As the mercury rises and summer holidays are planned, pool and beachside style are never far from mind. The shops are brimming with plenty of stylish swimwear options, catering to every taste and body shape. Whether you want something snazzy, or looking for high sun protection, we have picked the six biggest trends for summertime swimwear.
Belt it out
A firm favourite once again, the belted one-piece is a good choice as it offers a sleek look while snatching in the waist. Bloomingdale's has a good selection, including options by Jonathan Simkhai; La Perla has a patterned version option, that comes with a deep plunge; and Coconut Cove stocks the Lexi, a pretty white suit with a soft flounce across the cups.
Curvier girls can look to TKD Lingerie, which has an array of styles. We love the Curvy Kate suit, in a sultry olive tone and built-in support.
Cover girl
For those who prefer to be fully covered on the beach or by the pool, there are more options now than ever before. Nike has an excellent swimming tunic that extends to mid-thigh length, and that can be teamed with swimming leggings, shorts or even bikini bottoms.
Elsewhere, Cover Swim has created the Valerie suit, a long-sleeved bodysuit with shorts. Made from recycled material, it also offers SPF50 sun protection, and is available at Net-A-Porter.
For those happy to expose their legs, Marks & Spencer has a long-sleeve, zipped one-piece; while Beyond the Beach carries the Always Summer SPF50 surf suit by Rip Curl. Designed for surfers, it will keep the arms shielded from harmful sun rays.
Blend in with bandeau
A go-to for those who want to avoid strap marks, the bandeau cut suit is something of a beachwear classic. Simple to look at and easy to wear, the Brooke by Hunza G at Net-A-Porter comes in heavy seersucker, which glosses over all manner of lumps and bumps.
Elsewhere, the Aerie suit at American Eagle comes with a snappy side bow; the Aolani suit at Beach City comes with pretty side gathers for added ruching and detachable straps; and H&M has a cute black suit that nails two trends in one: bandeau and cut-out.
Make the cut
While not the best choice for getting an all-over tan, the sheer knockout drama of a cut-out swimsuit is hard to beat. Tommy Hilfiger has a cute one-piece that comes with an open panel on the stomach and a plethora of tiny straps.
Marie France has a deeply plunging suit with open sides, which is sure to turn heads; Gemma Bouk, stocked at SandDollar, has a draped and twisted suit in glam red; and H&M carries a cute high-waisted suit in sunny yellow, with a simple, twisted top.
Hot shoulder
With its air of sporty glamour, the one-shouldered swimsuit oozes breezy confidence. Eres at That Concept Store goes strong with a snappy blue and white suit decorated with parrots; Marks & Spencer offers a textured suit in coral pink; and H&M has a one piece that comes with a jaunty ruffle sitting on the left shoulder.
Amp up the retro glam
Inject a dash of glamour with retro-inspired swimwear, ideal for pairing with a wide hat and statement sunglasses. What they lack in sporty prowess, these 1950s-inspired styles make up for in dressy allure.
Whether it's a ruched halter-neck one-piece that reaches charmingly low on the hips (Norma Kamali at MyTheresa), or a printed suit with a sweetheart neckline (Lipsi by Tory Burch), these are made to offer comfortable covering.
For a real retro kick, why not opt for a printed two-piece with high-waisted bottoms and a flattering top, which is far removed from the tiny bikinis of today? Look out for floral options at Ted Baker or nail the look with the master of sultry sensuality, Dolce & Gabbana, and its Majolica two-piece, patterned to resemble Sicilian tiles.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Racecard
2pm Handicap Dh 90,000 1,800m
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3.30pm Jebel Ali Classic Conditions Dh300,000 1,400m
4pm Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m
4.30pm Conditions Dh250,000 1,400m
5pm Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m
5.30pm Handicap Dh85,000 1,000m
The National selections:
2pm Arch Gold
2.30pm Conclusion
3pm Al Battar
3.30pm Golden Jaguar
4pm Al Motayar
4.30pm Tapi Sioux
5pm Leadership
5.30pm Dahawi
The specs
Engine: Turbocharged four-cylinder 2.7-litre
Power: 325hp
Torque: 500Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh189,700
On sale: now
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
