Yasmin Abdelaziz is the latest cultural personality to receive a UAE golden visa.
The popular Egyptian actress, who starred in this year’s Ramadan drama series Elle Maloush Kbeer, announced the news on her Instagram account on Saturday.
“I am happy at receiving the golden visa from the UAE," Abdelaziz posted alongside a series of images of herself with the Dubai skyline and one with the Burj Khalifa as a backdrop.
The news comes as the government scheme, first introduced in 2019 to attract investors, expanded to also acknowledge the cultural contributions made by actors, singers and composers, spanning the Arab world and beyond.
Abdelaziz, 41, joins a growing number of regional creatives granted the golden visa.
The list includes fellow compatriot Mohamed Ramadan, Mai Omar and Nelly Karim.
Also receiving the document are Lebanese pop stars Najwa Karam, Marwan Khoury and Ragheb Alama.
The latter crooner, who will perform concerts at Dubai Opera this Thursday and Friday, said the visa allowed him to spend more time with his two sons who live and reside in the emirate.
“The happiest thing for me is that my children are in Dubai,” Alama told TV programme The Insider in February.
"As a father, all I want for my children is to live in a place that is completely safe, fair, where there is opportunity, positivity and vision.”
For Ramadan, the permit – granted last September – encouraged his production company to invest in the UAE.
“I am very grateful for this. I think the powers that be saw that I have the potential with my company to bring a lot of initiatives here to the UAE, and they gave me that opportunity," he told The National.
True to his word, Ramadan released two lavish videos for hit singles Ya Habibi and Versace Baby, both of which were shot in Dubai using local talent and crews.
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Read more
20 celebrities who have received the UAE's golden visa: from Shah Rukh Khan to Najwa Karam
Lebanese singer Ragheb Alama to call Dubai home with UAE golden visa
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What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
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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
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