The Sharjah Broadcasting Authority has announced its biggest Ramadan line-up of TV and radio shows to date.
Set to air from the beginning of the holy month – most likely to fall on April 12 – 137 programmes will be screened across its networks. The move comes after MBC's online platform Shahid and OSN announced their Ramadan programming earlier this month.
Local, Gulf and regional dramas, including those from Kuwait and Syria, will be aired across SBA's three television channels: Sharjah TV, Al Wousta TV from Al Dhaid and Al Sharqiya TV from Kalba.
The remaining mix of programming – spanning culture, competitions and spiritual talk shows – will also air on the small screen, in addition to Arab radio stations: Sharjah Radio, Sharjah Holy Quran Radio and SBA's sole English-language station Pulse 95 Radio.
SBA director general Mohamed Hassan Khalaf said the decision to boost the Ramadan content this year, when in 2020 they released just more than 90 programmes, was made to appeal to broader audiences.
“The carefully crafted content for this year is in line with the spiritual and ethical values of the religious month,” he said.
"It also aligns with SBA's commitment to offer a diverse selection of quality content for our audience as they spend more time at home during the holy month."
These are some of the key shows coming soon to a small screen or radio near you.
The Dramas
‘Al Tawoos’ (Sharjah TV)
A provocative Egyptian thriller, Al Tawoos tackles sexual harassment in Egyptian society with star Jamal Soliman playing a lawyer involved in a case where the accused hail from a rich and powerful family. The series also looks at the societal harms caused by social media sites.
‘Al Kandoush’ (Sharjah TV)
This Syrian series was first announced in 2018. The drama was initially put on hold because of disagreements between the various production companies involved, however has since been put back on track.
With everyone back on the same page, viewers can revel in the stellar Syrian cast led by Ayman Zidan and Sulaf Fawakherji in a period drama that explores Damascene society in the early 20th century.
‘Matar Saif’ (Sharjah TV)
In this gulf drama, Kuwaiti star Saad Al Faraj playsplaying the role of a patriarch of a financially struggling Kuwaiti family.
Tackling different family dynamics, including those between parents and children as well as siblings, Matar Saif has the right amount of melodrama and heart to make this perfect Ramadan drama viewing.
The lifestyle programmes
Ramadan, Dhalik Al Zaman' (Wousta TV from Al Dhaid)
The title means "Ramadan, that time" and this programme asks seasoned Sharjah residents to reflect back on what life during the holy month was like back in the 1970s and 1980s.
‘Shoudo Al Huroof’ (Sharjah TV)
We flick through the pages of the UAE's cultural history as Sharjah Institute for Heritage director Abdul Aziz Almusallam dissects the works of some of the country’s most esteemed poets, to look at how their works have made visionary comments about local society today.
‘Wajhah’ (Al Sharqiya TV from Kalba)
Translated as "destination", each episode of Wajhah has a popular Emirati personality taking viewers on a tour of Sharjah's eastern regions while discussing their childhoods, setbacks and achievements.
‘Souk Al Qadim’ (Al Sharqiya TV from Kalba)
Set in the Khor Fakkan, Sharjah's coastal city, the programme is equal parts competition and travel show as host Omar Ahmed joins elderly residents on a stroll through the markets while quizzing them on the emirate's heritage.
The radio shows
Pulse 95 Radio
The northern emirate's only English-language radio station aims to be the place for non-Arabic speakers to gain insights on the holy month courtesy of morning and evening shows: The Morning Majlis (8am to 10am) and Night Karak (8pm to 10pm).
The station will also produce numerous one-minute explainers that will tell listeners all they need to know about the practices associated with Ramadan.
Sharjah Radio
The Arabic-language station’s programming during Ramadan will span cultural and literary discussions, Emirati folklore and cuisine.
The popular morning talk show, Al Atheer, will also continue airing throughout the holy month.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
What is the definition of an SME?
SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.
A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors.
Venom
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed
Rating: 1.5/5
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
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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
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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