Mariam Mohamed can still vividly remember the moment she heard her name when, in December, the Emirati beauty queen won the title of Miss Arab World UAE, becoming the country's representative in the wider competition held in Egypt.
“It was an amazing feeling," she tells The National. "Honestly, I'm really proud to hold the title. It was one of the best feelings ever."
Later that month, she went on to finish as second runner-up in the pageant. Although she fell short of her goal of winning, she feels proud to have represented her country while meeting other like-minded women.
"I got to meet the other queens from different countries and that on its own was an experience," she says. "There were doctors with us, there were engineers, people of really different backgrounds. It was very interesting."
Mohamed, 22, is a University of Sydney graduate who grew up in Dubai. Her love of volunteering and fashion is what inspired her to get into pageantry.
“I always participated in events related to fashion weeks and Arab Fashion Week,” she says. “I think it started in university. I started following the trends and, in general, I liked wearing clothes and choosing different colours.”
She began modelling as a side gig while in Australia and was eventually approached by Hanan Nasr, the founder of Miss Arab World, a competition that has run annually since 2006 and looks to inspire women in the region.
"Arab female empowerment was my main muse,” Nasr tells The National of her inspiration to start the pageant at a time when no similar events existed here.
Nasr says there are specific qualities the organisers look for in Miss Arab World UAE, and that's why Mohamed was chosen.
“The UAE is one of the most significant countries in the Arab world, so picking a suitable Miss UAE to represent such a powerful country is always a challenge," Nasr says. "A high education, intellectuality, general knowledge and situational awareness are vital qualities for a Miss UAE to have, along with being able to represent herself and her country in a lucrative and distinguished manner.
“Mariam checked all the above-mentioned boxes, and was very articulate and quick on her feet in front of the judges — and that is why she was able to win Miss UAE and excel to a second runner-up in the finale although the competition was very strong.”
My family’s support means a lot because it helped me in so many ways. I feel like when there is trust, you can do a lot of things
Mariam Mohamed,
Miss Arab World UAE
Mohamed's success doesn't mean she hasn't faced resistance from her community. Some suggested she shouldn't even be participating. But that didn't deter her, particularly as she had support from her parents, for which she says she's grateful.
“I'm independent, so I want to do my own thing. I have to pursue my dream,” she says. “My family’s support means a lot because it helped me in so many ways. I feel like when there is trust, you can do a lot of things. It's important to have trust between family members and yourself — it gives you a lot of confidence.”
Since her big win, Mohamed has signed a year-long contract with Miss Arab World, which has her travelling to Egypt for events and engagements. She still plans to explore her interests in the fashion industry, too, saying she wants to launch her own abaya brand some day.
Mohamed also hopes to later compete in Miss Influencer, which had its inaugural competition in December. The pageant is held in the UAE and also aims to empower women but with a focus on raising awareness of global issues through social media. Criteria to enter include being a woman over the age of 21, and living in the UAE with at least 10,000 followers on Instagram.
"We are looking for an ambitious, confident, gorgeous, credible, creative and influential individual who is ready to take over the social media platforms supported by the most valuable businesses in UAE," says the Miss Influencer website.
The region may not have historically been involved in beauty pageantry, but Mohamed believes now is the time for like-minded women to pursue their interest in this field.
“Every woman can participate in these competitions. As long as she's respectful, she's strong, she's showing confidence, she's educated,” she says. “I believe that beauty isn't the only thing that's going to help you win. You have to have knowledge, confidence, ambition and inner belief."
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
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.”
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
