There are some things I never leave home without. Lip gloss is one of them. Facial tissues are another. But one thing I hardly ever leave my bedroom without is hand cream.
My hands seem to be endlessly dry. When they shake my hand, people must think "Yuk, she needs some moisturiser". So I am constantly rubbing cream into them. This can be dangerous for driving. I sometimes find my cream-laden hands slipping on the steering wheel as I go to turn a corner.
It also means I leave my fingerprints wherever I go. I would never get away with a burglary. The police would easily be able to identify me by the fingerprints I leave behind. They are visible to the naked eye.
This is not much of a worry though, as I am not planning any crimes. But what I have been searching for is a hand cream that lasts more than three minutes before I feel the urge to reach for the pot again.
I remember one beautician telling me that it was very important to put sunblock on my hands because (at my age) sun spots develop easily on the backs of the hands. These are horrible things that give away your age as much as wrinkles on your neck. You often see women who have had so much surgery their faces are blemish-free, but their hands give them away. What is the point in lavishing your face with expensive creams and totally ignoring your hands? We all know that one of the most common causes of ageing skin is dryness.
To protect my hands during the day, I started to carry hand cream and sunblock around. Then I had an epiphany. What about a hand cream with a sunblock already in it? This would lessen the load in my handbag, which hurts my ageing neck and shoulders.
There are several options on the market. Clarins is a nice one, as is Neutrogena. But the best one I have found so far is Natura Bissé Tensolift Hand Cream. It is smooth, luxurious, deeply moisturising and lasts for several hours. After a few weeks of using it, my one sun spot even seems less obvious.
A friend of mine says she gives her hands a mini-facial once a week. This means exfoliating them, then putting them in a bowl of warm water with a drop of milk in it. Finally, rub some oil on them. If you are really keen you can wear cotton gloves at night to help your skin to absorb the moisture. I have tried it and it works, but sleeping with gloves on was really strange.
But at least I might not leave my fingerprints behind ...
M loves
Clinique repairwear laser focus
Lasers are now all the rage when it comes to anti-ageing, but we can't all afford them. So here is an excellent substitute, a cream masquerading as a laser that combats fine lines and sun damage. It's not a laser, says the blurb, but your skin doesn't know that. This is a serum to be used morning and evening that glides on smoothly and leaves your skin feeling fresh and hydrated as it works its magic and boosts collagen levels. After six weeks you see some results, 12 weeks and you'll be hooked. Clinique repairwear laser focus, Dh275
New OPENING: Kaya skin clinic
Get beautiful and save
To celebrate the opening of its 15th outlet in the region, at Dubai's Marina Walk, Kaya Skin Clinic is offering readers of M magazine a 15 per cent discount on all treatments, as well as one free treatment when booking a course of sessions. For more details call 04 450 8438. The address is Dubai Marina Walk Shop 8A,G1 (near Franck Provost).
RESULTS
Bantamweight:
Zia Mashwani (PAK) bt Chris Corton (PHI)
Super lightweight:
Flavio Serafin (BRA) bt Mohammad Al Khatib (JOR)
Super lightweight:
Dwight Brooks (USA) bt Alex Nacfur (BRA)
Bantamweight:
Tariq Ismail (CAN) bt Jalal Al Daaja (JOR)
Featherweight:
Abdullatip Magomedov (RUS) bt Sulaiman Al Modhyan (KUW)
Middleweight:
Mohammad Fakhreddine (LEB) bt Christofer Silva (BRA)
Middleweight:
Rustam Chsiev (RUS) bt Tarek Suleiman (SYR)
Welterweight:
Khamzat Chimaev (SWE) bt Mzwandile Hlongwa (RSA)
Lightweight:
Alex Martinez (CAN) bt Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR)
Welterweight:
Jarrah Al Selawi (JOR) bt Abdoul Abdouraguimov (FRA)
MO
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How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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
More on animal trafficking
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
%20Ramez%20Gab%20Min%20El%20Akher
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Fourth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit
As he spoke, Mr Aboul Gheit repeatedly referred to the need to tackle issues affecting the welfare of people across the region both in terms of preventing conflict and in pushing development.
Lebanon is scheduled to host the fourth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit in January that will see regional leaders gather to tackle the challenges facing the Middle East. The last such summit was held in 2013. Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki told The National that the Beirut Summit “will be an opportunity for Arab leaders to discuss solely economic and social issues, the conference will not focus on political concerns such as Palestine, Syria or Libya". He added that its slogan will be “the individual is at the heart of development”, adding that it will focus on all elements of human capital.
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
States of Passion by Nihad Sirees,
Pushkin Press
