It already has awnings that look like candy cane and, come December 3, the Raining Street of Dubai will temporarily transform into a Snowing Street.
The rooftop sprinklers that usually dispense water droplets will instead send out a flurry of snowflakes, making the quaint cobblestone street resemble a veritable European winter wonderland.
And that is the whole point of this street and its locale – the Cote d’Azur Monaco hotel on the Heart of Europe Islands, says Josef Kleindienst, chairman of the Kleindienst group that is overseeing this neck of the World Islands: To transport guests from the UAE to Europe after a mere 30-minute boat ride from Dubai's Jumeirah 3.
The Snowing Street will also be home to various live stations, dispensing festive treats such as French hot chocolate, toasted marshmallows, roasted chestnuts, mulled wine and freshly baked stollen, all available to enjoy amid the gentle snowfall from December 3 to January 7.
Visitors who want to partake in the snowy celebrations have two options: Book a staycation at the adults-only hotel or sign up for a day pass.
Christmas and New Year's Eve on The Heart of Europe
The hotel is also hosting a combined Sleigh Your Stay Christmas Eve party and staycation on December 24, priced at Dh1,590 for two people. The package includes a deluxe room, evening buffet and breakfast at La Brasserie and house beverages for three hours, plus the boat transfer.
The Eat, Drink, Party & Be Merry Christmas Day and staycation, meanwhile, is priced at Dh1,690 for two, and includes a room upgrade.
If you want to ring in the New Year in “Monaco”, the hotel's Glam & Glow package begins with a cocktail reception at 7.30pm, continues with a live countdown to midnight on a giant screen in the pool and includes a serving of snacks at 1am so you can party until dawn.
Priced from Dh3,190 for two, the package includes a premiere room, drunch with house beverages, breakfast and boat transfers.
Those staying over can also sign up for the Hangover Brunch on January 1, for Dh199 per hotel guest and Dh299 for visitors.
For more information or to make reservations, contact 050 344 0356; www.thoe-hotels.com
The biog
Name: Younis Al Balooshi
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn
Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design
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
