The holy month of Ramadan is upon us, and people all over the world are gearing up to take part in a period of celebration, connection, reflection and prayer.
With millions of Muslims the world over celebrating the holy month, Ramadan has been a dominate search term on Google globally over the past few days.
Search traffic around the term increased ten-fold in the seven days leading up to the official start of Ramadan on Tuesday, when Google's worldwide search data shows it peaked. The most search traffic came from the UAE, followed by Qatar and the Maldives.
Here’s what else people have been searching for this Ramadan:
Ramadan quotes
On the first day of Ramadan, global search traffic for Ramadan mubarak quotes was up by more than 2,200 per cent, as people looked for messages to send to their loved ones and followers to mark the start of the holy month. In the UAE, there was a 1,150 per cent increase in search traffic for the same term.
Ramadan greetings
In a similar vein, there was a mass increase in searches for Ramadan greetings, as people searched for the correct terms and phrases to extend their best wishes to their Muslim friends celebrating the holy month. Around the world, there was a 2,200 per cent increase in search traffic around that term over the past seven days, and a 1,500 per cent increase across the UAE.
Ramadan parking
In the UAE, one of the most-search Ramadan terms over the past seven days has been around free parking. In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the RTA amends parking charges to allow people to park for free in certain locations at certain times. In Dubai, for example, there will be free parking during iftar times, with some exemptions, while in Abu Dhabi, public parking will be paid between 9am-2pm, and 9pm-2:30am. It will remain free on Fridays. UAE search traffic rose by more than 2,800 per cent.
Ramadan wishes
Much like the first two terms, searches for Ramadan wishes were up by 2,200 per cent in the UAE, and 3,150 per cent around the world. The Maldives, Pakistan and Mauritius had the most search traffic around this term, followed by the UAE and Qatar.
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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
