Sir Bani Yas Island's three Anantara resorts are reopening for stays from February 1, almost one year after shutting doors after the global pandemic began.
The UAE's largest natural island, located off the coast of Abu Dhabi, is home to Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara, Anantara Al Yamm Villa Resort and Anantara Sahel Villa Resort.
Each has now been Go Safe-certified by Abu Dhabi authorities and is ready to reopen for overnight stays.
To celebrate the reopening, Anantara is launching a new all-inclusive package that's available to book across all three properties.
Including full-board dining and unlimited soft beverages as part of the package, all-inclusive stays also allow guests to try one complimentary activity per adult. Guests checking into Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara can opt to upgrade to the ultra all-inclusive package, which includes house beverages and a free stay for up to two children under 12.
There are plenty of activities to choose from including archery, nature walks, wildlife drives, falconry sessions, horse-riding, kayaking in the lagoon or a history tour of the island.
Family-friendly or couple's retreat
Each of the Anantara resorts on Sir Bani Yas Island offer a luxury getaway and the highest in hygiene standards, certified by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi's Go Safe programme.
Anantara also has a Stay with Peace of Mind programme, under which health and hygiene guidelines have been rolled out at the hotel group's properties.
For families, Desert Island Resort & Spa has an endless private beach, spacious rooms and a sprawling Anantara Spa. As the first hotel to be built on the island, it’s also the largest, with 64 rooms and the biggest free-form swimming pool overlooking the Arabian Gulf.
For those seeking a wildlife-surrounded stay, Anantara Al Sahel Villa Resort offers African lodge-style stays with views of the surrounding savannah. Located in the Arabian wildlife park, it has villas with private plunge pools where it's not unlikely to spot gazelle or oryx when taking a sunset dip.
Travellers looking for a secluded getaway may want to consider Anantara Al Yamm Villa Resort on the island’s eastern shore. Guests checking in to any of the 30 beachfront villas will have access to fine-dining restaurants and couples' spa treatments in private cabanas right on the beach. Stays here also come with some of the best uninterrupted ocean views in Abu Dhabi.
If you can't make up your mind which resort suits you best and money is no object, then you can consider renting out the entire island. An exclusive stay on Sir Bani Yas Island with access to all three resorts costs from $89,000 per night.
Ostrich, oryx and ancient history
Reachable via a ferry jetty located two and a half hours from the city of Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas Island has plenty to discover. A Royal Nature Reserve for 50 years, the island is home to a thriving ecosystem of more than 11,000 animals from 30 different endangered species and guests can spot giraffe, ostrich, cheetah, Arabian oryx, antelope and more.
There’s also plenty to see around the island, including a 7th-century monastery, palm oasis, salt domes, ancient pearl fishing sites and other archeological finds.
Sir Bani Yas Island offers travellers seeking a staycation within the emirate's borders a new choice for a place to stay, with no PCR test required to reach the island for residents in the capital.
Ultra all-inclusive rates start from Dh1,999 per night; anantara.com
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Qosty Byogaani
Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny
Four stars
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Fixtures
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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
Kathryn Hawkes of House of Hawkes on being a good guest (because we’ve all had bad ones)
- Arrive with a thank you gift, or make sure you have one for your host by the time you leave.
- Offer to buy groceries, cook them a meal or take your hosts out for dinner.
- Help out around the house.
- Entertain yourself so that your hosts don’t feel that they constantly need to.
- Leave no trace of your stay – if you’ve borrowed a book, return it to where you found it.
- Offer to strip the bed before you go.
DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
1. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 171 points
2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP) 151
3. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-GP) 136
4. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull Racing) 107
5. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) 83
6. Sergio Perez (Force India) 50
7. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) 45
8. Esteban Ocon (Force India) 39
9. Carlos Sainz (Torro Rosso) 29
10. Felipe Massa (Williams) 22
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
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Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Destroyer
Director: Karyn Kusama
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Toby Kebbell, Sebastian Stan
Rating: 3/5
UAE release: January 31
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.
A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.
On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.
The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.
Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
