Food Briefs: Iftar highlights and Ping Pong goes mobile

Iftar delivered to home

We rounded up some of our favourite iftar destinations yesterday, but if you'd prefer to host an event at home and don't want the hassle of cooking for a big group, have a look at the Dubai-based catering company Epicure, which is offering a special Ramadan service. Pick from a wide variety of dishes (such as hot and cold mezze, fish with harra sauce, freekeh with lamb), and it will deliver the food to your door, along with drinks, soups, bread and dessert. Call 04 347 3808 or email info@epicurecatering.com

Ping Pong Room Service

No longer do lovers of Ping Pong's dim sum need to trek to Dubai Mall for a har gau fix. The restaurant has recently teamed up with the online ordering service Room Service Deliveries to launch a home-delivery service. If you're located in DIFC, Downtown Dubai or around the bottom end of Sheikh Zayed Road, you can place an order by calling Room Service Deliveries on 800 6788 or visiting www.rsd.ae anytime between 11.45am and 11pm. They guarantee delivery in 45 minutes or less and the service will operate during Ramadan.

Noble House closes down

We always liked Noble House, the high-end Chinese restaurant at Raffles hotel, not least because of the extremely dexterous tea pourer and the views of Old Dubai. It was, therefore, a surprise to learn that the restaurant and the adjacent RED Lounge have been shut down. We've since discovered that the closures are to make way for Tomo, an all-new Japanese restaurant due to open in October.

Catch the Olympics

If you're keen to catch some of the action from the London 2012 Olympics on a big screen and wouldn't mind snapping up a food and drink deal or two, then Spike Bar at Emirates Golf Club in Dubai might be just the ticket. The venue is open from 6am to 12am daily and eight flat screens will show key events, including the UAE vs Great Britain football match on the 29th. Dishes on the special menu include satay shots, chilli and five-spice calamari, fish and chips and the Spike burger. For reservations or more details, call 04 417 9999.

Suhoor at Atayeb

Should you find yourself out on Yas Island over Ramadan, then note that the Yas Viceroy is holding a rather pleasant-sounding suhoor at the Arabian restaurant Atayeb. The à la carte menu is filled with classic dishes, the room is traditionally decorated and there's also shisha, card games and qanun music. Iftar, meanwhile, is being served at the all-day dining restaurant Origins. Yas Viceroy, Yas Island, 02 656 0600.

Tank warfare

Lt Gen Erik Petersen, deputy chief of programs, US Army, has argued it took a “three decade holiday” on modernising tanks.

“There clearly remains a significant armoured heavy ground manoeuvre threat in this world and maintaining a world class armoured force is absolutely vital,” the general said in London last week.

“We are developing next generation capabilities to compete with and deter adversaries to prevent opportunism or miscalculation, and, if necessary, defeat any foe decisively.”

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

Classification of skills

A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.

A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.

The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.

Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

Mobile phone packages comparison

The lowdown

Rating: 4/5

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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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat

Our legal consultants

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

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

BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE

Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega

Director: Tim Burton

Rating: 3/5

How to register as a donor

1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention

2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants

3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.

4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope

The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz S 450

Price, base / as tested Dh525,000 / Dh559,000

Engine: 3.0L V6 biturbo

Transmission: Nine-speed automatic

Power: 369hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 500Nm at 1,800rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 8.0L / 100km

A Bad Moms Christmas
Dir: John Lucas and Scott Moore
Starring: Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Bell, Susan Sarandon, Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines
Two stars