Vimto
This is the beverage of choice during Ramadan. It was introduced to the Middle East in 1928 and quickly became the go-to drink for breaking the fast during the holy month. Vimto, made with a secret recipe of mixed red berries, is sold as a cordial in a glass bottle and as a carbonated soft drink in a can. Though it originated in England in 1908, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are continually the top markets for Vimto sales each year. Emirati Alamira Noor Bani Hashim, co-owner of No.FiftySeven Boutique Cafe in Abu Dhabi, says: “Vimto is my favourite drink during Ramadan. I love its sweetness and since I don’t eat dates, I have Vimto.”
Tang
Vimto’s biggest competition: Tang. This US-made orange powdered fruit juice is especially sought after during Ramadan and is a favourite drink for mums to serve. Tang’s television ad campaign this Ramadan is called “Waiting for the Iftar Moment” and is targeted to mums who serve it up to their little ones during Ramadan. It is, indeed, a drink loved by kids. Laila Rihawi, public relations manager at The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, says: “I don’t drink Tang as much now. But I associate it with my summers spent with family in Syria. It was always the drink served when we entertained guests – and in the different flavours for variety of course.”
Jallab
This Ramadan favourite is made with carob, dates, grape molasses and rose water, then topped with pine nuts and raisins. Served in a glass with crushed ice, it’s one of the region’s most popular drinks during the holy month. Iftar hosts can easily make their own jallab with store-bought jallab syrup, water, pine nuts and raisins. You’ll find the drink at nearly every iftar offering in restaurants around the country. The National’s Saeed Saeed, senior editor for Arts&Life, says: “It leaves a really nice aroma in your mouth after each sip. It’s almost like it gives your mouth a burst of perfume. It’s perfume for your mouth.”
Laban
This is a popular drink throughout the year and a must-have beverage on all iftar tables. This refreshing yogurt drink is packed with vitamin C, calcium and good bacteria. It also helps the body stay cool in the sweltering summer months. Emirati Buthaina Al Marzui, co-owner of No.FiftySeven Boutique Cafe in Abu Dhabi, says, “I would usually have laban late at night, during Suhoor. I don’t drink it, rather we soak it in Rgag (Arabic bread) and eat it this way.” Laila Rihawi, public relations manager at The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, says, “I love laban, especially with a bit of mint and a pinch of salt. It’s very cool and refreshing.”
Karkadeh
Karkadeh is hibiscus tea (also known as roselle) and it elicits heart-warming memories for many during Ramadan. It can be served hot or cold, though cold karkadeh is preferred with an iftar meal. Bonus: hibiscus flowers contain anthocyanins, compounds believed to lower blood pressure. Emirati baker Bader Najeeb Al Awadhi says: “It’s a great drink. My grandmother picks the flowers from her garden and turns it into a natural and refreshing red drink full of vitamins.”
Qamar el-deen
You’ll find this popular Ramadan beverage on iftar tables around the region. It’s made with sheets of apricot paste that have been soaked in water for hours (often overnight). It can also be made with rolled apricot fruit leather, cut into small pieces and soaked in water. This sweet drink, served chilled, is loaded with nutrients. Apricots are rich in antioxidants and provide a healthy dose of vitamins A and C, potassium and fibre. Emirati Buthaina Al Marzui, co-owner of No.FiftySeven Boutique Cafe in Abu Dhabi, says: “Qamar el-deen is a drink that reminds me of my mother. She’s forever convincing the whole family to have some during iftar. During iftar, we have pitchers of orange juice, qamar el-deen, Vimto and laban.”
Tamar Hindi
This sweet-and-sour chilled drink is made with tamarind and is a popular beverage during Ramadan. You’ll find it at most iftars at restaurants around the country. The taste is a Ramadan favourite. Laila Rihawi, public relations manager at The St Regis Abu Dhabi, says: “My aunt and uncle here in Abu Dhabi always have it on the table. It’s just another one of those beverages that you have to have around during Ramadan.”
Mango, almond and honey smoothie
Ingredients
1 mango
400ml skim milk
½ cup low-fat natural yogurt
2 Tbsp almond flour
1 Tbsp Manuka honey
Ice cubes
Method
Peel and chop mango and place in a blender with skim milk, yoghurt, almond flour, honey and a few ice cubes.
Blend until smooth. Divide between 2 glasses.
• Recipe provided by The Coffee Club, from James Bradbury, the global culinary director at Minor Food Group. The Coffee Club has three locations in the UAE: Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi, The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi and Al Wasl Vita Mall in Dubai.
The five pillars of Islam
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
Fines for littering
In Dubai:
Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro
Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle.
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle
In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%20four-cyl%20turbo%20%2B%20mild%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E204hp%20at%205%2C800rpm%20%2B23hp%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C800rpm%20%2B205Nm%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E9-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7.3L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2FDecember%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh205%2C000%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Match info
Uefa Nations League Group B:
England v Spain, Saturday, 11.45pm (UAE)
Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
Francesco Totti's bio
Born September 27, 1976
Position Attacking midifelder
Clubs played for (1) - Roma
Total seasons 24
First season 1992/93
Last season 2016/17
Appearances 786
Goals 307
Titles (5) - Serie A 1; Italian Cup 2; Italian Supercup 2
How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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
Disability on screen
Empire — neuromuscular disease myasthenia gravis; bipolar disorder; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Rosewood and Transparent — heart issues
24: Legacy — PTSD;
Superstore and NCIS: New Orleans — wheelchair-bound
Taken and This Is Us — cancer
Trial & Error — cognitive disorder prosopagnosia (facial blindness and dyslexia)
Grey’s Anatomy — prosthetic leg
Scorpion — obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety
Switched at Birth — deafness
One Mississippi, Wentworth and Transparent — double mastectomy
Dragons — double amputee
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
