President Sheikh Mohamed visited the Royal Opera House Muscat on the second day of his state visit to Oman.
Sheikh Mohamed was received by Sayyid Kamel bin Fahd, secretary general of the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, and Nasr bin Hamoud, secretary general of Royal Court Affairs.
During his tour, Sheikh Mohamed took in a special musical performance by the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra and learnt how it was founded under the guidance of the late Sultan Qaboos.
"I had the pleasure of visiting the Royal Opera House Muscat today and enjoying a moving performance by the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra. Congratulations to everybody involved and thank you for the valuable contribution that you are making to music and culture in our region," Sheikh Mohamed wrote on Twitter.
He also enjoyed musical performances by the Omani Royal Guard Military Band.
The President was briefed on the history of the opera house, and its design, which blends elements of Omani architecture with influences from around the world.
He also viewed some musical instruments and saw the venue’s state-of-the-art technology and facilities.
"I was pleased to visit the impressive Royal Opera House and listen to the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra, whose performance seamlessly blended tradition and modernity," Sheikh Mohamed wrote in the VIP guestbook of the opera house.
"The arts are a common global language that can act as a bridge between cultures.
"They are an important means of promoting understanding and spreading the human values of peace and coexistence among people, the same values that Oman enjoys under the leadership of my brother His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, the Sultan of Oman."
He was accompanied by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court; Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council; and several important officials.
The opera house, Oman's premier venue for music, arts and culture, is one of the most beautiful and technically advanced opera houses in the world.
The 25,000 square-metre site has the capacity for around 850 people within its main auditorium, which can — by hydraulics that move the proscenium and VIP boxes — seat more than 1,050.
Since its inauguration in 2011, the opera house has played host to Italian director and opera producer Franco Zeffirelli, US jazz titan Wynton Marsalis and superstar soprano Renee Fleming, among many others.
Sheikh Mohamed has ended his Oman trip and has left from Muscat, said news agency Wam.
Sultan Haitham accompanied Sheikh Mohamed to the airport to wish him farewell.
President Sheikh Mohamed leaves Oman – in pictures
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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
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
THE DETAILS
Director: Milan Jhaveri
Producer: Emmay Entertainment and T-Series
Cast: John Abraham, Manoj Bajpayee
Rating: 2/5
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
