Abu Dhabi has a new resident, and she’ll be slithering her way into hearts soon enough. The National Aquarium at Al Qana has just announced that it is now home to Super Snake, a 14-year-old female reticulated python.
Reticulated pythons are the longest snake breeds in the world, regularly reaching more than 6.25 metres long, with the largest yet recorded to be 10 metres (about the size of a school bus). And at seven metres long, Super Snake is one of the largest on display in the world.
It takes 12 people to hold this extraordinary reptile at full length. She weighs a whopping 115 kilograms, enjoys a diet of ducks and rabbits and is an excellent swimmer.
Native to South and South-east Asia, reticulated pythons are non-venomous. They kill their prey by wrappingaround and constricting them. The pythons’ jaws are also connected by very flexible ligaments, allowing them to stretch around large prey and swallow them whole.
There have been reports of people being eaten by reticulated pythons, particularly on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. While a full-grown snake can devour deer as well as humans,their diet usually consists of smaller rodents.
Super Snake’s impressive size is similar to that of reported man-eaters. However, she’s been born in a Los Angeles captive breeding programme and has grown accustomed to human contact during her 14 years as a private specimen.
“While Super Snake is a captive bred animal, we as her caretakers still need to be vigilant and cautious around her,” says Beatriz Maquieira, curator at The National Aquarium. “We can’t wait for the public to meet her and enjoy her slightly quirky personality. We are also excited about having this opportunity to educate our visitors as that is essentially why she is here.”
Super Snake will live at the Flooded Forest Zone along with more than 8,000 rainforest creatures, where visitors will get a chance to view her.
Paul Hamilton, general manager at The National Aquarium believes that the “sheer size and beauty of Super Snake is going to make her the strongest representative of the Flooded Forest collection”.
“Just watching her relax in her lush, tropical inspired habitat is mesmerising. We are certain Super Snake is going to become one the biggest attractions at The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi.”
The National Aquarium is part of Al Qana, a new waterfront destination in the capital. Home to 46,000 creatures and spread across 10 zones, it will be the biggest aquarium in the Middle East and is scheduled to launch towards the last quarter of 2021. The wildlife that live there will be cared for by a team of 80 sea-life experts and specialists.
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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
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