Level 1
Canali - The renowned Italian outfitters' brand of tailored cool is unmatched in the realm of men's formalwear. We love their fine cashmere.
Manolo Blahnik - Carrying the revered Spanish designer's latest shoe creations, this Blahnik outpost is so chic it hurts.
Bally - The simple decor serves as the perfect showcase for an impeccably curated selection that bridges the gap between affordable and "come again?" price tags.
Herve Leger - A solid stop for fans of the French fashion house, known for pioneering the body-con look.
Fauchon Le Café - Break time. Contemporary French cuisine takes the spotlight at this massive space, its first in Abu Dhabi. Aside from a sit-down cafe, there's a delicatessen for fresh sweet and savoury treats to take home.
Level 2
Burberry - Racks upon racks of impeccably tailored duds dominate the space, which has its own menswear section.
Cartier - The renowned French jeweller and watchmaker arrives in the capital in style. With four VIP lounges, plus its own bridal section, this flagship store is one of those beautiful locations you never want to leave.
Versace - Only Gianni could create a store like this - a ritzy space with industrial edge - where you can cop a head-to-toe look in one go.
Salvatore Ferragamo - Hosting the men's, women's, accessories and perfume collections by the Florence-based fashion house, it's a great addition to the city's retail landscape.
Hermès - We can confidently call it the best designed store in the city. Against classy-kitsch interiors, covetable curiosities sit alongside a mishmash of limited edition items.
Piaget - Whether you're looking for a present for pop or a piece to pass on to your kid, they've got you covered. It's the first Piaget store in the UAE, run by staff trained at the Swiss luxury watchmaker's base.
Chloé - The go-to spot to snatch up free-spirited takes on refined classics. The biggest draw is the well-edited selection - you'll always find something totally fresh.
Van Cleef & Arpels - The Parisian jeweller sells the most expensive wares this side of town - including a Dh1.6m trio of necklace, ring and earrings from its Socrate Collection - but its hospitable hosts make the shopping experience un-intimidating. The VIP room is as big as the main store.
A Lange & Sohne - Forget its ho-hum exterior - it just makes the surprises inside all the less expected: a mix of stunning heritage and modern timepieces from the German watchmaker.
Coming soon
- Givenchy
- Tom Ford
- Lanvin
- Hugo Boss
- Mont Blanc
- Vertu
- Porsche Design
- Zegna
- Kiton
- Bvlgari
- Rolex
Hunger and Fury: The Crisis of Democracy in the Balkans
Jasmin Mujanović, Hurst Publishers
more from Janine di Giovanni
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying or online bullying could take many forms such as sending unkind or rude messages to someone, socially isolating people from groups, sharing embarrassing pictures of them, or spreading rumors about them.
Cyberbullying can take place on various platforms such as messages, on social media, on group chats, or games.
Parents should watch out for behavioural changes in their children.
When children are being bullied they they may be feel embarrassed and isolated, so parents should watch out for signs of signs of depression and anxiety
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
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GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
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
