• From left, Catherine Muldoon, Miss Teen USA New York, Melania Knauss, Donald Trump and Jaclyn Nesheiwat (Stapp), Miss USA New York, in June 2004. Getty Images
    From left, Catherine Muldoon, Miss Teen USA New York, Melania Knauss, Donald Trump and Jaclyn Nesheiwat (Stapp), Miss USA New York, in June 2004. Getty Images
  • Musician Scott Stapp, centre, then Miss USA Shandi Finnessey and Miss New York Jaclyn Nesheiwat at the 8th annual Muscular Dystrophy Association's Muscle Team 2005 Gala at Chelsea Pier's in New York City. Getty Images
    Musician Scott Stapp, centre, then Miss USA Shandi Finnessey and Miss New York Jaclyn Nesheiwat at the 8th annual Muscular Dystrophy Association's Muscle Team 2005 Gala at Chelsea Pier's in New York City. Getty Images
  • From left, Dr Janette Nesheiwat, Hayat Nesheiwat and founder of Children Are Magical, Jaclyn Stapp, attend the 2018 Charm Back To School Bash in August 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. Getty Images
    From left, Dr Janette Nesheiwat, Hayat Nesheiwat and founder of Children Are Magical, Jaclyn Stapp, attend the 2018 Charm Back To School Bash in August 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. Getty Images
  • Husband and wife Scott and Jaclyn Stapp attend MusiCares Person of the Year at the Los Angeles Convention Center in February 2019. AFP
    Husband and wife Scott and Jaclyn Stapp attend MusiCares Person of the Year at the Los Angeles Convention Center in February 2019. AFP
  • Dr Janette Nesheiwat, left, and Jaclyn Stapp attend the 10th Annual NAMIWalks NYC at South Street Seaport in May 2016 in New York City. Getty Images
    Dr Janette Nesheiwat, left, and Jaclyn Stapp attend the 10th Annual NAMIWalks NYC at South Street Seaport in May 2016 in New York City. Getty Images
  • NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - AUGUST 04: CHARM Foundation founder Jaclyn Stapp speaks during The CHARM Foundation Back To School Bash at Kirkpatrick Center on August 04, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images)
    NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - AUGUST 04: CHARM Foundation founder Jaclyn Stapp speaks during The CHARM Foundation Back To School Bash at Kirkpatrick Center on August 04, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images)
  • Scott and Jaclyn Stapp with their children Daniel Issam and Milan Hayat at the Nickelodeon's 2016 Kids' Choice Awards at The Forum in California. AFP
    Scott and Jaclyn Stapp with their children Daniel Issam and Milan Hayat at the Nickelodeon's 2016 Kids' Choice Awards at The Forum in California. AFP

Who is Jaclyn Stapp? Jordan's Mrs World runner-up


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Sashaying across the Las Vegas stage in a plunging one-piece with her brunette locks flowing, Jaclyn Stapp dazzled with all of the poise and presence of an international beauty queen at Saturday's Mrs World final.

Mrs Jordan, 41, narrowly missed out on the Mrs World crown, finishing as first runner-up with the crown going to Mrs American Shaylyn Ford, with Mrs UAE World Debanjali Kamstra coming in third.

But who is the Jordanian beauty queen and philanthropist?

Who is Jaclyn Stapp?

A model, actress and author, Stapp is the daughter of Jordanian parents who left the Middle East for New York and later Florida.

The mother of three is the founder of non-profit organisation Children Are Magical (Charm), which aims to raise awareness of children’s issues and provide underprivileged youth with the tools to help with their education.

Charm Foundation founder Jaclyn Stapp speaks during The Charm Foundation Back To School Bash at Kirkpatrick Centre on August 4, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. Getty Images
Charm Foundation founder Jaclyn Stapp speaks during The Charm Foundation Back To School Bash at Kirkpatrick Centre on August 4, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. Getty Images

Stapp, who has been competing in pageants since she was 13, is married to Grammy Award-winning rock star Scott Stapp.

At Saturday's pageant, she told judges about her humble upbringing by a Jordanian mother who encouraged her to follow her dreams.

“I think a higher purpose varies for everyone individually,” she told pageant judges. “For me personally, my mother raised five children as a widow and an immigrant that came to this country [America].

“I lost my father at a very young age and my mother gave us a thirst for knowledge and education.

I learnt so much from my mother as a widow and that’s something I want to carry forward. I want to make a difference
Jaclyn Stapp,
Mrs Jordan World

“As Mrs World, I want to help young girls around the world have opportunities and education – that’s my passion and purpose.

“I learnt so much from my mother as a widow and that’s something I want to carry forward. I want to make a difference and I want to hit the ground running.”

A marketing and communications graduate from Stetson University in Florida, Stapp has graced the covers of magazines in the US and her acting credits include episodes of Full House, Second Noah and Sex and the City.

Over the years, Stapp has collected crowns including Miss New York USA, Mrs Florida and Mrs Jordan, in a proud celebration of her Middle Eastern heritage.

Commenting on social media before the final of Mrs World, Stapp wrote: “I am both proud and humbled to represent the married women of Jordan at the coming Mrs World pageant.

“My parents were born and raised in Jordan and I have seen for myself the many changes that have made it possible for a woman to be in the position I am.

“To carry this uplifting and personal history on to the Mrs World stage, along with so many beautiful and intelligent ladies from around the world, will be a life-changing experience.

“This journey will also give recognition to the women I represent who have been a positive force for change. I will be realising their dream.”

Winner of the Congeniality Award

At the Mrs World pageant final, Stapp blew the judges away with her confidence and charm, scooping the Congeniality Award in the swimwear round, which is presented to contestants for their pleasant personalities.

In the eveningwear round, Stapp sparkled in a silver floor-skimming halter-neck gown, which was split to the thigh and adorned in sequins and tassels.

In the national costume round, Stapp again paid tribute to her roots in a shocking-pink belly dancer-inspired ensemble designed by Matt Logan and Iolanna Design.

The bejewelled bustier and flowing skirt were draped in pearls and encrusted with gems that glimmered as Stapp swayed her hips in true belly dancer fashion.

Stapp and Ford clasped hands as they waited for the winner to be announced, with Stapp gracefully congratulating her rival on learning of her defeat.

Should Ford ever need to step down from her position, the title of Mrs World will automatically go to Stapp.

Company%20profile
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE

When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEric%20Barbier%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYoussef%20Hajdi%2C%20Nadia%20Benzakour%2C%20Yasser%20Drief%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now

Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.

The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.

1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):

a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33

b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.

2. For those who have worked more than five years

c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.

Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.

Seven tips from Emirates NBD

1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details

2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet

3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details

4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure

5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs  (one-time passwords) with third parties

6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies

7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

Gulf Under 19s final

Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B

How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

While you're here
THE DETAILS

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Director: Ron Howard

2/5

If you go

The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.

The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.

ENGLAND SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope 
Defenders: John Stones, Harry Maguire, Phil Jones, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Gary Cahill, Ashley Young, Danny Rose, Trent Alexander-Arnold 
Midfielders: Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph 
Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck

Abu Dhabi traffic facts

Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road

The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.

Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.

The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.

The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.

Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019

 

The Florida Project

Director: Sean Baker

Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe

Four stars

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The story in numbers

18

This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens

450,000

More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps

1.5 million

There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m

73

The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association

18,000

The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme

77,400

The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study

4,926

This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee

The biog

Favourite colour: Brown

Favourite Movie: Resident Evil

Hobbies: Painting, Cooking, Imitating Voices

Favourite food: Pizza

Trivia: Was the voice of three characters in the Emirati animation, Shaabiyat Al Cartoon

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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 family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?

The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.

The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.

He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.

He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.

He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.

India squad

Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, K.L. Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Chahar, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur.

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

The specs

Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors

Power: 480kW

Torque: 850Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)

On sale: Now

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

 

Updated: February 01, 2022, 8:58 AM