The statue, which is more than two metres long and 2.3 metres high and was carved from sandstone, dates back to the 5th and 3rd centuries BCE. SPA
The statue, which is more than two metres long and 2.3 metres high and was carved from sandstone, dates back to the 5th and 3rd centuries BCE. SPA
The statue, which is more than two metres long and 2.3 metres high and was carved from sandstone, dates back to the 5th and 3rd centuries BCE. SPA
The statue, which is more than two metres long and 2.3 metres high and was carved from sandstone, dates back to the 5th and 3rd centuries BCE. SPA

Gulf

Louvre Museum in Paris to display Saudi Arabia's ancient AlUla statue

Experts say it most probably depicts a Liyhanite king, if not a priest or a praying figure

Mona Farag
Mona Farag

September 07, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Saudi Arabia's Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) has announced an agreement with the Louvre Museum in Paris to display a statue dating back to the Lihyan or Dadan period.

The statue, weighing more than 800 kilograms and carved from sandstone, will be displayed in the museum for five years. This comes after the RCU signed a deal on Tuesday to begin a collaboration with French museums of heritage.

The statue, which is more than two metres long and 2.3 metres high and is missing its head, dates back to the 5th and 3rd centuries BCE. It represents a rendering of a masculine figure standing upright in a frontal pose.

Experts say it most probably depicts a Lihyanite king, if not a priest or a praying figure.

The statue was unveiled in the Louvre’s hall of Oriental Antiquities.

The statue was discovered at the Dadan archaeological site in AlUla, north-west Saudi Arabia, during excavation work by teams overseen by Riyadh's King Saud University.

ع / ثقافي / الهيئة الملكية لمحافظة العُلا تُوَقِّعُ اتفاقيةً مع متحف اللوفر في باريس 10 صفر,1444 هـ(واس) A 2.3 metre-high statue carved from sandstone and believed to depict an ancient Lihyanite king is on five-year loan from the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) to the Louvre Museum in Paris. The statue dates back to the 5th to 3rd centuries BCE and was discovered by archaeologists working in Dadan, AlUla, north-west Saudi Arabia. The statue has already been exhibited at the Louvre in 2010 for the Roads of Arabia exhibition. SPA
ع / ثقافي / الهيئة الملكية لمحافظة العُلا تُوَقِّعُ اتفاقيةً مع متحف اللوفر في باريس 10 صفر,1444 هـ(واس) A 2.3 metre-high statue carved from sandstone and believed to depict an ancient Lihyanite king is on five-year loan from the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) to the Louvre Museum in Paris. The statue dates back to the 5th to 3rd centuries BCE and was discovered by archaeologists working in Dadan, AlUla, north-west Saudi Arabia. The statue has already been exhibited at the Louvre in 2010 for the Roads of Arabia exhibition. SPA

About 2,800 years ago, Dadan was one of the most important trade route stations of the ancient world. In about the second half of the 1st millennium BCE, the Dadan kingdom was ruled by the kings of the Lihyan tribe, who stayed in power for many centuries.

The statue was previously displayed as part of Roads of Arabia, a travelling exhibition that first appeared at Louvre Abu Dhabi from November 2018 to February 2019. The exhibition was then held in Rome, Berlin, Paris, Barcelona, St Petersburg, Houston and Tokyo.

  • Caravan by Habitas glamping site opens in AlUla, Saudi Arabia in March. All photos: Habitas
    Caravan by Habitas glamping site opens in AlUla, Saudi Arabia in March. All photos: Habitas
  • Carvan AlUla will be surrounded by mountains and ancient Nabatean sites.
    Carvan AlUla will be surrounded by mountains and ancient Nabatean sites.
  • The eco-conscious escape is geared towards travellers seeking adventure, exploration and human connection.
    The eco-conscious escape is geared towards travellers seeking adventure, exploration and human connection.
  • Inside an Airstream trailer at Habitas Caravan AlUla.
    Inside an Airstream trailer at Habitas Caravan AlUla.
  • The Airstream trailers will be fully equipped with lots of fun details.
    The Airstream trailers will be fully equipped with lots of fun details.
  • Projection screens will provide an outdoor cinema experience.
    Projection screens will provide an outdoor cinema experience.
  • The gathering tent at Caravan AlUla is designed as a place for guests to come together and reconnect.
    The gathering tent at Caravan AlUla is designed as a place for guests to come together and reconnect.
  • The tent is decorated with antiques and artefacts from around the kingdom.
    The tent is decorated with antiques and artefacts from around the kingdom.
  • A fire pit with circular seating is the best location for stargazing.
    A fire pit with circular seating is the best location for stargazing.
  • Each trailer comes with a private outdoor viewing deck.
    Each trailer comes with a private outdoor viewing deck.
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

ABU%20DHABI%20CARD
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E5pm%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EWathba%20Stallions%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh70%2C000%20(Turf)%202%2C200m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E5.30pm%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20Rub%20Al%20Khali%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C400m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E6pm%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAl%20Marmoom%20Desert%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C600m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E6.30pm%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELiwa%20Oasis%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C400m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E7pm%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAl%20Khatim%20Desert%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C600m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E7.30pm%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Al%20Quadra%20Desert%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C600m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Classification of skills

A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation. 

A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.

The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000. 

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher:  Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5

The biogs

Name: Zinah Madi

Occupation: Co-founder of Dots and links

Nationality: Syrian

Family: Married, Mother of Tala, 18, Sharif, 14, Kareem, 2

Favourite Quote: “There is only one way to succeed in anything, and that is to give it everything.”

 

Name: Razan Nabulsi

Occupation: Co-founder of Dots and Links

Nationality: Jordanian

Family: Married, Mother of Yahya, 3.5

Favourite Quote: A Chinese proverb that says: “Be not afraid of moving slowly, be afraid only of standing still.”

UAE gold medallists:

Omar Al Suweidi (46kg), Khaled Al Shehhi (50kg), Khalifa Humaid Al Kaabi (60kg), Omar Al Fadhli (62kg), Mohammed Ali Al Suweidi (66kg), Omar Ahmed Al Hosani (73), all in the U18’s, and Khalid Eskandar Al Blooshi (56kg) in the U21s.

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Biog

Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara

He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada

Father of two sons, grandfather of six

Plays golf once a week

Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family

Walks for an hour every morning

Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India

2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business

 

CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Enterprise-grade%20security%20and%20privacy%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Unlimited%20higher-speed%20GPT-4%20access%20with%20no%20caps%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Longer%20context%20windows%20for%20processing%20longer%20inputs%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Advanced%20data%20analysis%20capabilities%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Customisation%20options%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Shareable%20chat%20templates%20that%20companies%20can%20use%20to%20collaborate%20and%20build%20common%20workflows%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Analytics%20dashboard%20for%20usage%20insights%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Free%20credits%20to%20use%20OpenAI%20APIs%20to%20extend%20OpenAI%20into%20a%20fully-custom%20solution%20for%20enterprises%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

Updated: September 07, 2022, 6:44 AM
Saudi ArabiaLouvre Abu Dhabi