Your daily guide to community and cultural activities across the Emirates for January 5, 2017, including performances, festivals, art exhibitions, film screenings, health and fitness events, talks, classes, workshops and family fun.
Abu Dhabi
Ballet performance
Attend the Ballet Grand Gala, where Opéra national de Paris dancers, featuring dancer Dorothée Gilbert, and first soloists Hugo Marchand and Hannah O'Neill, will present a classic repertoire including Romeo et Juliette, La Sylphide et Le Corsaire and more. Check out our interview with dancer Germain Louvet.
Tonight, 8pm, from Dh300, Emirates Palace auditorium, Abu Dhabi; Tomorrow, 2pm and 8pm and Saturday, 6pm, from Dh280, Madinat Theatre, Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, www.virginmegastore.me
Dubai
Art exhibition
See the exhibition Thresholds, in which art critic Murtaza Vali has curated a showcase of works by Sharjah-based painter Mouteea Murad that experiment with the use of mathematics in geometric abstraction, placing emphasis on space and dimension. Pictured: Trial No 128, The Morning Butterflies Journey
Daily until Saturday, 10am to 6pm, today; noon-6pm on Saturday (closed Friday), 11 Ayyam Gallery, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai, 04 323 6242, www.ayyamgallery.com
Nationwide
New movie
Florence Foster Jenkins, starring Meryl Streep as the title character, is the story of a wealthy New York heiress who dreams of becoming an opera singer, despite having a terrible singing voice. Comedy drama, also starring Hugh Grant, Simon Helberg, Rebecca Ferguson, Nina Arianda and Stanley Townsend. Check out our review on page 5.
Screening in cinemas across the UAE. (PG-13)
Abu Dhabi
Film screening
Register now to attend a family-friendly screening of A Christmas Carol as part of the Cinema Space series. The 1951 British film, by Brian Desmond Hurst, stars Alastair Sim as curmudgeonly businessman Ebenezer Scrooge, who has no interest in humanity, especially at Christmas. He is visited on Christmas Eve by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come, to teach him about generosity and forgiveness.
Saturday, 4pm, free with registration, Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, cinemaspace-abudhabi.splashthat.com
Abu Dhabi
Networking event
Register to attend the next Business in Heels meeting. The ladies’ networking group is celebrating new beginnings with a get-together focusing on goals to achieve in 2017. Come prepared to discuss your goals and build an accountability network of people to help reach those goals.
January 17, 6.30pm, Dh90 includes refreshments, Iris, Yas Marina, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, www.businessinheels.com
Abu Dhabi
Guest talk
Register now to attend Seeds of Hope, a talk at NYU Abu Dhabi by Jane Goodall, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace. She will speak about her experiences in nature, to help give a deeper understanding of the world around us.
January 14, 5pm to 7pm, Conference Center, NYU Abu Dhabi campus, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, register at nyuad.nyu.edu
Dubai
Shopping event
Shop for great deals at the Dubai Shopping Festival, which features mega sales in traditional retail outlets such as malls, plus outdoor markets, pop-up fashion shows, fireworks displays every weekend, raffles, prizes, rewards, live entertainment, food trucks and more.
Daily until January 28, various locations in Dubai, www.visitdubai.com
Dubai
Concert
Get tickets to hear Elton John and His Band return to the UAE this month, as the legendary British musician presents his Wonderful Crazy Night Tour. Hits include Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, I'm Still Standing and Your Song.
January 20, gates open at 5pm, from Dh295, Autism Rocks Arena, Dubai Outlet Mall, Dubai, www.platinumlist.net
Dubai
Stage show
Get tickets now for a performance of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Popular Productions brings the classic Eric Carle book to life along with three other Carle stories – The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse, Mister Seahorse and The Very Lonely Firefly – with the help of 75 puppets to thrill children and their parents.
January 13 to 15, 1pm, 3.30pm and 5.30pm on January 13; 11am, 2pm and 4pm on January 14 and 15, from Dh150, Ductac, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, www.hungrycaterpillarshowdubai.com
Dubai
Art exhibition
Check out the final day of the exhibition The Land Needs Ironing, in which Majd Kurdieh showcases works that combine art and literature, and features cartoonish characters that speak for the artist, who is part of the Syrian diaspora. Pictured: An image by Majd Kurdieh
Ends today, 10am to 6pm, The Workshop, Villa 45, Street 23B, off Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah 2, Dubai, 04 341 2595, www.theworkshopdubai.com
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THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
Sam Smith
Where: du Arena, Abu Dhabi
When: Saturday November 24
Rating: 4/5
Company%20profile
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Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
Turkish Ladies
Various artists, Sony Music Turkey
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
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 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh289,000
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Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
The stats
Ship name: MSC Bellissima
Ship class: Meraviglia Class
Delivery date: February 27, 2019
Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT
Passenger capacity: 5,686
Crew members: 1,536
Number of cabins: 2,217
Length: 315.3 metres
Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
PAST 10 BRITISH GRAND PRIX WINNERS
2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2013 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
2012 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2011 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
2010 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2009 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2008 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2007 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
MATCH INFO
Liverpool 2 (Van Dijk 18', 24')
Brighton 1 (Dunk 79')
Red card: Alisson (Liverpool)
The schedule
December 5 - 23: Shooting competition, Al Dhafra Shooting Club
December 9 - 24: Handicrafts competition, from 4pm until 10pm, Heritage Souq
December 11 - 20: Dates competition, from 4pm
December 12 - 20: Sour milk competition
December 13: Falcon beauty competition
December 14 and 20: Saluki races
December 15: Arabian horse races, from 4pm
December 16 - 19: Falconry competition
December 18: Camel milk competition, from 7.30 - 9.30 am
December 20 and 21: Sheep beauty competition, from 10am
December 22: The best herd of 30 camels
QUALIFYING RESULTS
1. Max Verstappen, Netherlands, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1 minute, 35.246 seconds.
2. Valtteri Bottas, Finland, Mercedes, 1:35.271.
3. Lewis Hamilton, Great Britain, Mercedes, 1:35.332.
4. Lando Norris, Great Britain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.497.
5. Alexander Albon, Thailand, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1:35.571.
6. Carlos Sainz Jr, Spain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.815.
7. Daniil Kvyat, Russia, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:35.963.
8. Lance Stroll, Canada, Racing Point BWT Mercedes, 1:36.046.
9. Charles Leclerc, Monaco, Ferrari, 1:36.065.
10. Pierre Gasly, France, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:36.242.
Eliminated after second session
11. Esteban Ocon, France, Renault, 1:36.359.
12. Daniel Ricciardo, Australia, Renault, 1:36.406.
13. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Ferrari, 1:36.631.
14. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:38.248.
Eliminated after first session
15. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.075.
16. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.555.
17. Kevin Magnussen, Denmark, Haas Ferrari, 1:37.863.
18. George Russell, Great Britain, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.045.
19. Pietro Fittipaldi, Brazil, Haas Ferrari, 1:38.173.
20. Nicholas Latifi, Canada, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.443.
World Test Championship table
1 India 71 per cent
2 New Zealand 70 per cent
3 Australia 69.2 per cent
4 England 64.1 per cent
5 Pakistan 43.3 per cent
6 West Indies 33.3 per cent
7 South Africa 30 per cent
8 Sri Lanka 16.7 per cent
9 Bangladesh 0
More on animal trafficking
Company profile
Company name: Dharma
Date started: 2018
Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: TravelTech
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investors: Convivialite Ventures, BY Partners, Shorooq Partners, L& Ventures, Flat6Labs
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
BRIEF SCORES
England 353 and 313-8 dec
(B Stokes 112, A Cook 88; M Morkel 3-70, K Rabada 3-85)
(J Bairstow 63, T Westley 59, J Root 50; K Maharaj 3-50)
South Africa 175 and 252
(T Bavuma 52; T Roland-Jones 5-57, J Anderson 3-25)
(D Elgar 136; M Ali 4-45, T Roland-Jones 3-72)
Result: England won by 239 runs
England lead four-match series 2-1
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
