Samsung Electronics' first Unpacked event of the year has taken place with the focus now shifting to whether or not its new flagship devices are as good as advertised.
Before the release, the company is aiming to entice consumers in the UAE and other markets by offering to double the storage for free for pre-orders.
If you were to buy a 512GB model, you would only pay the cost of the 256GB version.
Before we further get into UAE specifics, here are The National's first impressions.
No aesthetic and hardware changes
If you've been a Samsung user, you'll readily realise with the Galaxy S25 that not much has changed since 2021's Galaxy S21 series.
While keeping an identity is crucial for a brand, it has been five years since the last major redesign for the Galaxy S.
The only aesthetic changes are the slightly rounder corners, smaller bezels and bigger rings on the camera lenses. Hardware-wise, the only spec upgrade worth mentioning is the Galaxy S25 Ultra's ultra-wide camera being significantly increased to 50MP from 12MP.
Apple employs a similar strategy of keeping a familiar design on the iPhone, but it does not take five cycles to refresh the iPhone's look, whether it be changing the edges and finishes or rearranging the camera lenses.
Samsung, however, may have a good reason for making minimal changes.
Samsung-Google versus Apple-OpenAI
Generative artificial intelligence continues to be a significant player in recent technology and smartphones are no exception.
Samsung brought generative AI to the mainstream mobile sector with its Galaxy AI in last year's S24 phones. However, the team-up between Apple and OpenAI signalled how serious future competition in this space will be.
Samsung announced a partnership with Google at Unpacked, and the Alphabet unit's Gemini Advanced is being offered on the Galaxy S25.
Finally, a complete switch to Qualcomm
In the past, users have had grievances with Samsung's Exynos chip, with complaints over short battery life, overheating and generally poorer performance when compared to Qualcomm chips.
Samsung was using both Exynos and Qualcomm chips to balance out costs and their availability globally. Samsung also used the Exynos to configure it to their specifications.
That has ended as the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite is now being used on all Galaxy S25 devices. Samsung did say that the Elite is specifically configured for Galaxy devices, aiding it in enhancing the performance of Galaxy AI.
What about the Galaxy S25 Edge?
The slimmer version of the Galaxy S25 series was the surprise of Unpacked, but details were scarce.
It seems close to the reported 6.4 millimetres thickness and is Samsung's thinnest phone by far. It also only has two cameras.
However, no further details were provided.
The device won't be available alongside the rest of the Galaxy S25 line-up. Tech journalist Mark Gurman reported that the company is planning a release in the first half of this year and its price would be below that of the S25 Ultra.
But the biggest takeaway is that Samsung would beat Apple to the draw on a slim smartphone, especially amid reports that Apple is planning to release what has been called the “iPhone 17 Air”.
Galaxy S25's availability in the UAE
Orders for the Galaxy S25 series are now live, and its general availability will be on February 7.
In the UAE, the country's two telecom operators, e& and du, have made the devices available on their websites with several perks, including double storage for free, four months of Samsung Care+ and unlocked premium subscriptions for users of Samsung Members.
Major UAE electronics retailers, including Sharaf DG, Jumbo Electronics and Emax also offer the same perks, with additional bonuses such as free Samsung smart bands, bags and power banks.
You can also get your Galaxy S25 devices at Samsung's official stores in the GCC. The company is offering double storage for free, offering up to Dh679 in savings.
The device also comes in exclusive online-only colours. For the S25 and S25+, you can choose from blue, black, coral red and pink gold, while for the S25 Ultra, you can select from titanium jet black, titanium jade green and titanium pink gold.
How much will they cost in the UAE?
The price of the Galaxy S25 is set at Dh3,199 for 12GB, Dh3,449 for 256GB and Dh3,949 for the new 512GB version.
The Galaxy S25+ will cost Dh3,899 for 256GB and Dh4,399 for 512GB.
The top-tier Galaxy S25 Ultra is priced at Dh5,099 for 256GB, Dh5,599 for 512GB and Dh6,599 for 1TB.
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
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The specs
Engine 60kwh FWD
Battery Rimac 120kwh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry
Power 204hp Torque 360Nm
Price, base / as tested Dh174,500
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
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.
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
More on Quran memorisation:
Racecard
6pm: The Pointe - Conditions (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m
6.35pm: Palm West Beach - Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (T) 1,800m
7.10pm: The View at the Palm - Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.45pm: Nakeel Graduate Stakes - Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m
8.20pm: Club Vista Mare - Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,900m
8.55pm: The Palm Fountain - Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,200m
9.30pm: The Palm Tower - Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,600m
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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Retirement funds heavily invested in equities at a risky time
Pension funds in growing economies in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East have a sharply higher percentage of assets parked in stocks, just at a time when trade tensions threaten to derail markets.
Retirement money managers in 14 geographies now allocate 40 per cent of their assets to equities, an 8 percentage-point climb over the past five years, according to a Mercer survey released last week that canvassed government, corporate and mandatory pension funds with almost $5 trillion in assets under management. That compares with about 25 per cent for pension funds in Europe.
The escalating trade spat between the US and China has heightened fears that stocks are ripe for a downturn. With tensions mounting and outcomes driven more by politics than economics, the S&P 500 Index will be on course for a “full-scale bear market” without Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts, Citigroup’s global macro strategy team said earlier this week.
The increased allocation to equities by growth-market pension funds has come at the expense of fixed-income investments, which declined 11 percentage points over the five years, according to the survey.
Hong Kong funds have the highest exposure to equities at 66 per cent, although that’s been relatively stable over the period. Japan’s equity allocation jumped 13 percentage points while South Korea’s increased 8 percentage points.
The money managers are also directing a higher portion of their funds to assets outside of their home countries. On average, foreign stocks now account for 49 per cent of respondents’ equity investments, 4 percentage points higher than five years ago, while foreign fixed-income exposure climbed 7 percentage points to 23 per cent. Funds in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan are among those seeking greater diversification in stocks and fixed income.
• Bloomberg
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
