Pinterest, the popular image-sharing platform, has added a new filter. Now, for the first time, users will be able to search images by hair type.
In a clear step towards wider inclusivity, the platform has released the new function to help black, indigenous and people of colour (Bipoc) source images that are relevant to them. Users are now able to search using six hair types: protective, coily, curly, wavy, straight and shaved / bald.
Hailed as a "first of its kind", the new filter uses “computer vision-powered object detection” to identify different hair types across the platform's 500 million images, allowing users to pinpoint results even with more general terms such as "summer hairstyles", "short hair" and "glam hair".
"Our mission is to help everyone feel like Pinterest is a place for them," said Annie Ta, head of inclusive product at Pinterest.
“We have an opportunity and responsibility to do a better job of increasing representation in the products we build. That's why we built hair pattern search using computer vision technology to help identify hair patterns in images. By doing this, we hope we're able to use technology for good and make it easier for people, no matter who they are, to find hair inspiration for them on Pinterest."
The new function builds on the inclusivity introduced with a 2018 filter that allows searches by skin tone. Together, the aim is to help users find "inspiration that is most relevant to their style and preference," said Pinterest.
The new function is already live on desktop, iOS and Android across the US, the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and is expected to be launched in more countries over the coming months.
The company reported that in the past month, there were more than 120 million hair searches and more than five billion hair-related pins on the site.
In a bid for better inclusivity and body acceptance, Pinterest also announced at the start of July it was banning adverts that promote weight loss, as well as products and images that champion a low body mass index. It also declared that images of weight-loss procedures and so-called "ideal body" images would be blocked.
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
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
