Gulf

Snow covers Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk region on New Year’s Day

Residents and visitors have been flocking to Jebel Al Lawz since Saturday

Ismaeel Naar
Ismaeel Naar

January 02, 2022

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Snow blanketed parts of Saudi Arabia’s north-western city of Tabuk on New Year’s Day, footage shared online showed.

People have been flocking to Jebel Al Lawz since Saturday, when snow began to fall in most areas.

The extreme weather led the security forces to close the road leading to the area after thousands of residents and visitors arrived to enjoy the sight, reports said.

More snow is expected to fall on Jebel Al Lawz as well as the mountain areas of Al Dhahr and Alqan early on Sunday, with temperatures expected to drop below 0°C.

  • Snow has been falling on Jebel Al Lawz in the Tabuk region of Saudi Arabia. Photo: SPA
    Snow has been falling on Jebel Al Lawz in the Tabuk region of Saudi Arabia. Photo: SPA
  • People have been visiting the area since Saturday, to see the snow. Photo: SPA
    People have been visiting the area since Saturday, to see the snow. Photo: SPA
  • More snow is expected to fall on Jebel Al Lawz as well as the mountain areas of Al Dhahr and Alqan. Photo: SPA
    More snow is expected to fall on Jebel Al Lawz as well as the mountain areas of Al Dhahr and Alqan. Photo: SPA
  • Thunderstorms accompanied by showers and hail are expected in Makkah, Al Bahah, Riyadh, Al Qassim and other areas of the kingdom. Photo: SPA
    Thunderstorms accompanied by showers and hail are expected in Makkah, Al Bahah, Riyadh, Al Qassim and other areas of the kingdom. Photo: SPA
  • People enjoy a moment in the snow in Tabuk. Photo: SPA
    People enjoy a moment in the snow in Tabuk. Photo: SPA
  • Vehicles line the road to Jebel Al Lawz as hundreds of people visit the area. Photo: SPA
    Vehicles line the road to Jebel Al Lawz as hundreds of people visit the area. Photo: SPA
  • The extreme weather led security forces to close the road leading to the area, reports said. Photo: SPA
    The extreme weather led security forces to close the road leading to the area, reports said. Photo: SPA
  • Women play in the snow. Photo: @Sebusher via Twitter
    Women play in the snow. Photo: @Sebusher via Twitter

Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence urged visitors and residents of Tabuk to be vigilant amid low visibility and the possibility of heavy rainfall and thunder expected to last until Monday.

Jebel Al Lawz is a mountain in the north-west of Saudi Arabia near the Jordanian border in the Tabuk province, about 200 kilometres north-west of the city of Tabuk.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s National Centre for Meteorology said thunderstorms accompanied by showers and hail are expected in Makkah, Al Bahah, Riyadh, Al Qassim and other areas of the kingdom.

Snow covered parts of the kingdom’s northern cities last year. The last time Saudi Arabia experienced so much snowfall was in 2018, when locals and tourists took to fun snow activities such as riding sleighs and snowball fights.

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Essentials
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Windhoek, with a combination of Emirates and Air Namibia, cost from US$790 (Dh2,902) via Johannesburg.
The trip
A 10-day self-drive in Namibia staying at a combination of the safari camps mentioned – Okonjima AfriCat, Little Kulala, Desert Rhino/Damaraland, Ongava – costs from $7,000 (Dh25,711) per person, including car hire (Toyota 4x4 or similar), but excluding international flights, with The Luxury Safari Company.
When to go
The cooler winter months, from June to September, are best, especially for game viewing. 

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

Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

Updated: January 02, 2022, 1:57 PM
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