After a long and tumultuous year for many, it’s time to see 2021 off in grand fashion. And luckily, the UAE knows how to kick off a spectacular New Year’s Eve celebration. This year will be no different, with a number of record-breaking attempts announced. Here’s a look at all the UAE venues that will put on a firework display this year.
In Dubai
Burj Khalifa
The big daddy of firework displays, so to speak, will put on a suitably ostentatious show called the Eve of Wonders at the stroke of midnight on Friday. Visitors can expect impressive pyrotechnics and spectacular light shows, as well as a new laser feature that’s making its debut at The Dubai Fountain in sync with Burj Khalifa's programme. Visitors who want to head to Downtown Dubai on the big night, can log on to the U by Emaar app and complete the pre-registration process, after which they will receive individual QR codes that can be used to access all Downtown Dubai locations on New Year's Eve. Several restaurants in The Dubai Mall have launched packages for those looking for a front row seat to the spectacle – although they do come at a hefty price tag – as can be seen here.
Expo 2020 Dubai
The “world’s greatest show” is set to ring in 2022 in a grand manner. There will be two firework displays taking place – one at midnight and another at 3am on Saturday.
Visitors can also expect 13 hours of non-stop festivities, beginning at 3pm. There will be entertainment from world-famous DJs, a midnight “ball drop” at Al Wasl Plaza and celebrations across some of the 192 country pavilions to celebrate the occasion.
Atlantis, The Palm
The luxury hotel has promised “one of Dubai’s largest and most stunning firework and pyrotechnic displays” at midnight on New Year's Eve. Although the duration hasn’t been mentioned, it has announced that the fireworks will light up the skies above the The Royal Beach, turning it into a riot of colour.
Global Village
Family-favourite Global Village will be counting down to 2022 with eight separate firework displays, synchronised to the timings of eight different destinations around the globe. Fireworks will start at the park during the day as Australia enters the new year at 5pm UAE time. Guests will then herald the New Year in Philippines at 8pm, Thailand at 9pm, Bangladesh at 10pm, India at 10.30pm and Pakistan at 11pm. At midnight, a five-minute firework display will welcome the New Year. An hour later at 1am, the eighth and final firework display will coincide with New Year in Russia.
Dubai Festival City Mall
There’s plenty of reason to ring in 2022 at Dubai Festival City Mall, which is hosting a New Year's Eve spectacular. The popular Imagine laser, light and fountain show will take place every hour, starting from 6.05pm until 1am, and joined by fireworks at 9pm and midnight. There will also be live performances from musicians, all set against the backdrop of Festival Bay waterfront views.
Bluewaters Island
The waterfront island will be ushering in the New Year with fireworks at the stroke of midnight. In the run up to the display, there will be live music and paparazzi-themed roaming performers entertaining visitors across the island's open avenues.
The entertainment venue will also be showcasing the Middle East’s longest running drone light show, which illustrates the UAE’s journey with 500 drones, taking place at 8pm and 10.30pm. Visitors can take in the festivities from Ain Dubai – which has launched New Year's Eve packages from Dh1,500 – and from many of the restaurants, which have launched set menus for the occasion. Public transport is recommended as parking on the day will be limited to Bluewaters residents, attraction ticket holders, Caesars Palace Dubai hotel guests and restaurant guests with confirmed reservations.
There will be complimentary back-to-back shuttle buses running from 2pm to 2am at Jebel Ali Metro, or visitors can also take a scenic walk via the pedestrian bridge connecting Bluewaters to JBR.
Al Seef
The heritage district of Al Seef will be having midnight firework display. With the Dubai Creek in the background and many waterfront restaurants, there's plenty of reason to head there on New Year's Eve.
La Mer
The picturesque waterfront property will host a firework display at midnight. Visitors will be able to enjoy it from many of the venue's dining establishments.
Burj Al Arab
The world-famous hotel has confirmed there will be a firework display that will run for eight minutes, taking place at midnight on December 31.
In Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Zayed Festival
All eyes will be on the capital this year, as Abu Dhabi will attempt to break three Guinness World Records as part of Sheikh Zayed Festival's New Year's Eve celebrations. There will be a 40-minute firework display that will attempt to set records for volume, duration and form. The festival organising committee has also lined up a series of entertainment events and performances for the night. A giant drone show that will light up the skies of Al Wathba will also take place. "This will be the first show of its kind and magnitude in the world," said state news agency Wam.
Yas Island
Yas Island will welcome 2022 with two fireworks celebrations at Yas Bay. Set to take place on Thursday at 9pm and then again on Friday at midnight, UAE residents can expect a spectacular display. Apart from pyrotechnics, there will be a live performance by popular Bollywood singer Atif Aslam, who will be performing for the first time on Yas Island at Etihad Arena. Guests between 12 and 16 years of age will require a valid negative PCR test with a 96-hour validity, and guests who are 16 years old and above, must be fully vaccinated with a green status on Al Hosn app, as well as a negative PCR test with a 96-hour validity.
Abu Dhabi Corniche
It's a favourite for NYE celebrations and this year is no different. Abu Dhabi residents will be able to see the skies above the Corniche light up at midnight on December 31.
Al Maryah Island
Al Maryah Island will host a family-friendly New Year's Eve celebration featuring concerts by a trio of Arab pop stars as well as a fireworks display. The event, running from 6pm to 2am, will take place in the South and North Plazas of the site, with the fireworks best viewed from the promenade. Lebanese pop star Elissa will be joined by Emirati crooner Hussain Al Jassmi and Emirati-Yemeni singer Balqees. The trio will perform separately at the 1,200 capacity South Plaza as part of a sold-out concert. Doors open at 7pm, with performances to begin an hour later. The family activities will take place in North Plaza, where doors will open from 6.30pm. In addition to food and beverage stalls, there will be a giant version of popular board games and areas to play basketball and test your archery skills. Entry is free, with the exception of the concert which is ticketed.
Saadiyat Beach Club
The Saadiyat Island venue will have dazzling fireworks at the stroke of midnight.
Hazza bin Zayed Stadium
Residents of Al Ain can head over to the attraction, which is popular with locals and tourists, as there will be a grand display to usher in 2022.
Madinat Zayed
There will also be a grand fireworks show in the Al Dhafra region in Abu Dhabi at midnight.
In Sharjah
Al Majaz Waterfront
The leisure destination is a favourite for families come New Year’s Eve, and this year will be no different. Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) has announced that there will be a 10-minute long fireworks show lighting up the sky in Al Majaz Waterfront. The family-friendly venue has a number of dining spots for those who want front row seats for the display.
Khorfakkan Beach
Over at the east coast, Sharjah residents will be able to take in a 10-minute-long firework display at Khorfakkan Beach. Here too, there is a variety of restaurants and cafes offering viewing spots.
In Ras Al Khaimah
The emirate's organising committee for the night is gearing up for a Guinness World Record-breaking fireworks display, which will feature pyrodrones, lights, colours and shapes. The 12-minute pyrotechnic spectacle, which will cover a 4.7-kilometre area along the waterfront between Al Marjan Island and Al Hamra Village, will aim to break two world records. The first attempt will be for the Most Remote Operated Multirotors / Drones Launching Fireworks Simultaneously and the second attempt is for the Highest Altitude Multirotor / Drone Firework Display.
Gates will open at 4pm for the firework display.
Family-friendly activities and events around the display are being planned, plus children’s play areas and food and drinks outlets.
To mark the beginning of 2021, Ras Al Khaimah dazzled guests with a 10-minute firework show that won the Guinness World Records titles for most unmanned aerial vehicles for launching fireworks simultaneously, and the longest fireworks waterfall.
This list is being updated*
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
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
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Founder: Ulugbek Yuldashev
Sector: e-commerce
Size: 600 plus
Stage: still in talks with VCs
Principal Investors: self-financed by founder
Iran's dirty tricks to dodge sanctions
There’s increased scrutiny on the tricks being used to keep commodities flowing to and from blacklisted countries. Here’s a description of how some work.
1 Going Dark
A common method to transport Iranian oil with stealth is to turn off the Automatic Identification System, an electronic device that pinpoints a ship’s location. Known as going dark, a vessel flicks the switch before berthing and typically reappears days later, masking the location of its load or discharge port.
2. Ship-to-Ship Transfers
A first vessel will take its clandestine cargo away from the country in question before transferring it to a waiting ship, all of this happening out of sight. The vessels will then sail in different directions. For about a third of Iranian exports, more than one tanker typically handles a load before it’s delivered to its final destination, analysts say.
3. Fake Destinations
Signaling the wrong destination to load or unload is another technique. Ships that intend to take cargo from Iran may indicate their loading ports in sanction-free places like Iraq. Ships can keep changing their destinations and end up not berthing at any of them.
4. Rebranded Barrels
Iranian barrels can also be rebranded as oil from a nation free from sanctions such as Iraq. The countries share fields along their border and the crude has similar characteristics. Oil from these deposits can be trucked out to another port and documents forged to hide Iran as the origin.
* Bloomberg
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
DSC Eagles 23 Dubai Hurricanes 36
Eagles
Tries: Bright, O’Driscoll
Cons: Carey 2
Pens: Carey 3
Hurricanes
Tries: Knight 2, Lewis, Finck, Powell, Perry
Cons: Powell 3
