Whether you are looking for a good deal on books or trainers, or seeking a pet-friendly festival or an evening out in the desert, this week is full of fun events. Here, The National rounds up seven things to do around the Emirates, from December 9 to December 15.
Monday, December 9
Head to Sound Stages at Dubai Studio City to catch the last day of Big Bad Wolf 2024, where thousands of books are for sale – across genres and languages. There are more than 50,000 Arabic titles on offer, the event's largest collection of its kind yet, as well as a children's zone with bouncy castles and arts and crafts stations to keep the little ones engaged. Thought-provoking literature is highlighted this year too, with books such as Amazing Women: 100 Lives to Inspire You and It’s a Wonderful World: How to Protect the Planet and Change the Future.
December 9; 10am-midnight; Dubai Studio City
Tuesday, December 10
Head to Bisou for an artistic twist to your meal, as the Dubai Opera restaurant teams up with Hedonist Gallery to showcase a selection of works by Pablo Picasso. The exhibition features a collection of gold medallions, silver plates and sculptures.
Among the highlights is a set of plates from 1955, with designs inspired by the Renaissance period. The pieces feature mythological subjects such as nymphs, satyrs and centaurs, as well as playful patterns that honour Picasso's last muse, Jacqueline Roque. Several gold sculptures created in 1956 are also on display, as well as medallions crafted from 23K solid gold.
The exhibition is free for guests dining at the restaurant.
Daily, 9am-midnight; until December 10; Dubai Opera Plaza; 058 140 6888
Wednesday, December 11
Gather for a festive afternoon tea set up around a Christmas tree adorned by Tiffany & Co ornaments at Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi. On the menu are dishes such as truffle and egg croissant, smoked salmon and sobacha blinis, as well as a signature snowball dessert in pear winter berry marmalade and maple mousse. Freshly baked scones are also available, served with a choice of tea or coffee.
Daily until January 10; 3pm-7pm; Dh270 per person; The Galleria Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi; 02 333 2333
Thursday, December 12
Rock fans can catch a performance by American band Thirty Seconds to Mars at Coca-Cola Arena on Thursday. Formed by brothers Jared and Shannon Leto, the group is known for their powerful sound and though-provoking lyrics. Concertgoers can expect to hear hits from their latest album such as Stuck, Life is Beautiful and Midnight Prayer.
December 12; doors open 7pm; from Dh295; City Walk, Dubai; 800 223388
Friday, December 13
Liwa International Festival is back, bringing a blend of adventure and culture to the Abu Dhabi dunes. A freestyle drift by expert drivers opens the festival on Friday, taking place under Tal Moreeb, the UAE's tallest dune in Al Dhafra.
A range of motorsports activities are scheduled throughout the festival, but there is also family-friendly activities at Liwa Village, including the wanasa zone that houses a petting zoo, carnival rides and an escape room. Nearby, visitors can check out the immersive museum Night Oasis. A souq with local handicrafts and food kiosks are also on offer.
Other activities include daily fireworks and hot air balloon rides for an aerial view of the surrounding desert landscape. New this year is the Hollywood circus, featuring performances from acrobats, magicians and clowns, as well as a Ferris wheel with panoramic views of Tal Moreeb.
December 13 to January 4; 3pm onwards; from Dh10 for general entry; Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi
Saturday, December 14
Take your dogs to Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club for the second Feastival, a dog-friendly festival with several activities for pets.
Highlights include a meet-and-greet with Santa Claus, as well as areas designed specifically for the furry guests, such as a ball pit. A dog show will crown a best-costume winner at the end of the day. Dogs can also enjoy free pet-friendly ice cream.
A dedicated children's zone with bouncy castles, soft play pod, ball pit and slides is also set up, with vendors selling ice cream, candy floss and popcorn. Watch out for sprinkles of snow to add to the festive cheer, and a tree lighting ceremony with carol singers. Guests can also check out a mini Christmas market offering trinkets for pets and humans.
December 14; noon-10pm; from Dh20; Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club
Sunday, December 15
Sole DXB, a contemporary culture festival, returns this year with a line-up of fashion pop-ups, workshops and more at Dubai Design District. Among the highlights is the skatepark with high-energy contests and obstacles for both amateur and professional skaters, as well as the trainer swap and thrift market offering a platform for sneakerheads to buy, sell and trade. About 13 vendors are on site at the thrift area, so keep an eye out for rare finds and hidden gems. The festival is a platform to witness exclusive collaborations such as the anticipated adidas Originals Clot Dress Capsule by Edison Chen.
December 13 to 15; 3pm onwards; from Dh295; Dubai Design District
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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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
The biog
Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing
Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV
Key 2013/14 UAE Motorsport dates
October 4: Round One of Rotax Max Challenge, Al Ain (karting)
October 1: 1 Round One of the inaugural UAE Desert Championship (rally)
November 1-3: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Formula One)
November 28-30: Dubai International Rally
January 9-11: 24Hrs of Dubai (Touring Cars / Endurance)
March 21: Round 11 of Rotax Max Challenge, Muscat, Oman (karting)
April 4-10: Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (Endurance)
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Specs
Engine: 2-litre
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 255hp
Torque: 273Nm
Price: Dh240,000
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
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
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
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Keane on …
Liverpool’s Uefa Champions League bid: “They’re great. With the attacking force they have, for me, they’re certainly one of the favourites. You look at the teams left in it - they’re capable of scoring against anybody at any given time. Defensively they’ve been good, so I don’t see any reason why they couldn’t go on and win it.”
Mohamed Salah’s debut campaign at Anfield: “Unbelievable. He’s been phenomenal. You can name the front three, but for him on a personal level, he’s been unreal. He’s been great to watch and hopefully he can continue now until the end of the season - which I’m sure he will, because he’s been in fine form. He’s been incredible this season.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s instant impact at former club LA Galaxy: “Brilliant. It’s been a great start for him and for the club. They were crying out for another big name there. They were lacking that, for the prestige of LA Galaxy. And now they have one of the finest stars. I hope they can go win something this year.”
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
PFA Premier League team of 2018-19
Allison (Liverpool)
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City)
Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)
Paul Pogba (Manchester United)
Fernandinho (Manchester City)
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
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%3Cp%3EChris%20Jordan%20insists%20Sanchit%20Sharma%20will%20make%20an%20impact%20on%20the%20ILT20%2C%20despite%20him%20starting%20the%20campaign%20on%20Gulf%20Giants'%20bench.%3Cbr%3EThe%20young%20UAE%20seamer%20was%20an%20instant%20success%20for%20the%20side%20last%20season%2C%20and%20remained%20part%20of%20the%20XI%20as%20they%20claimed%20the%20title.%3Cbr%3EHe%20has%20yet%20to%20feature%20this%20term%20as%20the%20Giants%20have%20preferred%20Aayan%20Khan%20and%20Usman%20Khan%20as%20their%20two%20UAE%20players%20so%20far.%3Cbr%3EHowever%2C%20England%20quick%20Jordan%20is%20sure%20his%20young%20colleague%20will%20have%20a%20role%20to%20play%20at%20some%20point.%3Cbr%3E%22Me%20and%20Sanchit%20have%20a%20great%20relationship%20from%20last%20season%2C%22%20Jordan%20said.%3Cbr%3E%22Whenever%20I%20am%20working%20with%20more%20inexperienced%20guys%2C%20I%20take%20pleasure%20in%20sharing%20as%20much%20as%20possible.%3Cbr%3E%22I%20know%20what%20it%20was%20like%20when%20I%20was%20younger%20and%20learning%20off%20senior%20players.%3Cbr%3E%22Last%20season%20Sanchit%20kick-started%20our%20season%20in%20Abu%20Dhabi%20with%20a%20brilliant%20man-of-the-match%20performance.%3Cbr%3E%22Coming%20into%20this%20one%2C%20I%20have%20seen%20a%20lot%20of%20improvement.%20The%20focus%20he%20is%20showing%20will%20only%20stand%20him%20in%20good%20stead.%22%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE%20Warriors%2045%20Results
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Company%20profile
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The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
