Paris Fashion Week kicked-off in style on Monday with a star-packed Off-White catwalk and front row, followed by a day of chic offerings from Dior and Saint Laurent on Tuesday, and a showcase from Balmain on Wednesday.
Among the famous faces sitting front row for Balmain were tennis ace Serena Williams and Victoria's Secret model Adriana Lima.
Williams debuted a sleek blonde bob, which she paired with a velvet bottle green structured blazer and dark sunglasses, while Lima wore a black funnel-neck column dress by the house.
Victoria Beckham attended Tuesday's Saint Laurent show with her son Romeo and his model girlfriend, Mia Regan. Other stars in attendance at the Eiffel Tower-set show included Demi Moore, Amber Valletta and Abbey Lee Kershaw.
Spice Girl-turned-designer, Beckham, wore a pair of red PVC trousers of her own design to the Saint Laurent show, paired with a purple jumper.
Over at the Dior show, Jisoo from Blackpink had jetted into the French capital for the catwalk spectacular, wearing a yellow Cher Horowitz-style chequered dress over a white shirt and black tie.
The K-pop star was named a global ambassador of fashion and beauty for the French luxury fashion house in 2021.
Also on the Dior front row was Rihanna, in a sheer black dress, and actress Anya Taylor-Joy in an embellished Dior dress under a 1960s-style heavy wool coat worn as a cape.
On Monday, Bella Hadid, Serena Williams and Cindy Crawford walked in the Off-White show, while Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, Fai Khadra and Carla Bruni watched from the front row, as the offerings from Virgil Abloh's final collection were presented.
Williams posted a heartfelt message about the show on Instagram: "Dearest @virgilabloh, today’s [Off-White] show was amazing.
"The setting, scene, talent, music and most importantly, the clothes, were fire. Your team crushed it. But you know that already, you see everything all at once where you are — all is one. Your family was there shining, reflecting your light. Anyone looking for you knows to look up at night, for the star that is Off-White. Thanks for having us."
The Happy rapper posted photos with wife Helen Lasichanh and son Rocket Ayer Williams, 13, along with photos from the show and images of the “Question Everything” flag which was presented during the show.
Supermodel sisters Bella and Gigi Hadid, both close friends of Abloh, took part in the show, alongside Kendall Jenner and Kaia Gerber. Gerber's supermodel mother Cindy Crawford also made an appearance. Helena Christensen and Amber Valletta also walked the catwalk.
There are a whole host of A-list names in Paris for fashion week, who are expected to be spotted on the front rows of The Row, Rochas, Balmain, Chloe, Isabel Marant, Vivienne Westwood, Elie Saab, Balenciaga, Valentino, Stella McCartney, Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu and Chanel, all of which are all showing later in the week.
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
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