience as both thrilling and daunting.
“I'm not an actor so I'm not really used to these kind of settings, and surely not for a DJ set. It was super impressive to be here but also a little bit intimidating as you are trying to fit into a particular vibe,” he says.
“I think this event is going to be a big game changer in what you will be able to do. And I think a lot of people will then be able to connect through these events. Even if you're not a big fan of electronic music, you will be able to feel connected with a lot of people like yourself that are hyped and talking about what's happening.”
In what can only be counted as a rare silver lining when it comes to the damage caused to the live music industry by the pandemic, Tomorrowland spokesperson Debby Wilmsen says the event was spoilt for choice when it came to hiring the right people to execute the vision for the festival.
“The teams working on this event are known from the Olympic Games, the Super Bowl and the game development world,” she says.
“We had the unique opportunity to have all these teams available at the same time and allowed us to create this technical set-up that has never been done before, certainly not with this high amount of content that needs to go through the production pipeline."
While nothing can beat the physical version of the event, normally home to 400,000 people for back-to-back July weekends in the Belgium town of Boom, Wilmsen says the pandemic pushed Tomorrowland to invest in digital - with satisfying results.
Even when things return to normal, she envisages the digital format will become a regular addition to the company's list of annual events.
"We could see virtual festivals becoming an ongoing experience we provide people," she says.
Tomorrowland 31.12.2020 is streaming from the festival website from Thursday 11pm to 6am UAE time, after which it is available to stream until Thursday, January 14. Tickets begin from €20 (Dh90) for a day pass, or €25 (Dh112) for the live stream and additional video-on-demand content. For details visit tomorrowland.com
Match statistics
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 36 Bahrain 32
Harlequins
Tries: Penalty 2, Stevenson, Teasdale, Semple
Cons: Stevenson 2
Pens: Stevenson
Bahrain
Tries: Wallace 2, Heath, Evans, Behan
Cons: Radley 2
Pen: Radley
Man of the match: Craig Nutt (Harlequins)
Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
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The specs
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'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'
Director:Michael Lehmann
Stars:Kristen Bell
Rating: 1/5
