Saudi Arabia's first Disney concert in Riyadh to feature Broadway stars

Disney Princess – The Concert will have its world premiere in Saudi Arabia before the rest of its world tour. Presented by the Riyadh International Book Fair, the event is produced by Disney Concerts in association with Impresario Live and organised by Benchmark events company in the kingdom. It will be the first Disney concert to take place in Saudi Arabia.

For the concert, Broadway stars perform songs sung by Disney princesses Belle, Jasmine, Nala and Anastasia. Think tracks like A Whole New World from Aladdin, How Far I’ll Go from Moana and Let It Go from Frozen.

The tour will bring Drama Desk-nominee Christy Altomare, Tony-nominee Susan Egan, Grammy-nominee Courtney Reed and Broadway World Award-winner Syndee Winters, alongside music director Benjamin Rauhala and enchanting Prince, Adam Joseph, to the Saudi capital.

Performances will take place from Wednesday until Saturday at King Fahad Cultural Centre in Riyadh.

The concert series is officially part of Disney Concerts, the production and licensing division of Disney Music Group, the music arm of The Walt Disney Company. They produce concerts and tours, and license Disney music and visual content to symphony orchestras and presenters worldwide.

“This world premiere concert event is the culmination of an exciting new collaboration between Disney Concerts and Broadway Princess Party, bringing out the best of Broadway to celebrate all the Disney princesses like never before. We could not be more thrilled to premiere this world-class production in Riyadh,” said Chip McLean, senior vice president and general manager of Disney Concerts.

“Disney Princess – The Concert world premiere in Saudi Arabia is the result of two years of hard work with Disney Concerts and Broadway Princess Party. Impresario Live is proud of its association with Disney to bring more premium Disney live shows to the region in the near future,” said Omar Baydoun, managing director of Impresario Live.

For more information, visit riyadhbookfair.org.sa

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Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.

- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law

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Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8

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7.30pm: Nad Al Sheba – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Final Song, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor

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1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 1hr 32mins 03.897sec

2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull-Honda) at 0.745s

3. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) 37.383s

4. Lando Norris (McLaren) 46.466s

5.Sergio Perez (Red Bull-Honda) 52.047s

6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 59.090s

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Tips for SMEs to cope

Adapt your business model. Make changes that are future-proof to the new normal
Make sure you have an online presence
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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

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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

Saudi Arabia's first Disney concert in Riyadh to feature Broadway stars

Musical stars will perform songs sung by Disney princesses Belle, Jasmine, Nala and Anastasia

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

The years Ramadan fell in May

TECH%20SPECS%3A%20APPLE%20WATCH%20SERIES%209

Dengue%20fever%20symptoms

Labour dispute

McLaren GT specs

Results

Results

Tips for SMEs to cope

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026