It’s not been an easy year and counting the dirhams has become a national hobby as we recover from lockdown and wisely plan ahead for 2021.
Downsizing your car is quick way to free up cash, but that doesn’t mean downsizing your image. There is a surplus of good, used cars available, and with some due diligence and an open mind, you could end up with a premium brand for less than the cost of a service on a new equivalent.
To show how far your dirham can drive you, we’ve gone bargain hunting for 10 cars under Dh10,000 that will get keep you on the road and looking good for the school run.
German luxury
Make/Model: BMW 745i
Year: 2003
New: Dh255,000
Now: Dh10,000
BMW's 745i limo introduced i-Drive and an elaborate infotainment system. With state-of-the-art technology, its controversial styling impacted its resale value and prices soon plummeted. A 2003 model in Dubai in good condition with a mild body kit, lots of black leather and timber inlay with just 107,000 kilometres on the clock is a Bavarian bargain.
English elegance
Make/Model: Jaguar XJ8
Year: 2004
New: Dh220,000
Now: Dh8,500
If it's curvy hips, timber and leather you're after, then the classic Jaguar XJ is for you. Even better if it's powered by the 4.2-litre V8 that's in the 2004 model we found in Abu Dhabi with 170,000km.
American muscle
Make/Model: Ford Mustang
Year: 1997
New: Dh103,000
Now: Dh9,500
Making a statement on a budget doesn't get better than this. Sure, this Mustang in Dubai with 88,000km misses out on the burbly V8, but it looks identical and its 3.8-litre V6 still has a nice rasp to the exhaust.
Euro hot hatch
Make/Model: Audi A3 Turbo
Year: 2001
New: Dh176,000
Now: Dh9,900
The 1.8-litre turbo Audi A3 provided excellent performance for a small car in a nice-looking, well-built package. We found a Japanese import with a 5-speed manual transmission and full documentation having covered just 82,000km.
Cheeky convertible
Make/Model: BMW Z3
Year: 1997
New: Dh134,000
Now: Dh8,000
BMW introduced the Z3 in 1995 as a zippy, four-cylinder, rear-wheel drive runabout based on the hugely popular E36 3 Series sedan. This Japanese import, 1.9-litre model has manual transmission and 206,000km, and can be found in Dubai.
Italian flair
Make/Model: Fiat 500
Year: 2010
New: Dh72,000
Now: Dh9,500
"Exceptionally cool and gets more looks than a Ferrari," were the sorts of comments motoring journalists made about the Fiat 500 in 2010. The little Fiat brought flair back into the compact market, but at a hefty price. However, it included luxury levels of equipment as standard. This auto model is a steal with 148,000km and a huge sunroof.
Mid-size SUV
Make/Model: Nissan X-Trail
Year: 2006
New: Dh124,600
Now: Dh9,500
The five-seat Nissan X-Trail was a hit with the urban warriors. Powered by a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder, it includes a CD player, remote central locking and fog lights that were cool for their time. We found a 2006 model with the same features and 182,000km in black with tan leather and alloy wheels.
Full-sized SUV
Make/Model: Ford Expedition
Year: 2004
New: Dh118,500
Now: Dh8,500
No one does big like the Americans, and Ford launched the Expedition in 1997. The second gen landed in 2003, and featured independent rear suspension and could tow over 4,000kg. We found a 2004 XLT model with 268,000km, but is in excellent condition. You won't find more bang for your buck.
Family saloon
Make/Model: Renault Safrane
Year: 2011
New: Dh66,500
Now: Dh8,500
A Nissan Altima by another name, the Safrane is often forgotten and is the result of product sharing from the Renault-Nissan alliance. It has a unique nose and Renault badges, but otherwise is a thinly veiled Altima, which is no bad thing as you get Nissan reliability at a Renault price. We found a near new-looking 2011 model in Abu Dhabi with 99,000km that includes a year's insurance.
Sports coupe
Make/Model: Infiniti G35
Year: 2005
New: Dh145,000
Now: Dh9,500
Infiniti made the G35 to tap into the prestige coupe segment in the US with the Middle East being one of its few non-US export regions. Rear-wheel drive and running a 3.5-litre V6 with a five-speed auto, it was a worthy attempt, but never got the recognition it deserved. We found a 2005 model with 185,000km carrying all the options and GCC specs for a bargain in Dubai.
Juvenile arthritis
Along with doctors, families and teachers can help pick up cases of arthritis in children.
Most types of childhood arthritis are known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis. JIA causes pain and inflammation in one or more joints for at least six weeks.
Dr Betina Rogalski said "The younger the child the more difficult it into pick up the symptoms. If the child is small, it may just be a bit grumpy or pull its leg a way or not feel like walking,” she said.
According to The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases in US, the most common symptoms of juvenile arthritis are joint swelling, pain, and stiffness that doesn’t go away. Usually it affects the knees, hands, and feet, and it’s worse in the morning or after a nap.
Limping in the morning because of a stiff knee, excessive clumsiness, having a high fever and skin rash are other symptoms. Children may also have swelling in lymph nodes in the neck and other parts of the body.
Arthritis in children can cause eye inflammation and growth problems and can cause bones and joints to grow unevenly.
In the UK, about 15,000 children and young people are affected by arthritis.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
India squads
Test squad against Afghanistan: Rahane (c), Dhawan, Vijay, Rahul, Pujara, Karun, Saha, Ashwin, Jadeja, Kuldeep, Umesh, Shami, Pandya, Ishant, Thakur.
T20 squad against Ireland and England: Kohli (c), Dhawan, Rohit, Rahul, Raina, Pandey, Dhoni, Karthik, Chahal, Kuldeep, Sundar, Bhuvneshwar, Bumrah, Pandya, Kaul, Umesh.
ODI squad against England: Kohli (c), Dhawan, Rohit, Rahul, Shreyas, Rayudu, Dhoni, Karthik, Chahal, Kuldeep, Sundar, Bhuvneshwar, Bumrah, Pandya, Kaul, Umesh
'Jurassic%20World%20Dominion'
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Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
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Score
New Zealand 266 for 9 in 50 overs
Pakistan 219 all out in 47.2 overs
New Zealand win by 47 runs
New Zealand lead three-match ODI series 1-0
Next match: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, Friday
MATCH DETAILS
Manchester United 3
Greenwood (21), Martial (33), Rashford (49)
Partizan Belgrade 0
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
TOUCH RULES
Touch is derived from rugby league. Teams consist of up to 14 players with a maximum of six on the field at any time.
Teams can make as many substitutions as they want during the 40 minute matches.
Similar to rugby league, the attacking team has six attempts - or touches - before possession changes over.
A touch is any contact between the player with the ball and a defender, and must be with minimum force.
After a touch the player performs a “roll-ball” - similar to the play-the-ball in league - stepping over or rolling the ball between the feet.
At the roll-ball, the defenders have to retreat a minimum of five metres.
A touchdown is scored when an attacking player places the ball on or over the score-line.
Secret Nation: The Hidden Armenians of Turkey
Avedis Hadjian, (IB Tauris)
UAE central contracts
Full time contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Usman, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid
Part time contracts
Aryan Lakra, Ansh Tandon, Karthik Meiyappan, Rahul Bhatia, Alishan Sharafu, CP Rizwaan, Basil Hameed, Matiullah, Fahad Nawaz, Sanchit Sharma
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
FIXTURES
All kick-off times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Sevilla v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Athletic Bilbao v Real Sociedad (7.15pm)
Eibar v Valencia (9.30pm)
Atletico Madrid v Alaves (11.45pm)
Sunday
Girona v Getafe (3pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7.15pm)
Las Palmas v Espanyol (9.30pm)
Barcelona v Deportivo la Coruna (11.45pm)
Monday
Malaga v Real Betis (midnight)
More on Quran memorisation:
The Beach Bum
Director: Harmony Korine
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg
Two stars
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
