In a little over 10 weeks, Qatar will roll out the red carpet as it hosts the world’s biggest sporting event.
The Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 kicks off on November 20 and several companies are offering football fans in the region a chance to win tickets, flights and all-expenses paid trips so you can join in the action.
Here are six ways to get yourself there.
1. Drink Coca-Cola to win an all-expenses paid trip
The soft drinks brand is running a promotion through special packs of Coca-Cola, Fanta and Sprite.
Fans who purchase the limited-edition drinks will receive a promotional code, which can be sent to a dedicated WhatsApp number to find out if it's one of the lucky numbers. The winner will head off on an all-expenses paid trip for two to Qatar, with flights, accommodation and tickets to a group stage match included.
The Coca-Cola Fifa World Cup 2022 promotion runs until October 15 in the UAE.
2. Get celebrating with adidas for World Cup tickets
Adidas is known for making official match balls for the tournament — including this year's called Al Rihla — as well as partnering perennial trophy favourites Germany. Now, the company is looking to fly fans to Qatar for the occasion.
To be in with a chance of winning, you'll have to show how you would celebrate winning tickets to the tournament — maybe busting a move, pulling a dab, embarking on a victory lap or busting into a celebratory song and dance.
Make sure someone is there to film it, then upload it and cross your fingers. A panel of adidas athletes will pick the winners, who will receive a pair of tickets to two matches at the tournament, plus three nights of hotel accommodation and return flights to Doha.
Make sure to upload your celebrations before the competition ends on September 30.
3. Find your way around a virtual cabin with Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways is pulling out all the stops as it prepares to welcome the world. As well as offering shuttle flights to and from Doha, as well as package holiday deals for the tournament, the airline is also planning on giving away a footballing experience for fans connecting via the virtual world.
Set to the sounds of We Will Rock You, Qatar Airways's virtual reality experience is set inside a QSuite, one of the airline's luxurious business class seats.
Details for the in-flight Delight Game, where users have to click on all of the seat's amenities before a final whistle blows, can be found on the in-flight entertainment screen. Winners will be awarded with a World Cup travel package, including return flights with Qatar Airways, match tickets and accommodation.
4. Get rewarded with a Qatar trip thanks to Tickit
Tickit, an instant rewards programme headquartered in Dubai, and Visa have partnered together to give four lucky winners an all-expenses-paid trip to the tournament.
If you want to be in with a chance of winning, you'll need to download the Tickit Rewards app and register using a UAE-issued Visa credit or debit card.
There's a minimum Dh100 purchase value to enter the contest, which can be spent at any of Tickit's in-store or online partners. The more you spend, the more entries you receive, with one entry for every Dh100 spent on the linked Visa card.
Running until September 25, winners will be selected via a random draw and will enjoy two tickets to two group stage matches, three nights full-board accommodation in a five-star hotel, return flights, airport transfers in Doha and Visa lounge access.
5. Commercial Bank of Dubai will fly customers to Qatar
Another Visa-linked promotion running ahead of the big tournament is in partnership with Commercial Bank of Dubai.
All CBD Visa Credit Card holders are automatically entered into a raffle draw when using their Visa cards — with only a few days of shopping left until the draw closes on Saturday.
For every spend of Dh1,000, cardholders will receive one entry into the draw, but note that this excludes ATM withdrawals. The lucky winners, who will be picked at random, will enjoy flights to Doha, accommodation and match tickets.
6. Buy groceries in Carrefour Qatar to win match day tickets
This one is aimed at those already in Qatar, or who will be in Doha before the end of the month. Supermarket chain Carrefour is giving away day packages and "business class" seats to select match days simply for buying groceries.
To win, you'll have to spend 350 Qatari riyals ($96) or more at any Carrefour Qatar store, either online or in-person. Top billing is one of 12 "business class" seat tickets, which give fans one of the best viewpoints to watch one of the matches, inclusive of a hospitality package with free-flowing food and drinks. There's also two individual day packages up for grabs, each including a pair of standard tickets.
And, if you miss out on the football tickets, there are consolation prizes including gift cards worth up to 15,000 Qatari riyals ($4,119) or a 55-inch Hisense TV to watch all the action from the comfort of your own home. This one ends on September 30.
Scroll through the gallery below to see David Beckham's 48 hours in Qatar
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
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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
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
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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
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Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
The Programme
Saturday, October 26: ‘The Time That Remains’ (2009) by Elia Suleiman
Saturday, November 2: ‘Beginners’ (2010) by Mike Mills
Saturday, November 16: ‘Finding Vivian Maier’ (2013) by John Maloof and Charlie Siskel
Tuesday, November 26: ‘All the President’s Men’ (1976) by Alan J Pakula
Saturday, December 7: ‘Timbuktu’ (2014) by Abderrahmane Sissako
Saturday, December 21: ‘Rams’ (2015) by Grimur Hakonarson
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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