• Joe and Gaby Bracho live in a 16-villa beachside complex in Al Bahia, Abu Dhabi. All photos: Victor Besa / The National
    Joe and Gaby Bracho live in a 16-villa beachside complex in Al Bahia, Abu Dhabi. All photos: Victor Besa / The National
  • An inflatable Grinch at the entrance of the residence
    An inflatable Grinch at the entrance of the residence
  • The Bracho's Christmas tree has ornaments made of glass and crystal
    The Bracho's Christmas tree has ornaments made of glass and crystal
  • View from the main door of the Bracho residence
    View from the main door of the Bracho residence
  • A quirky Santa's Elf figurine
    A quirky Santa's Elf figurine
  • Glass nutcracker figurines
    Glass nutcracker figurines
  • For the Bracho family, Christmas is above all a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ
    For the Bracho family, Christmas is above all a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ
  • A Nativity scene under the Christmas tree
    A Nativity scene under the Christmas tree
  • Festive treats in the kitchen
    Festive treats in the kitchen
  • Red, green and white decorations fill the living room
    Red, green and white decorations fill the living room
  • North Pole signage beside the Christmas tree
    North Pole signage beside the Christmas tree
  • The lights are tied with red bows for Christmas
    The lights are tied with red bows for Christmas
  • Christmas-themed stuffed toys and pillows
    Christmas-themed stuffed toys and pillows
  • A Santa Claus ornament
    A Santa Claus ornament
  • Red candles line up near the main door
    Red candles line up near the main door
  • Twinkly light projections are set up across the living room where Gaby works
    Twinkly light projections are set up across the living room where Gaby works
  • The dining area
    The dining area
  • Joe dresses up as The Grinch for a family photo taken in 2019
    Joe dresses up as The Grinch for a family photo taken in 2019
  • Gaby's favourite Christmas character is The Grinch
    Gaby's favourite Christmas character is The Grinch
  • A Grinch decoration on the dining table
    A Grinch decoration on the dining table
  • Another Grinch decoration at the front door
    Another Grinch decoration at the front door

Festive homes: Abu Dhabi couple want daughter to inherit the joys of Christmas


  • English
  • Arabic

The Bracho family's house stands out in a 16-villa beachside complex in Abu Dhabi's Al Bahia. Firstly, the front garden is dominated by a huge inflatable Grinch, illuminated by dozens of light bulbs hanging overhead.

Inside is a glistening Christmas tree, standing prominently in a living room brimming with festive decorations — think funky stuffed Santa toys, gingerbread men, nutcracker figurines and red, velvet curtains adorned with string lights.

The front of Joe and Gaby Bracho's festive home in Al Bahia, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
The front of Joe and Gaby Bracho's festive home in Al Bahia, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

“I love seeing people's happy faces when they come here,” Gaby Bracho, the matriarch of the family, tells The National.

“I love the joy and cosiness Christmas brings. When Covid hit, people stopped visiting and there was almost no social life. I have always loved Christmas, but decorating the house became more of a thing [post-pandemic], so every time people visit, they will smile.”

Amid the pandemic, Gaby, her husband Joe and their daughter Victoria decided to keep their Christmas decorations up in 2019. They only took them down in March this year, and began redecorating for this Christmas last month.

“I couldn't find a reason to remove them, because no one was visiting anyway. I could keep it for myself,” Gaby says with a chuckle, highlighting how the festive feeling brought on by the decorations helped the family to cope with social isolation.

Christmas is all about making memories, and we want our daughter to have these types of memories for ever
Gaby Bracho,
Abu Dhabi resident

Gaby's attachment to Christmas stems from her upbringing in Guatemala, a predominantly Catholic country where, she says, festive celebrations are “over the top”.

“It's a lot of lights and fireworks, very colourful, and there are Santas everywhere. We miss that,” she says. Luckily for her and her family, the UAE is big on Christmas fervour, and “the people here are so kind and have welcomed us so beautifully”.

Classic pieces aside, Gaby incorporates religious themes in her decor, including a mini sculpture of a scene from the Nativity story and an intricate baby Jesus figurine.

A sculpted scene from the Nativity story under the Christmas tree in the Bracho residence. Victor Besa / The National
A sculpted scene from the Nativity story under the Christmas tree in the Bracho residence. Victor Besa / The National

Although Gaby has managed to bring many of her cultural traditions to the UAE, she misses one particular festival, Las Posadas, which commemorates the journey of Joseph and Mary in search of a safe place to give birth to Jesus Christ.

As part of the festival, members of a community take it in turns to look after a depiction of the baby Jesus. Prayers are recited and Christmas carols are sung.

This aspect of Christmas is what resonates most with the Bracho family, an appreciation for which Gaby and Joe ultimately want their daughter to inherit.

Victoria Bracho, 11, dressed up for Christmas. Photo: Gaby Bracho
Victoria Bracho, 11, dressed up for Christmas. Photo: Gaby Bracho

“For our family, Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. We want to pass down these traditions to our lovely daughter Victoria, so when she has her own family one day, she will have the same sensations and say, 'Hey, I remember my Christmas back home with my mum and dad,'” says Joe, who is a pilot with Etihad Airways.

“Hopefully she can inherit that and carry on the tradition, and definitely my wife will be here to help her,” he says.

Joe was born to Latino parents but grew up in the US, and says he has fond memories of Christmas in his childhood. “We want Victoria to have this, too. This is why we go all out. She still believes in Santa.”

Gaby adds: “It's all about making memories, and we want her to have these types of memories for ever.”

The season also allows the Bracho family to reconnect with loved ones in the Americas. “This is the season when you start feeling the blues, you start feeling homesick,” says Joe.

However, he adds that celebrating Christmas, with all the decorations and traditions, is a way to bridge the distance. “We want to create that Christmas spirit here, and bring it to Victoria as much as we can. This is also what we want for everyone in the UAE.”

This Christmas is extra-special for the family. Joe's parents are in town and have brought with them traditional tamales, a dish made from a corn-based dough and stuffed with meat or beans and cheese, to add to the turkey and enhance their Christmas feast this year.

Scroll through the gallery below to see images from a festive home in Dubai

  • Inside Dubai resident Chiara Saadi's five-bedroom villa in Arabian Ranches. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National
    Inside Dubai resident Chiara Saadi's five-bedroom villa in Arabian Ranches. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National
  • A variety of nutcrackers and other miniature Christmas decorations
    A variety of nutcrackers and other miniature Christmas decorations
  • The decorated hallway
    The decorated hallway
  • Saadi likes to incorporte elegance with decorations in white
    Saadi likes to incorporte elegance with decorations in white
  • A funky Christmas band inside Saadi's daughter's bedroom
    A funky Christmas band inside Saadi's daughter's bedroom
  • Silver bells made by Saadi when she was five
    Silver bells made by Saadi when she was five
  • The entrance to Saadi's home in Arabian Ranches
    The entrance to Saadi's home in Arabian Ranches
  • The living room houses the Christmas tree
    The living room houses the Christmas tree
  • A variety of advent calendars
    A variety of advent calendars
  • Plush toys dressed in Christmas attire
    Plush toys dressed in Christmas attire
  • Christmas-themed inflatables in Saadi's swimming pool
    Christmas-themed inflatables in Saadi's swimming pool
  • A hot chocolate station that includes healthy treats in Saadi's kitchen
    A hot chocolate station that includes healthy treats in Saadi's kitchen
  • Tabletop decorations in Saadi's dining area
    Tabletop decorations in Saadi's dining area
  • A handmade ornament shaped like a mosque
    A handmade ornament shaped like a mosque
  • A life-size wooden reindeer and sleigh out back
    A life-size wooden reindeer and sleigh out back
  • Inside the festive villa
    Inside the festive villa
  • The quirky Christmas tree in Saadi's daughter's room
    The quirky Christmas tree in Saadi's daughter's room
  • An inflatable nutcracker and gingerbread man welcome guests to Saadi's home
    An inflatable nutcracker and gingerbread man welcome guests to Saadi's home
  • A variety of nutcrackers
    A variety of nutcrackers
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2014
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Federer's 11 Wimbledon finals

2003 Beat Mark Philippoussis

2004 Beat Andy Roddick

2005 Beat Andy Roddick

2006 Beat Rafael Nadal

2007 Beat Rafael Nadal

2008 Lost to Rafael Nadal

2009 Beat Andy Roddick

2012 Beat Andy Murray

2014 Lost to Novak Djokovic

2015 Lost to Novak Djokovic

2017 Beat Marin Cilic

About Tenderd

Started: May 2018

Founder: Arjun Mohan

Based: Dubai

Size: 23 employees 

Funding: Raised $5.8m in a seed fund round in December 2018. Backers include Y Combinator, Beco Capital, Venturesouq, Paul Graham, Peter Thiel, Paul Buchheit, Justin Mateen, Matt Mickiewicz, SOMA, Dynamo and Global Founders Capital

T20 World Cup Qualifier

October 18 – November 2

Opening fixtures

Friday, October 18

ICC Academy: 10am, Scotland v Singapore, 2.10pm, Netherlands v Kenya

Zayed Cricket Stadium: 2.10pm, Hong Kong v Ireland, 7.30pm, Oman v UAE

UAE squad

Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Rameez Shahzad, Darius D’Silva, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zawar Farid, Ghulam Shabber, Junaid Siddique, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Waheed Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Zahoor Khan

Players out: Mohammed Naveed, Shaiman Anwar, Qadeer Ahmed

Players in: Junaid Siddique, Darius D’Silva, Waheed Ahmed

Australia men's Test cricket fixtures 2021/22

One-off Test v Afghanistan:
Nov 27-Dec 1: Blundstone Arena, Hobart

The Ashes v England:
Dec 8-12: 1st Test, Gabba, Brisbane
Dec 16-20: 2nd Test, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (day/night)
Dec 26-30: 3rd Test, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Jan 5-9, 2022: 4th Test, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Jan 14-18: 5th Test, Optus Stadium, Perth

FIXTURES

Saturday, November 3
Japan v New Zealand
Wales v Scotland
England v South Africa
Ireland v Italy

Saturday, November 10
Italy v Georgia
Scotland v Fiji
England v New Zealand
Wales v Australia
Ireland v Argentina
France v South Africa

Saturday, November 17
Italy v Australia
Wales v Tonga
England v Japan
Scotland v South Africa
Ireland v New Zealand

Saturday, November 24
|Italy v New Zealand
Scotland v Argentina
England v Australia
Wales v South Africa
Ireland v United States
France v Fiji

Squads

India (for first three ODIs) Kohli (capt), Rohit, Rahul, Pandey, Jadhav, Rahane, Dhoni, Pandya, Axar, Kuldeep, Chahal, Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar, Umesh, Shami.

Australia Smith (capt), Warner, Agar, Cartwright, Coulter-Nile, Cummins, Faulkner, Finch, Head, Maxwell, Richardson, Stoinis, Wade, Zampa.

Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Forced%20Deportations
%3Cp%3EWhile%20the%20Lebanese%20government%20has%20deported%20a%20number%20of%20refugees%20back%20to%20Syria%20since%202011%2C%20the%20latest%20round%20is%20the%20first%20en-mass%20campaign%20of%20its%20kind%2C%20say%20the%20Access%20Center%20for%20Human%20Rights%2C%20a%20non-governmental%20organization%20which%20monitors%20the%20conditions%20of%20Syrian%20refugees%20in%20Lebanon.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%9CIn%20the%20past%2C%20the%20Lebanese%20General%20Security%20was%20responsible%20for%20the%20forced%20deportation%20operations%20of%20refugees%2C%20after%20forcing%20them%20to%20sign%20papers%20stating%20that%20they%20wished%20to%20return%20to%20Syria%20of%20their%20own%20free%20will.%20Now%2C%20the%20Lebanese%20army%2C%20specifically%20military%20intelligence%2C%20is%20responsible%20for%20the%20security%20operation%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Mohammad%20Hasan%2C%20head%20of%20ACHR.%3Cbr%3EIn%20just%20the%20first%20four%20months%20of%202023%20the%20number%20of%20forced%20deportations%20is%20nearly%20double%20that%20of%20the%20entirety%20of%202022.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ESince%20the%20beginning%20of%202023%2C%20ACHR%20has%20reported%20407%20forced%20deportations%20%E2%80%93%20200%20of%20which%20occurred%20in%20April%20alone.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIn%20comparison%2C%20just%20154%20people%20were%20forcfully%20deported%20in%202022.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Violence%20
%3Cp%3EInstances%20of%20violence%20against%20Syrian%20refugees%20are%20not%20uncommon.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EJust%20last%20month%2C%20security%20camera%20footage%20of%20men%20violently%20attacking%20and%20stabbing%20an%20employee%20at%20a%20mini-market%20went%20viral.%20The%20store%E2%80%99s%20employees%20had%20engaged%20in%20a%20verbal%20altercation%20with%20the%20men%20who%20had%20come%20to%20enforce%20an%20order%20to%20shutter%20shops%2C%20following%20the%20announcement%20of%20a%20municipal%20curfew%20for%20Syrian%20refugees.%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CThey%20thought%20they%20were%20Syrian%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20the%20mayor%20of%20the%20Nahr%20el%20Bared%20municipality%2C%20Charbel%20Bou%20Raad%2C%20of%20the%20attackers.%3Cbr%3EIt%20later%20emerged%20the%20beaten%20employees%20were%20Lebanese.%20But%20the%20video%20was%20an%20exemplary%20instance%20of%20violence%20at%20a%20time%20when%20anti-Syrian%20rhetoric%20is%20particularly%20heated%20as%20Lebanese%20politicians%20call%20for%20the%20return%20of%20Syrian%20refugees%20to%20Syria.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dresos%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20September%202020%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Vladimir%20Radojevic%20and%20Aleksandar%20Jankovic%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Fashion%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24285%2C000%3B%20%24500%2C000%20currently%20being%20raised%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Crowdfunding%2C%20family%2C%20friends%20and%20self-funding%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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

Where to buy

Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com

UAE'S%20YOUNG%20GUNS
%3Cp%3E1%20Esha%20Oza%2C%20age%2026%2C%2079%20matches%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E2%20Theertha%20Satish%2C%20age%2020%2C%2066%20matches%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E3%20Khushi%20Sharma%2C%20age%2021%2C%2065%20matches%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E4%20Kavisha%20Kumari%2C%20age%2021%2C%2079%20matches%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E5%20Heena%20Hotchandani%2C%20age%2023%2C%2016%20matches%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E6%20Rinitha%20Rajith%2C%20age%2018%2C%2034%20matches%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E7%20Samaira%20Dharnidharka%2C%20age%2017%2C%2053%20matches%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E8%20Vaishnave%20Mahesh%2C%20age%2017%2C%2068%20matches%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E9%20Lavanya%20Keny%2C%20age%2017%2C%2033%20matches%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E10%20Siya%20Gokhale%2C%20age%2018%2C%2033%20matches%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E11%20Indhuja%20Nandakumar%2C%20age%2018%2C%2046%20matches%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

WEST ASIA RUGBY 2017/18 SEASON ROLL OF HONOUR

Western Clubs Champions League
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Bahrain

Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons

West Asia Premiership
Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons
Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins

UAE Premiership Cup
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Dubai Exiles

UAE Premiership
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins

Boston%20Strangler
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Mercedes V250 Avantgarde specs

Engine: 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder turbo

Gearbox: 7-speed automatic

Power: 211hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 350Nm

Fuel economy, combined: 6.0 l/100 km

Price: Dh235,000

HWJN
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Tamkeen's offering
  • Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
  • Option 2: 50% across three years
  • Option 3: 30% across five years 
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?

It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?

Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.

The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.

The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.

Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver. 

The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.

But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.

Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.

It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.

So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.

Rory Reynolds

Updated: December 21, 2022, 6:42 AM