Oasis & Stereophonics Tribute. Courtesy The Music Room
Oasis & Stereophonics Tribute. Courtesy The Music Room
Oasis & Stereophonics Tribute. Courtesy The Music Room
Oasis & Stereophonics Tribute. Courtesy The Music Room

Beatles, Oasis and Stereophonics tribute bands all hit the UAE this week

Robert Garratt

October 07, 2014

  • English
  • Arabic

If there’s one thing the UAE’s live music fans are hungry for, it’s tribute bands.

In recent months Dubai’s Music Room has been packed out for UK-based guest acts copping the sounds, stylings and wardrobes of everyone from Led Zeppelin and Guns n’Roses to The Beatles and the late, great, Amy Winehouse.

This week the top rock venue is ramping it up with a double bill celebrating two of Britpop’s best known acts.

On Wednesday (October 8) two tribute bands go head-to-head, with Oasish (get it?), reportedly the UK’s ‘most sought after Oasis tribute band’) headlining after a set from the Stereotonics (yep, that’s the ‘official’ tribute to Wales’ finest, Stereophonics).

Get your best Gallagher swagger on now.

• Oasish and Stereotonics perform at The Music Room, Majestic Hotel Tower, Bur Dubai on October 8 from 9pm, tickets Dhs100 on the door

Beatlemania to come to the capital

Meanwhile over in the capital, Abu Dhabi is preparing to host its very own dose of retrospective Beatlemania.

Now 45 years since John, Paul, George and Ringo last shared a stage together, tribute shows celebrating the Fab Four are regarded more as marks of respect than hackneyed impersonators.

Arriving in Abu Dhabi on Thursday (October 9), Get Back: The Story of The Beatles promises to guide us through the highlights of the Fab Four’s totemic seven-year career, all those hits brought to life by Irish quintet The Classic Beatles, who once worked with Sir George Martin – and also performed to Her Majesty at The Ritz London in 2004. High praise indeed.

• Get Back: The Story of The Beatles takes places tonight (October 9) from 8pm (doors 6.30pm) at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, Saadiyat Island, tickets from Dhs80

While you're here
MATCH INFO

Euro 2020 qualifier

Fixture: Liechtenstein v Italy, Tuesday, 10.45pm (UAE)

TV: Match is shown on BeIN Sports

TOURNAMENT INFO

Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia

UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri

On Women's Day
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

While you're here
Related
StereophonicsOasisADMThe Music Room