Abu Dhabi Foodie News: Taste of America festival, coffee, chocolate and cheese at Jones and more

• Le Meridien Abu Dhabi will host the capital's first Taste of America festival this Saturday, September 26. The event, in the hotel's poolside garden area, will feature typical American cuisine with a selection of grills from Texas, New York and beyond. Cash, the world-famous Johnny Cash tribute singer, will be on hand to keep you entertained. General admission is Dh60. For unlimited food and beverages, the cost is Dh270. Children under age 12 are free. From 4pm to 8pm. For reservations, call 02 644 6666. To buy tickets online, visit www.platinumlist.net.

• Jones the Grocer has launched a limited-time sweet and savoury menu featuring chocolate and coffee. The chefs' Java-inspired creations include dishes such as a Burundian coffee-cured duck breast; a coffee and cumin-marinated lamb rump; and coffee and chocolate chilli con carne. They will also feature artisan cheeses paired with a selection of organic chocolates. Is there anything better than chocolate, cheese and coffee? Maybe not. The special menu runs through October 11. For JTG locations, visit www.jonesthegrocer.com.

• Celebrate Golden Week — which begins on October 1 — at Hakkasan in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The seven-day Chinese holiday is a popular travel time for people in China, domestically and overseas. In honour of the occasion, Hakkasan Abu Dhabi and Hakkasan Dubai will offer a supreme dim sum platter featuring lobster, abalone, caviar, Alaskan king crab, Chilean sea bass, golden macaroons and more. They’ll also have a limited-time iced tea called the Golden Orchard. The offer — which specifically caters to a traditional Chinese palate — is available from September 28 through October 18 for Dh188 in Abu Dhabi; Dh228 in Dubai. For reservations, call 02 690 7999 (Abu Dhabi); 04 384 8484 (Dubai).

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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