Qatar cuts office and school hours to reduce World Cup traffic jams

Qatar is to reduce school hours and working hours for employees in government offices to ease traffic congestion before and during the World Cup.

A government official said after a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday that only 20 per cent of government staff would be expected in offices from November 1 until December 19, and that they would only work four hours a day, reported AFP.

From November 1 to November 17, school hours will be reduced. Pupils will be in school from 7am to midday, and on holiday from November 18 until December 22.

The main Corniche road along Doha's seafront will be closed to all cars from November 1, said officials.

A key fan zone is being built alongside the route.

The World Cup will be the biggest global event since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and Doha will be flooded with more than 1.5 million football supporters from all over the world.

During the tournament, only fans with tickets will be allowed into Qatar.

The country has reopened the old Doha International Airport to ease pressure from airline traffic before the tournament begins.

The airport had been in semi-retirement since it was replaced in 2014 by Hamad International Airport, a major global hub that has grown alongside national airline Qatar Airways.

Organisers announced earlier this year that several Gulf airlines, from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait, would run more than 100 daily shuttle flights into Doha airport during the tournament.

Passengers on those flights will go through immigration checks on departure to reduce delays in Doha. They will be asked to return the same day, after watching their match.

The World Cup kicks off on November 20, with the final on December 18.

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Tamkeen's offering

Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
Option 2: 50% across three years
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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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