"It's show time," reads the Instagram post announcing that high-octane acrobatic show La Perle is set to come back to its Dubai stage on July 30.
The post assures potential guests that "La Perle [will take] all precautionary measures to ensure you a safe and an enjoyable experience".
Here's what to expect when the show, developed by theatre director Franco Dragone, reopens.
What Covid-19 safety precautions are in place at 'La Perle'?
There are to be two shows daily, at 6pm and 9pm. The ticket website specifies that "due to social distancing requirements, the La Perle box office will be selecting seats for each booking to ensure adequate spacing".
So guests will be unable to manually select seating for the time being.
The show's website also specifies that the theatre will be operating at a reduced capacity to ensure safe distance between all guests. "There will be empty seats beside, in front of and behind every group of people."
Organisers also made it clear, however, that groups who have booked together can be seated next to each other.
Efforts will be made to sanitise and disinfect the entire theatre, including the lobby and restrooms, before and after each show, and hand sanitiser dispensers have been installed throughout the venue.
In a bid to minimise contact, tickets will be paperless, sent by email to guests. Contactless payment is encouraged throughout the venue.
Dubai Summer Surprises deals
The acrobatic performance takes place at Al Habtoor City, Dubai. It is returning as a part of Dubai Summer Surprises, which means there are deals to be found on tickets.
Tickets during DSS will start at Dh119 (Bronze), increasing to Dh169 (Silver), Dh219 (Gold), Dh247 (Platinum) and Dh449 (VIP). The DSS tickets all include popcorn and a drink in the price, and the top two tiers, Platinum and VIP, include lounge access.
There is also the option to buy a dinner and show package, offering a meal with Gold tickets for Dh294 per person. Restaurants included are Mediterranean restaurant Babiole; Latin American eatery Zoco; steak house City Grill; and gastropub Ribs & Brews – all four are located close to La Perle at Al Habtoor City.
If you want to make a real night of it, you can also take advantage of the DSS Staycation packages, which include two tickets and a night's stay at Habtoor Palace from Dh538 (Bronze) to Dh1,198 (VIP). Full details on La Perle pricing are available here.
La Perle is a 90-minute theatrical show by Belgian theatre director Dragone. In the past, he has worked with Cirque du Soleil and Celine Dion on major productions.
School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
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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
