Your daily guide to community and cultural activities across the Emirates for April 10, 2017, including performances, festivals, art exhibitions, film screenings, health and fitness events, talks, classes, workshops and family fun. Ellen Fortini rounds up 10 things to do today in the UAE.
Want to see your event listed here? Email us with the details and contact information at listings@thenational.ae
Abu Dhabi
Art talk
Attend the talk The Art of Nature: Artists In Conversation II, as part of the Abu Dhabi Festival. Emirati jewellery artist Azza Al Qubaisi will speak about her experience of being mentored by UK artist Gill Parker, who created five animal sculptures celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi. Prior to the talk, a workshop, Once Upon a Time... Nature Tales, for children ages 3 to 13, will be held in Arabic from 5pm to 6pm.
Tonight, 7pm to 8pm, Umm Al Emarat Park, Abu Dhabi, www.abudhabifestival.ae
Dubai
Art event
Stroll through Business Bay and visit Live at Square. Watch international artists bring works of art to life in a live, urban, open-air 3-D painting exhibition featuring graffiti art and spraypainting. The live painting runs until Thursday, with the art on-site until Saturday, and is part of the vision to transform Dubai into an outdoor gallery of art in all forms.
Daily until Saturday, 1pm to 6pm, Bay Square, Business Bay, Dubai, www.facebook.com/BaySquareDubai
Abu Dhabi
Art exhibition
Luscious opens tonight at Etihad Modern Art Gallery. See this group exhibition by five painters from the UAE, France, Lebanon and Syria whose works manifest in the impressionist credo, where only colour is the tangible reality of painting, while light, shade, figures and subject are illusions created by manipulating paint with brushstrokes. Pictured: A Lake Runs Through It by Tala Atrouni
Opens tonight, 7pm, then runs daily until April 27, 10am to 9pm, Saturdays to Thursdays (closed on Fridays), Etihad Modern Art Gallery, Bateen Area, Street 4, Villa 4/2, Abu Dhabi, 02 667 1229, www.etihadmodernart.com
Abu Dhabi
Film screening
Register to attend a screening of the film Cutie and the Boxer presented by Cinema Space, as part of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi exhibition The Creative Act: Performance, Process, Presence. The Zachary Heinzerling film explores the chaotic 40-year marriage of renowned "boxing painter" Ushio Shinohara and his artist wife Noriko. Ushio, 80, struggles to establish his artistic legacy, while Noriko's Cutie series, which depicts her challenging past with Ushio, is gaining her recognition. The film is a portrait of a couple dealing with sacrifice, disappointment and ageing.
Friday, 7pm, free with registration, Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, register at cinemaspace-abudhabi.splashthat.com
Dubai
Fitness event
Register to take part in the Walk for Wellness with Gulf 4 Good and Dubai radio personality Suzanne Radford at the track at Meydan in Nad Al Sheba. Research shows that organised walking groups improve blood pressure, heart rate, total cholesterol and the mood of participants. So join in the group that meets every Monday for a wellness walk.
Tonight, 7.45pm meet time; 8pm to 10pm, free, Meydan, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, register at 04 368 0222, admin@gulf4good.org
Dubai
Kids’ camp
Register your children, ages 6 to 18, for the new term of Hayley’s Comet, where they can join professionally led workshops, vocal training, acting lessons and dance classes and gain confidence in expressing themselves through creativity.
Runs until June, various timings, from Dh1,150, James & Alex Dance Studios, Dubai Media City, 04 447 0773, info@hayleyscomet.com
Dubai
Art exhibition
See the opening of a showcase of works across six exhibitions by Ethiopian artist Workneh Bezu Kassa. The works, in a variety of media, including acrylics, oils and pencils, are described as an expression of the artist's soul and a way to speak to people. Pictured: Crystal Lady
Opens tonight, 7pm to 9pm, then runs daily until May 31, from 12.30pm to 7pm, Coya Dubai, Four Seasons Resort, Jumeirah Beach, Dubai, 04 316 9600, www.facebook.com/CoyaDubai
Dubai
Art exhibition
In Dancing East, Ahmed Kassim presents works that aim to capture the social, political, ideological and cultural chaos of Arab countries. It is seen through the artist's eyes as dances through landscapes of the Middle East, with identifiable clues to the locations. Pictured: The Sufi Journey – On the Beat of the Gun
Daily until May 10, 10am to 6pm, Saturdays to Thursdays (closed on Fridays), Gallery Ward, Al Quoz, Street 6, beside The Courtyard, Dubai, 04 388 3204, www.galleryward.com
Dubai
Cultural event
Celebrate Songkran, the Thai New Year, at Pai Thai with a three-course sharing menu and traditional Thai entertainment. The famous water festival includes a week of food, water fights and street parties in Thailand. Experience the spirit of the event by arriving at the restaurant by abra, a set menu of Thai classic dishes, and then enjoy a performance by entertainer Wanthakan, who will dance on an abra in traditional Thai dress.
Daily until April 23, 6.30pm to 11.30pm, from Dh280 per person, Pai Thai, Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah, reservations at 04 432 3232, restaurants@jumeirah.com
Dubai
Art exhibition
Attend the opening of Abstract Calligraphy by Canadian artist Hamza Abdulbasit. The exhibition features works that represent his love for bold abstracts, with Arabic and Urdu scripts, featuring one character at a time, imposed on bold backgrounds in colours that reflect the cultures and people of these languages. Pictured: Disco
Opens tonight, 7pm, then runs daily until June 30, 10am to 10pm, Z Gallery, first floor, Four Points by Sheraton, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, 04 323 0333, www.fourpointssheikhzayedroad.com
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
What is a calorie?
A food calorie, or kilocalorie, is a measure of nutritional energy generated from what is consumed.
One calorie, is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1°C.
A kilocalorie represents a 1,000 true calories of energy.
Energy density figures are often quoted as calories per serving, with one gram of fat in food containing nine calories, and a gram of protein or carbohydrate providing about four.
Alcohol contains about seven calories a gram.
Despacito's dominance in numbers
Released: 2017
Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon
Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube
Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification
Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.
Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards
((Disclaimer))
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
From Conquest to Deportation
Jeronim Perovic, Hurst
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
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
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