The inaugural TEDxAlQuoz event, set to take place on October 23, will examine our collective future, identifying the ways in which we can contribute to social change on a local, regional and global level.
Held under the theme Humanity and Interdependence, the event is officially licensed by the US non-profit media organisation TED and will take place at Warehouse Four in Al Quoz District between 4pm and 8pm.
The event will feature up to 10 talks from speakers living in the UAE, as well as performances by local and international artists including Emirati singer Arqam.
“The main idea behind the event is very much linked to the theme,” Rihane Hassaine, organiser and curator of the event, tells The National.
Interdependence is the basis of all communities, she says. “And yet, we aren’t so interconnected any more, especially not in big cities.”
The curated talks will highlight topics from environmental risks to economic growth and life-changing technologies, all of which underscore how “interdependence is humanity's greatest asset and bigger risk”.
“TEDxAlQuoz aims to re-explore the meaning of interdependence within society and encourage a reflection on how we can all nurture the spirit that has rooted our modern societies,” Hassaine says.
Produced with the support of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, the event will be hosted by former Australian Paralympian and disability activist Jessica Smith, whose varied breadth of experience "gives her the insight to connect the different topics that will be presented during the event".
“That’s one of the reasons why we chose her – to tie the talks with her personal story and experiences to some extent. She’s a very inspirational character," Hassaine says.
Speakers taking part in the event include Amanda Rushforth, a sustainable fashion and marine conservation advocate; Saliha Afridi, a clinical psychologist and founder of The LightHouse Arabia; Dareen Barbar, an amputee athlete and holder of the Guinness World Record for longest wall sit; Waleed Shah, an award-winning photographer and author of Rock Your Ugly; survival skills instructor Arnaud Laviolette; filmmaker and activist Lara Lee; memory coach Josh McCartney; and Allaoua Gaham, a martial arts expert and yoga instructor.
Talks will run for 15 minutes each, and will be available online on official TEDx platforms at a later date.
“We made a point to keep our independence in terms of the programme because if you have a sponsor influencing the programme, the videos won’t be released on official TEDx platforms, and you get your licence revoked,” Hassaine says.
Ultimately, the event seems to have moved in TED’s favour, as Hassaine says the media organisation reached out after examining the programme and encouraged her participation in the global conference in December.
The opportunity, she says, means she will be able to attend workshops on how to organise larger TEDx events, hopefully paving the way for future iterations of TEDxAlQuoz.
A former environmental lawyer, Hassaine says she knows first-hand how difficult it is to actually create change, and hopes TEDxAlQuoz will inspire visitors to work for a more collaborative tomorrow.
“The thing that we kept on being told as environmental law students was ‘if you want change, you need to raise awareness’. I didn’t understand that until I started working in the field. You can see it even now with social movements like Black Lives Matter and for Palestine. Raising awareness can create a social movement that can make a big difference in today’s world.”
Tickets to the event will be online soon. More information is available at the official TEDxAlQuoz website
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
What went into the film
25 visual effects (VFX) studios
2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots
1,000 VFX artists
3,000 technicians
10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers
New sound technology, named 4D SRL
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
