Abu Dhabi-based agriculture company Al Dahra Holding has announced the launch of a rice-processing factory in the capital’s Khalifa Industrial Zone (Kizad) as a means of boosting the country’s food security.
The Dh140 million plant, run by Al Dahra unit Al Dahra Kohinoor, has 40 silos, each with a capacity of 750 tonnes, and will process up to 120,000 tonnes of rice per year, Al Dahra said in a statement on Tuesday.
The primary purpose of the plant, spanning 100,000 square metres, is to increase the UAE’s food security by having major production facilities within the country’s borders, according to an Al Dahra official who asked not to be named.
The Al Dahra Kohinoor plant will handle the full production cycle of rice, sourced from India and Pakistan, including milling, processing, storage, packaging as well as distribution within the UAE, the company said.
Al Dahra acquired a 20 per cent stake in India’s Kohinoor Foods for US$18.8m in 2013.
The same Al Dahra official said that the plant was also a commercially viable enterprise, and that rice produced would be exported to the wider GCC, East Asia and other global markets.
“Al Dahra Kohinoor strategically supports the vision of our wise leadership to achieve food security in Abu Dhabi, which reflects our commitment to boosting the industrial sector in order to diversify the economy in line with Abu Dhabi’s strategic plan for economic development,” said Khadim Al Darei, Al Dahra Holding’s vice chairman.
The UAE is one of the world’s largest consumers of rice per capita, with consumption expected to hit 836,000 tonnes during 2016-17 marketing year, a year-on-year increase of 16 per cent, according to the foreign agriculture service of the US department of agriculture.
Al Dahra Holding, which has a long-standing partnership with the Abu Dhabi Government on food security, said that it aims to create a strategic rice reserve in Abu Dhabi of about 30,000 tonnes.
The company owns forage cultivation lands, processing and baling facilities in the United States, Spain, South Africa, Egypt and Pakistan and operates a major forage sourcing, trading and distribution hub out of Italy.
The company last year signed an agreement with Jordan for the annual supply of 400,000 tonnes of wheat and 400,000 tonnes of barley, to improve the UAE’s food security.
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The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
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Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
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Common to all models unless otherwise stated
Engine: 4-cylinder 2-litre T-GDi
0-100kph: 5.3 seconds (Elantra); 5.5 seconds (Kona); 6.1 seconds (Veloster)
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Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
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Established: 1889
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Total holes: 18
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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
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Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
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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.
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A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
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Roger Federer's record at Wimbledon
1999 - 1st round
2000 - 1st round
2001 - Quarter-finalist
2002 - 1st round
2003 - Winner
2004 - Winner
2005 - Winner
2006 - Winner
2007 - Winner
2008 - Finalist
2009 - Winner
2010 - Quarter-finalist
2011 - Quarter-finalist
2012 - Winner
2013 - 2nd round
2014 - Finalist
2015 - Finalist
2016 - Semi-finalist
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Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
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- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
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