Bella Hadid reveals vaccination status after Met Gala speculation

The Met Gala returned after a 17-month delay on Monday, with the biggest stars in fashion flocking to New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art for the event. There was one notable absence, however – model Bella Hadid.

It led to online speculation that she had not been vaccinated, as that was a strict stipulation for attending the closely guarded event.

Despite being a no-show, Hadid, 24, confirmed that she has been vaccinated with an Instagram story captioned "for anyone concerned".

The photo shows her having a vaccine administered in a medical clinic, while wearing a black face mask and a relaxed jumper with leggings. The story was a screen grab of her camera reel, dated August 6.

Bella Hadid has confirmed that she has received the Covid-19 vaccine. Instagram / Bella Hadid

Her sister, Gigi Hadid, 26, attended the event, wearing Prada. The sisters have attended the annual extravaganza of fashion and celebrity together in the past.

The Met Gala's Covid-19 protocols made headlines after rapper Nicki Minaj said she was not going, having not been vaccinated. She later said she skipped the Met Gala over childcare concerns, not its vaccine mandate.

Regardless, the Super Bass rapper, 38, sparked backlash from politicians in the UK after sharing a story on social media about a man who claims to have been made impotent by the vaccine.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid urged those in the public eye not to spread "untruths" while the Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Chris Whitty, also took issue with the comments.

Despite the strict regulations, the Met Gala pulled in a high-profile crowd, with Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez and Rihanna all returning to the New York museum for the event.

Singer Billie Eilish, 19, was the youngest person ever to be invited to co-chair the event. She was joined by actor Timothee Chalamet, 25, President Joe Biden's inauguration poet Amanda Gorman, 23, and tennis star Naomi Osaka, 23.

See who wore what to the 2021 Met Gala here:

– Additional reporting by PA

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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