Disneyland Paris will reopen on Wednesday, July 15. AFP
Disneyland Paris will reopen on Wednesday, July 15. AFP
Disneyland Paris will reopen on Wednesday, July 15. AFP
Disneyland Paris will reopen on Wednesday, July 15. AFP

Disneyland Paris announces plans to reopen in July


Sophie Prideaux
  • English
  • Arabic

Disneyland Paris will begin a phased reopening of the theme park on Wednesday, July 15, with visitor numbers limited via a new online reservation system to ensure social distancing.

The new regulations announced on Monday will see visitors aged 11 and older have to wear face masks, while the resort's many shows and events will remain suspended.

The first of the resort’s hotels will open on July 15, and the rest will be staggered over the summer months, Disneyland confirmed.

The phased reopening will see "enhanced health and safety measures implemented for both cast members and guests," the company said in a statement.

Same-day ticket sales will no longer be available, and people with non-dated tickets or annual passes will be required to reserve spots in advance.

Shanghai Disneyland reopens to the public:

  • A visitor dressed as a Disney character takes a selfie while wearing a protective face mask as the Shanghai Disneyland theme park reopens following a shutdown after the coronavirus outbreak, in Shanghai, China, on May 11, 2020. Reuters
    A visitor dressed as a Disney character takes a selfie while wearing a protective face mask as the Shanghai Disneyland theme park reopens following a shutdown after the coronavirus outbreak, in Shanghai, China, on May 11, 2020. Reuters
  • A musician performs and Disney characters dance during the reopening of Shanghai Disneyland on May 11, 2020. AFP
    A musician performs and Disney characters dance during the reopening of Shanghai Disneyland on May 11, 2020. AFP
  • A young visitor, wearing a face mask, waves as she enters Shanghai Disneyland. AP Photo
    A young visitor, wearing a face mask, waves as she enters Shanghai Disneyland. AP Photo
  • Performers at Shanghai Disneyland dressed as Disney characters. AFP
    Performers at Shanghai Disneyland dressed as Disney characters. AFP
  • A woman without a face mask at Disneyland Shanghai. AFP
    A woman without a face mask at Disneyland Shanghai. AFP
  • Joe Schott, front right, president and general manager of Shanghai Disneyland, speaks during its reopening ceremony. AP Photo
    Joe Schott, front right, president and general manager of Shanghai Disneyland, speaks during its reopening ceremony. AP Photo
  • Visitors wearing face masks explore Shanghai Disneyland. Reuters
    Visitors wearing face masks explore Shanghai Disneyland. Reuters
  • A woman wearing a face mask takes a selfie in front of the park's flower gardens. AFP
    A woman wearing a face mask takes a selfie in front of the park's flower gardens. AFP
  • A mask-less Donald Duck stands with tourists, some with face masks and others without. AFP
    A mask-less Donald Duck stands with tourists, some with face masks and others without. AFP
  • Tourists follow social-distancing guidelines as they enter Shanghai Disneyland. AFP
    Tourists follow social-distancing guidelines as they enter Shanghai Disneyland. AFP
  • An employee cleans a bench ahead of the reopening of the Shanghai Disneyland following its shutdown because of the coronavirus in Shanghai, China, on Monday, May 11, 2020. Bloomberg
    An employee cleans a bench ahead of the reopening of the Shanghai Disneyland following its shutdown because of the coronavirus in Shanghai, China, on Monday, May 11, 2020. Bloomberg
  • All visitors must pre-book entry to Shanghai Disneyland and capacity has been slashed. AFP
    All visitors must pre-book entry to Shanghai Disneyland and capacity has been slashed. AFP
  • Visitors with protective masks pose for photographs in front of the Enchanted Storybook at Shanghai Disneyland. Bloomberg
    Visitors with protective masks pose for photographs in front of the Enchanted Storybook at Shanghai Disneyland. Bloomberg
  • One of the Shanghai Disneyland's youngest visitors wears a face mask and a Mickey Mouse hat. Bloomberg
    One of the Shanghai Disneyland's youngest visitors wears a face mask and a Mickey Mouse hat. Bloomberg

The park, which usually welcomes more than 15 million visitors annually, has also suspended its FastPass service that lets people reserve time slots for certain rides "to allow for the necessary queue management".

The resort has also said it will allow guests to cancel or modify their Disney Hotel reservations without charge up to seven days prior to arrival, in the hope of encouraging more visitors during ongoing uncertainty due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Disneyland Paris, which employs around 16,000 people, began halting shows and limiting the number of visitors inside even before France's nationwide lockdown took effect in mid-March, after some maintenance workers tested positive for Covid-19.

"We are thrilled to see one of the main tourism destinations in Europe and the largest single-site employer in France reopen to guests and its employees," Sophie Huberson of France's SNELAC leisure industry association said in Disney's statement.

The announcement follows the news that Disney World in Orlando, Florida, would begin a phased reopening of its parks in mid-July.

SPECS
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Company Fact Box

Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019

Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO

Based: Amman, Jordan

Sector: Education Technology

Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed

Stage: early-stage startup 

Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.

RESULT

Argentina 0 Croatia 3
Croatia: 
Rebic (53'), Modric (80'), Rakitic (90' 1)

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

Profile of Whizkey

Date founded: 04 November 2017

Founders: Abdulaziz AlBlooshi and Harsh Hirani

Based: Dubai, UAE

Number of employees: 10

Sector: AI, software

Cashflow: Dh2.5 Million  

Funding stage: Series A

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
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Jebel Ali Dragons 26 Bahrain 23

Dragons
Tries: Hayes, Richards, Cooper
Cons: Love
Pens: Love 3

Bahrain
Tries: Kenny, Crombie, Tantoh
Cons: Phillips
Pens: Phillips 2