Sharjah is gearing up for another round of eventful New Year’s Eve celebrations.
The northern emirate has plenty to offer in terms of family-friendly experiences, ranging from epic fireworks displays and gala events at lavish beachside resorts, to ringing in 2023 while camping under the stars.
Here are five events taking place to herald the new year in Sharjah.
Fireworks at Al Majaz Waterfront
The picturesque location will be the centre of the emirate's New Year's Eve celebrations.
Beginning at 9pm, the lagoon will light up with frequent fireworks displays until an extended showcase at midnight.
In addition to plenty of green space where families can picnic, the waterfront is home to plenty of dining options with prior booking recommended.
Hussain Al Jassmi and Aseel Hameem at Khorfakkan Amphitheatre
A popular New Year's Eve choice, Emirati singer Hussain Al Jassmi will end the year with a show in his home city of Sharjah.
Al Jassmi is one of the Middle East’s top-selling artists. He released his first single Bawada'ak in 2002, followed by Wallah Ma Yeswa and Bassbor Al Fourgakom. However, it is 2014’s Boshret Kheir that he is most known for.
Also performing earlier in the evening is Iraqi artist Aseel Hameem. With more than 255 million views, her song Ser Al Hayat was the most-streamed track by a female Arab artist on YouTube in 2020.
Tickets from Dh300; sharjah.platinumlist.net
New Year’s Eve celebrations at Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort & Spa
On its seventh anniversary, one of Sharjah’s biggest resorts will end the year in style.
In addition to an exclusive fireworks display on the beach, there will be a lavish Middle Eastern and international buffet around the outdoor pool, as well as a cover band playing classic and modern pop hits.
From 8pm; Dh669 for adults, Dh335 for children aged six to 12; restaurants.sharjah@sheraton.com
Stargazing at Mleiha Archaeological Centre
Mark the new year by camping under the stars at this stunning desert village.
For December 31, the site has organised stargazing, cultural and fire dances and an oud performance.
A buffet will also be available with Emirati and regional dishes.
For bookings and reservations email mleihamanagement@discovermleiha.ae or call 06 802 1111
Family-friendly fun at Al Noor Island
Home to popular spots such as The Sharjah House and The Literature Pavilion, the family hub Al Noor Island is set to be another major sport for New Year's Eve celebrations.
As well as exclusive cultural performances and dining spots, the site provides a great vantage point from which to see Al Majaz Waterfront's fireworks display.
Mleiha Archaeological Centre — in pictures
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
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The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: seven-speed PDK dual clutch automatic
Power: 375bhp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh332,800
On sale: now
UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
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
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz S 450
Price, base / as tested Dh525,000 / Dh559,000
Engine: 3.0L V6 biturbo
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 369hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm at 1,800rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.0L / 100km
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
What is a robo-adviser?
Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.
These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.
Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.
Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.
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Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
The Specs
Price, base Dh379,000
Engine 2.9-litre, twin-turbo V6
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 503bhp
Torque 443Nm
On sale now
