Retreating to a tropical island to contemplate the future of your company accompanied by your colleagues has seldom been easier, since Emirates introduced its direct flight from Dubai to Phuket a couple of years ago. The meetings, incentives and smaller conferencing market has always been important business on Thailand’s largest island, and the UAE is just the latest country to have this option.
I was directed to the 87-room-and-villa Anantara Layan to sample the delights of this four-year old hotel, and to discover what its newly completed super-deluxe residency complex can offer the UAE's business elite.
The Anantara Layan rises up a hillside from a beachfront location, giving the new residency astonishing views over the Andaman Sea and surrounding verdant countryside of the national park.
The hotel's fifteen nearly brand new apartments range from three to eight bedrooms. Individually-owned by absentee landlords, they originally cost from $8 to $12 million, and are presently rented from Dh22,000 per night.
These high-ceiling apartments are triumphs of modern minimalist design with a Thai twist. Where better to entertain your colleagues than on the terrace of the presidential suite at the top of the complex, with its own infinity pool and space to comfortably entertain around 50 guests? Boardroom meetings away can seldom have been more opulent or private than in a reception room up here.
The second largest apartment belongs to the founder and owner of the Anantara chain, US-born William Heinecke, who made his $2.2 billion dollar fortune largely in Thailand.
Typically a number of the residency’s apartments are combined for a corporate gathering of up to 30 executives, although smaller groups are more common.
For larger events the hotel recommends its nearby sister property, the Anantara Mai Khao, which has 91 individual pool villas set around lily-filled lagoons, the work of British garden designer Bill Bensley.
I saw its tasteful new 389 square-metre, presidential suite with bespoke Thai silk hangings by Jim Thompson, and a decent conference space for around 100 guests.
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‘We can comfortably handle groups of 50 to 60, though I have one booking for 60 villas for Amway coming up," said general manager Nikolaus Priesnitz.
"Other clients have included Lufthansa (Singapore) and Mercedes-Benz.’
Back at the Anantara Layan, I stayed in a cosy ocean view villa, costing around Dh1,250 a night, which contrasted with the much grander stately home of the main residency complex.
However, there was no compromise here for the executive traveller. The complementary Wi-Fi clocked 13.4 Mbps, two multi-plug sockets on the full-size desk behind the comfortable king-size bed, with both Bloomberg and CNBC among the TV channels.
The room also featured a seating area and terrace suitable for small meetings by the plunge pool. In-room dining offered a club sandwich for Dh66 or margherita pizza for Dh59; Acqua Panna was Dh23 and a Pepsi Dh14.
But hospitality is about much more than room service, dark teak floors and furniture. It was the quality of the Anantara staff that really impressed me most. Their attention to detail is excellent, and everything is always done with a smile.
Where this hotel really benefits from the residency hovering above it on the hillside is in the extras included in this very spacious resort to satisfy its discerning clientele of largely absent landlords.
For example, the resort’s all-day dining restaurant, already renowned for one of the top breakfasts in Thailand, becomes a branch of the iconic Zuma restaurant chain for three months of the year.
You also have an extremely high-end spa, two infinity pools and a full gym, which is admittedly stronger on cardio than weight training machines.
The hotel’s Dee Plee restaurant perched high in the resort, just below the residency, also serves a very high standard of Thai royal cuisine. One of the popular options for team building is a cooking course hosted by its executive chef.
If the owner of your company happens to have a large yacht, then this can be anchored just offshore. Russian steel billionaire Viktor Rashnikov’s ‘Ocean Victory’, the tenth largest in the world, was moored there when I stayed there. Two different more modest boat trips are available for corporate groups.
The only negative complaint I heard about this hotel is that its beach faces on to tidal mudflats, and not the clear blue sea, as some advertising blurb unfortunately once put it.
Well, you can just walk a bit further down the beach to the open water of the Andaman Sea and the tidal water is actually safer for swimming, although the true executive traveler might, in any case, be more focused on the bigger picture from their residency apartment.
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
The specs: 2018 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy
Price, base / as tested Dh97,600
Engine 1,745cc Milwaukee-Eight v-twin engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 78hp @ 5,250rpm
Torque 145Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.0L / 100km (estimate)
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
The specs: 2018 Jeep Compass
Price, base: Dh100,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.4L four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 184bhp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 237Nm at 3,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.4L / 100km
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Saturday's schedule at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
GP3 race, 12:30pm
Formula 1 final practice, 2pm
Formula 1 qualifying, 5pm
Formula 2 race, 6:40pm
Performance: Sam Smith
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
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
If you go
Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.
Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com
A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
Stree
Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Movies
Director: Amar Kaushik
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee
Rating: 3.5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
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