Cyclone Shaheen levelled properties and sent people in Oman running for shelter, but the destructive storm has left a pleasant surprise in its aftermath.
Nature enthusiasts are delighting in the arrival of birds that do not usually visit the country.
Swathes of land that are usually empty are now filled with water, which has attracted different species to the parts of Oman most affected by the cyclone.
Birdwatchers say white cranes, ospreys, geese and flamingos are paddling in the waters.
“The empty arid lands are now rivers and lakes, thanks to the recent floods,” Shahid Maktoob, a nature enthusiast in Suwaiq, told The National. “We see an unusual landing of different species of birds in our area which we don’t normally see at any time on the water left behind by the storms.”
Peter Basset, 74, a birdwatcher for 52 years in the UK’s Lake District and now retired in Oman, said migratory birds which usually fly past Oman from Iran to escape cold weather to India have stopped off in the Batinah region this time.
“This time of the year, these birds fly away from Iran as the temperature there gets colder to warmer climates in India. But this time, because of the pools of water left behind by the storms, they made landfall in the Batinah areas,” Mr Basset told The National.
Most damage was caused in Oman's Batinah region, in the towns of Al Musannah, Suwaiq, Saham, Khabourah and Sohar, which were hit by 60-knot winds and 12-metre waves.
“I have spotted white cranes, geese and even flamingos on my usual evening walks in these flooded areas,” Hashim Al Saleh, a birdwatcher from Saham, told The National.
“It is not usual we see these kinds of birds flying around at any time here in Batinah. The floods devastated our houses but brought beautiful birds as well.”
Faisal Al Moosa, another birdwatcher, said he usually spots hawks, eagles and vultures in the deserts of Oman.
“There are predator birds and they stay in the desert looking for foxes, rabbits and rats to eat. But this time, we have different foreign birds and that is really something special for birdwatchers like us,” he said.
More than 5,000 people affected by the floods were moved to temporary accommodation, but most have now returned to their homes.
The storms killed 12 people in Oman and two fishermen in Iran.
Thousands of volunteers are helping to restore towns devastated by the storm. The government has said it will build 328 houses for families whose homes were destroyed by the floods.
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Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
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
