Why London Docklands?
Since Roman times, boats coming up the Thames docked along the river in the City of London; by the 1700s, when the city was the centre of global trade, there was not enough space for the boats or their cargo. Areas to the east were developed to accommodate them, stretching from Rotherhithe to modern-day Newham and North Greenwich. After German bombing in the Second World War and economic decline following the docks’ inability to accommodate even larger container ships, for which even larger docks were built even farther east, the area was stagnant before being regenerated in the 1980s. Canary Wharf, named after the Canary Islands, from which fruits used to be unloaded, was developed largely with Canadian money; 10 kilometres from central London, it now employs more than 100,000 people mainly in banking and finance, and the area has become a desirable place to live. Some of its considerable history remains, alongside brand-new structures reminiscent of corporate America. Middle Eastern investment from Qatar and the UAE completes the area’s amazing juxtaposition of local and global.
A comfortable bed
The most indulgent base is the Four Seasons Canary Wharf (www.fourseasons.com/canarywharf), which has double rooms from £215 (Dh1,237) per night, including taxes but not breakfast. Its riverside location means you can jump on a riverboat and be in central London in 10 minutes – an unusually scenic way of getting about in the capital. For something cheaper but still quiet and comfortable, travel a bit farther out to the Abu Dhabi-owned Excel Exhibition Centre, where the Aloft London Excel (www.aloftlondonexcel.com) has double rooms from £85 (Dh476) per night, including taxes but not breakfast.
Find your feet
Start at the Norman Foster-designed Canary Wharf underground station, looking up to your right for a great view of the 55-storey One Canada Square building. Walk up the steps, through the shopping centre and out the other side to see the startling new Crossrail station, due to open in 2018. Cross over the footbridge and walk along West India Quay to see some of the oldest remaining warehouses, now filled with expensive apartments and restaurants. One of the buildings has been retained as the Museum of Docklands. Head back over the footbridge and take a right, and you'll get a great view down the Thames. Walk along the riverside to Narrow Street, still home to many historic wharves and riverside pubs, including The Grapes, which is mentioned in Dickens' Our Mutual Friend. From here you can walk all the way along the river to St Katharine Docks, near the Tower of London and Tower Bridge.
Meet the locals
It comes as a surprise to those familiar with the area's squeaky-clean malls that right next door is Billingsgate Fish Market (www.cityoflondon.gov.uk), the UK's largest inland fish market. It's open from 4am to 9.30am for visits, and has great atmosphere as traders shout and buyers deal. For a guided tour followed by a class in fish preparation, book in with the Billingsgate Seafood School; places cost £55 (Dh308) per person for three hours (www.seafoodtraining.org). Just down the road at Bow Creek is the still-under-the-radar Trinity Buoy Wharf (www.trinitybouywharf.com), a gritty waterside arts complex made up of historic buildings and modern container-style workshops. Apart from art installations, there's a drawing school, artists' workspaces, a parkour centre and two cafes. Wander around or book a tour.
Book a table
Canary Wharf is now home to dozens of cafes and restaurants at all price points. I like Wahaca (www.wahaca.co.uk), a Mexican eatery with a great menu and funky design; cactus and corn tacos for £3.95 (Dh22) or chicken burritos for £6.95 (Dh39). For a much more traditional experience, visit The Grapes in Narrow Street (www.thegrapes.co.uk), which dates from 1583, and have the fish and chips (battered haddock, chunky chips and peas) for £9.95 (Dh56). If you're craving Chinese, Yi Ban (www.yi-ban.com) at the London Regatta Centre overlooks Royal Albert Dock and London City Airport. Weekends are packed with dim-sum enthusiasts; from the normal menu, kung pao chicken is £8 (Dh45) and mapo tofu £10 (Dh56).
Shopper’s paradise
Canary Wharf now has five connected shopping centres with hundreds of shops. Most are high-street clothing brands, but you can also shop for luggage, cosmetics, confectionery, stationery, electronics, furniture, books, music and art, and the number of smaller outlets is growing. See www.canarywharf.com/shopping for a full guide.
Don’t miss
Free entry to the Museum of London Docklands (www.museumoflondon.org.uk/docklands), open 10am to 6pm.
What to avoid
The London Marathon usually takes place in April and results in blocked roads, clogged trains and crowds.
Getting there
Etihad (www.etihad.com) flies direct from Abu Dhabi to London in seven hours, from Dh3,635 return, including taxes.
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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
Zayed Sustainability Prize
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
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
