• The Ford GT has topped a list of the cars most shared on Instagram. Courtesy Ford
    The Ford GT has topped a list of the cars most shared on Instagram. Courtesy Ford
  • At number two, the McLaren P1. Courtesy McLaren
    At number two, the McLaren P1. Courtesy McLaren
  • The Bugatti Chiron is at number three. Courtesy Bugatti
    The Bugatti Chiron is at number three. Courtesy Bugatti
  • Fourth place for the McLaren 720S. Courtesy McLaren
    Fourth place for the McLaren 720S. Courtesy McLaren
  • Another showing for McLaren with the F1, at number five. Courtesy McLaren
    Another showing for McLaren with the F1, at number five. Courtesy McLaren
  • The Ferrari F40 is at number six. Getty Images
    The Ferrari F40 is at number six. Getty Images
  • McLaren's final showing is at number seven, with the Senna. Courtesy McLaren
    McLaren's final showing is at number seven, with the Senna. Courtesy McLaren
  • Number eight, Ferrari's LaFerrari. Courtesy Ferrari
    Number eight, Ferrari's LaFerrari. Courtesy Ferrari
  • Porsche's 911 Turbo takes the number nine placing. Bloomberg
    Porsche's 911 Turbo takes the number nine placing. Bloomberg
  • Rounding out the top 10, the Audi R8 V10. Courtesy Audi
    Rounding out the top 10, the Audi R8 V10. Courtesy Audi

UAE features among list of world’s most supercar-smitten countries on social media


Simon Wilgress-Pipe
  • English
  • Arabic

You don’t need to have the visual acuity of Clark Kent when he slings aside his spectacles to spot a supercar in the UAE, but a new list shows just how much the nation loves that particular sphere of motoring royalty.

According to new research, the Emirates places fifth in a list dedicated to uncovering the areas where these luxury charabancs are most heavily concentrated and, indeed, shouted about.

Motoring review website Chasing Cars analysed thousands of Instagram posts to see which brands were the most popular, and just where the vehicles and their owners were residing.

The organisation balanced the number of supercar hashtags against the number of drivers in each place to indicate whose roads apparently had the highest density of drivers.

Way ahead of the pack at the top of the list is Monaco (no surprise there).

Perhaps less obvious to predict would be the placings of Denmark and Portugal at two and three respectively, with New Zealand just nudging ahead of the UAE to complete the top five.

To show Monaco’s dominance, there are three Instagram posts per motorist in the sovereign city state, according to the Chasing Cars analysis. which is 19 times higher than second-placed Denmark. That’s a lot of shiny Euro metal in digital format.

Things change considerably, however, when it comes to the top five cities where these posts are coming from. You’d bet Dubai at least would be in there, but apparently not.

Miami in the US tops that list, but the number two city, Manchester in north-west England, may well raise a few eyebrows. Canada's Vancouver comes in third, with perhaps a more expected placing of glitzy US hot spot Las Vegas next in line. Scottish capital Edinburgh rounds out that top five.

Models that get the most Instagram love according to the research are the Ford GT. Heavy presence from McLaren in the top 10, too, with the P1 (second), 720S (fourth), F1 (fifth), and Senna (seventh) all featuring in the mix.

The Bugatti Chiron nipped in at number three, with the Ferrari F40 and LaFerrari at six and eight respectively. The Porsche 911 Turbo and Audi R8 V10 took up the last two slots.

Racecard

6.35pm: The Madjani Stakes – Group 2 (PA) Dh97,500 (Dirt) 1,900m 

7.10pm: Evidenza – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,200m 

7.45pm: The Longines Conquest – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 2,000m 

8.20: The Longines Elegant – Conditions (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 

8.35pm: The Dubai Creek Mile – Listed (TB) Dh132,500 (D) 1,600m 

9.30pm: Mirdif Stakes – Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,400m 

10.05pm: The Longines Record – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,900m  

Two products to make at home

Toilet cleaner

1 cup baking soda 

1 cup castile soap

10-20 drops of lemon essential oil (or another oil of your choice) 

Method:

1. Mix the baking soda and castile soap until you get a nice consistency.

2. Add the essential oil to the mix.

Air Freshener

100ml water 

5 drops of the essential oil of your choice (note: lavender is a nice one for this) 

Method:

1. Add water and oil to spray bottle to store.

2. Shake well before use. 

RESULTS

6.30pm Handicap (TB) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,400m

Winner Golden Goal, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)

7.05pm Dubai Racing Club Classic Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (Turf) 2,410m

Winner: Walton Street, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.

7.40pm Dubai Stakes Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner Switzerland, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar

8.15pm Singspiel Stakes Group 3 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m

Winner Lord Giltters, Adrie de Vries, David O’Meara

8.50pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner Military Law, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.

9.25pm Al Fahidi Fort Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,400m

Winner Land Of Legends, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor

10pm Dubai Dash Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,000m

Winner Equilateral, Frankie Dettori, Charles Hills.

While you're here ...

Damien McElroy: What happens to Brexit?

Con Coughlin: Could the virus break the EU?

Andrea Matteo Fontana: Europe to emerge stronger

TRAP

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue

Director: M Night Shyamalan

Rating: 3/5

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

Who has been sanctioned?

Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.

Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.

Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.

Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.

Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers

1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.