• The Phantom is an impressive sight in any car mirror. All photos Wassim Raslan
    The Phantom is an impressive sight in any car mirror. All photos Wassim Raslan
  • Cesar Habib, Rolls-Royce's regional director, pulls the covers off the Phantom Iridescent Opulence.
    Cesar Habib, Rolls-Royce's regional director, pulls the covers off the Phantom Iridescent Opulence.
  • The Gallery feature on the Phantom Iridescent Opulence is made up of more than 3,000 feathers.
    The Gallery feature on the Phantom Iridescent Opulence is made up of more than 3,000 feathers.
  • The dashboard design changes colour when viewed from different angles.
    The dashboard design changes colour when viewed from different angles.
  • The Phantom's speaker set - there are many more around the cabin.
    The Phantom's speaker set - there are many more around the cabin.
  • The Phantom gives the impression of being reassuringly solid.
    The Phantom gives the impression of being reassuringly solid.
  • The RR stylings on the wheels are horizontal to the ground, whatever speed you're travelling.
    The RR stylings on the wheels are horizontal to the ground, whatever speed you're travelling.
  • The Phantom's rear headlight.
    The Phantom's rear headlight.
  • Feathers are a theme on the Iridescent Opulence.
    Feathers are a theme on the Iridescent Opulence.
  • Starry effects come as standard on Rolls-Royce cabin ceilings.
    Starry effects come as standard on Rolls-Royce cabin ceilings.
  • The Phantom's distinctive headlight.
    The Phantom's distinctive headlight.
  • The bespoke vehicle was unveiled in Abu Dhabi.
    The bespoke vehicle was unveiled in Abu Dhabi.
  • A sleek side view of the new vehicle.
    A sleek side view of the new vehicle.
  • The Phantom Iridescent Opulence remains on display in the UAE capital.
    The Phantom Iridescent Opulence remains on display in the UAE capital.

Phantom Iridescent Opulence: A Rolls-Royce featuring 3,000 feathers is revealed in the UAE


Simon Wilgress-Pipe
  • English
  • Arabic

Rolls-Royce is continuing its pledge to make each of its vehicles as individual as possible with the launch of the one-off Phantom Iridescent Opulence.

In an Abu Dhabi reveal, the covers came off the marque's latest bespoke offering, alongside the usual general fanciness, its centrepiece dashboard made up of more than 3,000 feathers and a clock inlaid with mother of pearl. The company refers to this dashboard area as The Gallery, and it is a place where customers are encouraged to show off any artistic inclinations by commissioning something personal.

Take a look through the photo gallery above to see more.

The shiny styling on the Iridescent Opulence was created by Swiss company Nature Squared, an outfit that calls itself an ethical design brand. And, in keeping with this self-referencing, those working on the Rolls-Royce project sourced the fancy plumage from a sustainable species of bird and the entire piece was painstakingly created by hand.

The vehicle was fitted with its dashboard in what Rolls-Royce calls its Clean Room at the manufacturer’s home in Goodwood, on England’s south coast, to minimise the chances of there being an annoying speck of dirt on any new artwork.

Rolls-Royce is not shy about styling itself as the ultimate luxury brand, and its bespoke services appear to be chiming well with its affluent customers.

“An understanding that the marque’s patrons are increasingly collectors of fine and contemporary art led the Rolls-Royce Design Team to create a space in which to curate and to commission, to exhibit, admire and reflect,” the company says of its Gallery space, echoing what some might think is in tune with a catalogue for an art exhibition.

The Iridescent Opulence was commissioned by a Rolls-Royce customer and will be on the capital's roads imminently.

Empire of Enchantment: The Story of Indian Magic

John Zubrzycki, Hurst Publishers

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Medicus AI

Started: 2016

Founder(s): Dr Baher Al Hakim, Dr Nadine Nehme and Makram Saleh

Based: Vienna, Austria; started in Dubai

Sector: Health Tech

Staff: 119

Funding: €7.7 million (Dh31m)

 

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