• Jackson Wang is bringing his Magic Man world tour to Dubai on February 4. All photos: Getty
    Jackson Wang is bringing his Magic Man world tour to Dubai on February 4. All photos: Getty
  • Dubai is only one of six dates, with Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, London and Paris as the others.
    Dubai is only one of six dates, with Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, London and Paris as the others.
  • In September, Wang released his highly anticipated second solo album, 'Magic Man'.
    In September, Wang released his highly anticipated second solo album, 'Magic Man'.
  • The 10-track album includes the singles 'Blow', 'Cruel' and the most recent song, 'Blue'.
    The 10-track album includes the singles 'Blow', 'Cruel' and the most recent song, 'Blue'.
  • Wang made history as the first Chinese solo artist to perform at Coachella in 2022.
    Wang made history as the first Chinese solo artist to perform at Coachella in 2022.
  • He currently has 30.2 million followers on Instagram and 30.8m fans on Weibo.
    He currently has 30.2 million followers on Instagram and 30.8m fans on Weibo.
  • Wang was born in Hong Kong and found fame as a member of the K-pop boy band Got7.
    Wang was born in Hong Kong and found fame as a member of the K-pop boy band Got7.
  • In addition to singing, he is also a record producer, fashion designer and music video director.
    In addition to singing, he is also a record producer, fashion designer and music video director.

Pop star Jackson Wang is bringing his Magic Man world tour to Dubai


Evelyn Lau
  • English
  • Arabic

Jackson Wang is coming to Dubai.

The Chinese singer and member of K-pop boy band Got7 will be heading to the emirate as part of his Magic Man world tour for a show on February 4.

Dubai is one of six dates, with Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, London and Paris shows coming up. Venue and ticketing information for these shows have yet to be announced.

Earlier this month, Wang released his highly anticipated second solo album, titled Magic Man, which peaked at No 15 on the Billboard 200 chart. The 10-track album includes singles Blow, Cruel and the most recently released song, Blue.

Commenting on the album, Wang said: “Magic Man is the ultimate form of oneself, having gone through different peaks and valleys of life to arrive at the most authentic version. Everyone is able to become their own form of Magic Man. It’s not a mystery, everything is just magic.”

In addition to singing, he is also a record producer, fashion designer and music video director.

While Wang is best known for being a member of Got7, he's found success as a solo artist, becoming the highest-charting Chinese artist on the Billboard 200 with his first solo album Mirrors, which was released in 2019.

He’s also an entrepreneur and the founder of Team Wang, a record label and design brand. He currently has more than 30.2 million followers on Instagram and 30.8m fans on Weibo, the Chinese social media platform.

Other K-pop events in the UAE

It was announced last week that stars Rain and Heize will headline the third Kite: K-Pop in the Emirates concert, set to take place at The Agenda in Dubai Media City on Sunday.

The free event will have the two stars appear live on stage and there will also be XR video performances by rock band YB, singer-songwriter 10cm, rapper pH-1, duo Prudence, singer-songwriter SWJA and singer Car, the Garden, as part of the event.

XR metaverse performances use XR live tracking and 3D technology to create virtual stages — in this case, it will take shape with the acts in South Korea looking like they are performing in front of Burj Khalifa.

It was also announced that K-pop girl group Blackpink will be performing at Etihad Arena on January 28. The four-member band, made up of Jisoo, Jennie, Rose and Lisa, are bringing their world tour to Riyadh and Abu Dhabi. The group released their much-anticipated second album, Born Pink, on September 16. It became the first album by a female Korean act to reach No 1 on the Billboard 200.

Scroll the gallery below to see images of Blackpink.

  • Blackpink consists of four members, from left, Lisa, Rose, Jisoo and Jennie. Getty Images
    Blackpink consists of four members, from left, Lisa, Rose, Jisoo and Jennie. Getty Images
  • The girl group are currently on their 'Born Pink' world tour. Reuters
    The girl group are currently on their 'Born Pink' world tour. Reuters
  • The group hit Riyadh and Abu Dhabi in the Middle East. Photo: Netflix
    The group hit Riyadh and Abu Dhabi in the Middle East. Photo: Netflix
  • Blackpink members also perform solo songs. AFP
    Blackpink members also perform solo songs. AFP
  • Jisoo, a member of the K-pop group, seen here at an event marking Dior's autumn 2022 collection in Seoul, South Korea. AP
    Jisoo, a member of the K-pop group, seen here at an event marking Dior's autumn 2022 collection in Seoul, South Korea. AP
  • Lisa of Blackpink at a Michael Kors fashion show in New York City. AFP
    Lisa of Blackpink at a Michael Kors fashion show in New York City. AFP
  • Blackpink at a fan meeting in Seoul in May 2017. Reuters
    Blackpink at a fan meeting in Seoul in May 2017. Reuters
  • Blackpink performing on stage during the Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards in January 2019. Getty Images
    Blackpink performing on stage during the Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards in January 2019. Getty Images
  • Blackpink performing at Coachella in Indio, California, in April 2019. Getty Images
    Blackpink performing at Coachella in Indio, California, in April 2019. Getty Images
CREW
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERajesh%20A%20Krishnan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETabu%2C%20Kareena%20Kapoor%20Khan%2C%20Kriti%20Sanon%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Twin%20electric%20motors%20and%20105kWh%20battery%20pack%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E619hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C015Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EUp%20to%20561km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EQ3%20or%20Q4%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh635%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo

Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm

Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm

Transmission: CVT auto

Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km

On sale: now

Price: from Dh195,000 

Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cargoz%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Premlal%20Pullisserry%20and%20Lijo%20Antony%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2030%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
While you're here
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPOPC%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAmna%20Aijaz%2C%20Haroon%20Tahir%20and%20Arafat%20Ali%20Khan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eart%20and%20e-commerce%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%3A%20u%3C%2Fstrong%3Endisclosed%20amount%20raised%20through%20Waverider%20Entertainment%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8

Power: 503hp at 6,000rpm

Torque: 685Nm at 2,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Price: from Dh850,000

On sale: now

Company profile

Company: Rent Your Wardrobe 

Date started: May 2021 

Founder: Mamta Arora 

Based: Dubai 

Sector: Clothes rental subscription 

Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded 

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

Match info

Uefa Champions League Group H

Manchester United v Young Boys, Tuesday, midnight (UAE)

The specs

Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8

Power: 611bhp

Torque: 620Nm

Transmission: seven-speed automatic

Price: upon application

On sale: now

Updated: September 28, 2022, 12:43 PM