See Disintegrated II, an exhibition of works by Swiss artist and scientist Fabian Oefner featuring exploding automobiles at the Middle East's first mechanical art gallery. Pictured: Disintegrating 04 Auto Union Type C (1936-1937) by Fabian Oefner. Open 10am to 7pm, M.A.D. Gallery Dubai, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai, 04 330 7366, www.mbandf.com/mad-gallery.
Register your children ages 8 to 16 for the Tashkeel Summer Camp, where they can learn a creative technique each day, including painting, drawing, tie-dye, building a pinhole camera, collage and more. August 14 to 18 and August 21 to 25, 10am to 1pm, from Dh1,200 per week; Dh2,200 for two weeks, Tashkeel, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, 04 336 1606, www.tashkeel.org.
Check out the fireworks display to celebrate Eid and the start of the Say Yas summer campaign, which runs until September 16, and includes special offers, events and prizes, including cash and three luxury Maserati cars. Fireworks at 9pm, beside du Forum and Yas Beach, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, www.sayyas.ae.
Visit The Dubai Mall and enjoy a series of performances by seven international musicians from Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and Serbia, who will play an eclectic mix of instruments, including the cello, accordion, bagpipes, harp, nay and ouz-kora drums. At noon, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm, 8pm, The Souk, The Village and Grand Atrium First Floor, The Dubai Mall, Dubai, www.thedubaimall.com, 800 38224 6255.
Celebrate Eid Al Fitr at Dalma Mall and enjoy the carnival decorations, stilt walkers, tanoura dance shows, clown entertainers and balloonists, plus skill games, art corners, roaming magicians and food offerings. Open 10am to midnight, Fountain Area, Dalma Mall, Mussaffah, Abu Dhabi, 02 550 9555, www.dalmamall.ae.
listings@thenational.ae
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Summer special
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
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
Director: Shady Ali
Cast: Boumi Fouad , Mohamed Tharout and Hisham Ismael
Rating: 3/5
