The superstars of South Indian cinema are set to take over Abu Dhabi this week, and for a good cause. Mammootty, Mohanlal, Manju Warrier, Nivin Pauly, Dulquer Salmaan, Prithviraj Sukumaran and more are all flying in to rehearse for a charity concert that will raise money for the Kerala Disaster Relief Fund, to help rebuild communities after the devastating floods that hit the Indian state this summer.
Manju Warrier:
What to expect from the show?
The show's name is Onnanu Nammal, which translates to mean 'we are one'. It will be about five hours long, and will be a variety show that combines theatre and music, and will most likely focus on the famous songs of South Indian cinema.
And it's not just big names on stage, there will be impressive figures behind the scenes too: the show will be directed by top filmmaker T.K. Rajeev Kumar, arguably the most famous director of Malayalam films. The whole thing is a collaboration between Asianet Middle East and the Association of Malyalam Movie Artists.
Mohanlal:
There will be around 75 famous faces on stage, including the big names above, as well as Sudheer Karamana, Jayasurya, Baburaj, Asif Ali, Tini Tom, Aju Varghese, Honey Rose, Shweta Menon, Rachana Narayanankutty and Unni Sivapal.
Honey Rose:
The best bit? The entire proceeds of each ticket sold will go to the disaster relief fund.
Where and when is it?
The concert will be held at the Armed Forces Officers Club in Abu Dhabi on Friday December 7, with doors opening at 4pm and the show starting at 5.30pm.
How much is it?
Tickets start from Dh100 for silver, and go all the way up to Dh5,000 for platinum, with a Dh500 gold option and a Dh1,000 diamond option too. You can buy tickets here. You pay to sit in a certain area, and then within that area it's free seating, so you will want to get there early if you want the best seats in the house.
Here's the seat map from Ticketmaster so you can see where each ticket category gets to sit:
____________________
Read more:
‘Irrfan loved Kerala’ says Karwaan director Akarsh Khurana
Akarsh, Dulquer and Mithila share five secrets from the set of Karwaan
Mammootty greeted by a crowd of more than 25,000 in Abu Dhabi
____________________
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
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 five pillars of Islam
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
The biog
Most memorable achievement: Leading my first city-wide charity campaign in Toronto holds a special place in my heart. It was for Amnesty International’s Stop Violence Against Women program and showed me the power of how communities can come together in the smallest ways to have such wide impact.
Favourite film: Childhood favourite would be Disney’s Jungle Book and classic favourite Gone With The Wind.
Favourite book: To Kill A Mockingbird for a timeless story on justice and courage and Harry Potters for my love of all things magical.
Favourite quote: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” — Winston Churchill
Favourite food: Dim sum
Favourite place to travel to: Anywhere with natural beauty, wildlife and awe-inspiring sunsets.
