If you follow Sophie Hinchliffe, better known as Mrs Hinch, on social media you will be all too familiar with Zoflora. For the uninitiated, the detergent is a favourite of the British cleanfluencer, who has made a name for herself as a housework fanatic and gained a cult following of Hinchers (yes, there is a noun) who don't clean, but Hinch (and a verb).
Mrs Hinch is vocal about her love for this particular scented disinfectant. She has regular “Zoflora hours”, not labelled as a sponsored concept on her Instagram feed, when she cleans almost every surface in her home with the product.
Until now, the UAE's Hinchers have relied on friends travelling in and out of the country for their supply. But they are no longer at the mercy of jet-setting pals, for Zoflora is now in the Emirates.
Noted for its strong smell, Zoflora comes in 24 fragrances, four of which – Bouquet, Bluebell Woods, Springtime and Linen Fresh – are available online at Sprii and Mumzworld, and in-store at Spinneys and Waitrose, priced at Dh39.90 for 500ml.
Mrs Hinch has also promoted the use of fabric conditioner to clean doors, The Pink Stuff – a cream cleaner – and Minky cloths and sponges.
It claims to kill 99.9 per cent of bacteria and viruses, which will appeal to consumers at a time when protection and hygiene is front of mind.
You mix the concentrated product with water in spray bottles or a bucket, which can then be used to clean a range of surfaces.
The Zoflora website has a handy guide for cleaning various areas of the home, and whether it’s best to spray, wipe, mop or soak a particular surface.
Bed throws and shower heads should be soaked, the company says, while tables, work surfaces, bins and taps should be wiped. Windows, door handles and mattresses are best cleaned with a spray of the product, it advises.
Does Zoflora kill the coronavirus?
When it comes to preventing the spread of Covid-19, disinfecting items and surfaces you touch frequently is advised.
But Zoflora has not shared comprehensive information on whether it kills the coronavirus.
It says on its website: “Given Zoflora’s efficacy against other coronaviruses, we would fully expect Zoflora to have virucidal activity against the Covid-19 virus. Definitive scientific confirmation of activity against this virus will only be available, however, when the strain has been released by the relevant health authorities, and testing conducted.”
It is recommended that the product is diluted to a ratio of 1:40 to work against the virus.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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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
Meydan race card
6pm Dubai Trophy – Conditions(TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,200m
6.35Dubai Trophy – Conditions(TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,200m
1,800m
7.10pm Jumeirah Derby Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (T)
1,800m ,400m
7.45pm Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
8.20pm Al Fahidi Fort – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,400m
8.55pm Dubawi Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m
9.30pm Aliyah – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 2,000m
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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History's medical milestones
1799 - First small pox vaccine administered
1846 - First public demonstration of anaesthesia in surgery
1861 - Louis Pasteur published his germ theory which proved that bacteria caused diseases
1895 - Discovery of x-rays
1923 - Heart valve surgery performed successfully for first time
1928 - Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
1953 - Structure of DNA discovered
1952 - First organ transplant - a kidney - takes place
1954 - Clinical trials of birth control pill
1979 - MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, scanned used to diagnose illness and injury.
1998 - The first adult live-donor liver transplant is carried out
Racecard
5.25pm: Etihad Museum – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,200m
6pm: Al Shindaga Museum – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (Dirt) 1,200m
6.35pm: Poet Al Oqaili – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m
7.10pm: Majlis Ghurfat Al Sheif – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,600m
7.45pm: Hatta – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m
8.20pm: Al Fahidi – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 2,200m
8.55pm: Zabeel Trophy – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (T) 1,600m
9.30pm: Coins Museum – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m
10.05pm: Al Quoz Creative – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,000m