• Princess Rajwa's tiara had an Arabic message on it. Reuters
    Princess Rajwa's tiara had an Arabic message on it. Reuters
  • The stylised calligraphy reads: 'Rajwatum min Allah', which translates to 'A prayer answered by God'. Reuters
    The stylised calligraphy reads: 'Rajwatum min Allah', which translates to 'A prayer answered by God'. Reuters
  • The headpiece is reminiscent of one worn by her mother-in-law Queen Rania during the wedding banquet, known as the Arabic Script tiara. Reuters
    The headpiece is reminiscent of one worn by her mother-in-law Queen Rania during the wedding banquet, known as the Arabic Script tiara. Reuters
  • Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa cut a seven-tier cake on the day of their wedding. Reuters
    Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa cut a seven-tier cake on the day of their wedding. Reuters
  • The duo are greeted by well-wishers. Photo: Royal Hashemite Court
    The duo are greeted by well-wishers. Photo: Royal Hashemite Court

Princess Rajwa's wedding tiara had a hidden Arabic message on it


Evelyn Lau
  • English
  • Arabic

Princess Rajwa wore a custom Elie Saab gown at her wedding to Crown Prince Hussein – and a tiara containing a hidden message of gratitude.

The striking white dress featured a flower print on its full skirt and a wrap effect on the bodice, which the princess paired with a pair of white flat shoes and the sparkling headpiece at the Jordanian royal marriage on Thursday.

The tiara featured stylised Arabic calligraphy on the side, reading: “Rajwatum min Allah” which translates to "A prayer answered by God” and is probably a reference to a post Queen Rania put up during the couple's engagement last August.

The phrase had previously been used by Queen Rania in the caption of an Instagram post, where she wrote: "My prayer to God, like every mother, was for you to find someone to love, and so you found Rajwa."

The headpiece is also reminiscent of one worn by her mother-in-law Queen Rania during the wedding banquet. Known as the Arabic Script tiara, the piece was reportedly a gift from her husband King Abdullah II and created by Yan Sicard of French jewellery brand Fred in 2005.

It has stylised scrolls that incorporate the prayer “Allah is Great” on the side and is made up of 1,300 pear-shaped diamonds and set in white gold.

Queen Rania and Catherine, Princess of Wales both wore tiaras for the royal wedding. Photo: Royal Hashemite Court
Queen Rania and Catherine, Princess of Wales both wore tiaras for the royal wedding. Photo: Royal Hashemite Court

Tiaras were a popular choice during the occasion, especially among fellow royalty.

Catherine, Princess of Wales wore one during the royal wedding banquet. She paired the Queen Mary's Lover's Knot tiara with a sparkling pink gown by Jenny Packham and Greville Chandelier earrings.

Princess Beatrice also sported a tiara. Wearing a champagne satin gown with an embellished bodice by Reem Acra, she arrived at the banquet with the York Diamond tiara. It is the same one her mother Sarah, Duchess of York, wore on her wedding day to Prince Andrew in 1986.

Queen Sofia of Spain wore the Niarchos Ruby tiara, while Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, wore the Dutch Laurel Wreath tiara. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands wore a smaller version of the Stuart tiara, while her daughter Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange, donned the Ruby Peacock tiara for the event.

The biog

Name: Abeer Al Bah

Born: 1972

Husband: Emirati lawyer Salem Bin Sahoo, since 1992

Children: Soud, born 1993, lawyer; Obaid, born 1994, deceased; four other boys and one girl, three months old

Education: BA in Elementary Education, worked for five years in a Dubai school

 

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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.

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Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

Updated: June 02, 2023, 9:38 AM