Sensation 2012. Courtesy Sensation
Sensation 2012. Courtesy Sensation
Sensation 2012. Courtesy Sensation
Sensation 2012. Courtesy Sensation

Sensation’s first outdoor dance event to be held at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai

Sarah Ferguson

May 04, 2014

  • English
  • Arabic

Sensation, the global dance event that started in Amsterdam in 2000, is headed for Dubai in October. The house night – formerly known as Sensation White – has seen the likes of Tiësto, Armin van Buuren, Swedish House Mafia, Hardwell, André Tanneberger, Darren Emerson, David Guetta, Erick Morillo and Felix Da Housecat entertaining the crowds. This will be the first outdoor edition of Sensation, which has held indoor events in more than 30 countries. As with all Sensation events, the dress code is strictly white: guests will not be admitted unless they are wearing all white. Meydan Racecourse will be transformed into an oasis of white for the night, and can accommodate 15,000 revellers. This year’s theme is Source of Light. Sally Edwards, the director of Dubai Calendar, says: “Dubai welcomes the globe’s top artists throughout the year to perform in front of thousands as part of the city’s unrivalled events calendar. Add to this the outdoor premiere of Sensation, the world’s leading dance event to one of Dubai’s most luxurious and renowned venues, Meydan Racecourse, and we have on our hands a truly exciting save the date for both visitors and residents to the city. Offering a night of the very best dance music against a backdrop of the bright lights of the city, it’s time to take the globe’s leading dance event to a whole new level as it arrives in the world’s go-to events destination.”

Sensation is on October 31 at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai. Tickets start from Dh325 for early bird entrey and Dh375 for regular. For VIP table reservations and more information, visit www.sensation.com/dubai To check out the Source of Light trailer, click here.

Stay tuned for updates on the line-up, which will be revealed nearer the time.

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

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Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school

Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family

His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people

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What is blockchain?

Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.

The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.

Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.

However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.

Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.

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