Emirates reinstates flights to China, Ethiopia, Iran and Norway

Emirates has added four more destinations to its network of flights.

The Dubai airline announced it will resume services to Addis Ababa, Guangzhou, Oslo and Tehran.

This will mean travellers have a choice of 62 destinations to fly to and from Dubai with Emirates by August. The airline acts as a major connector across the globe, with many transiting via Dubai to hop across continents.

Daily flights to Tehran will resume on July 17. A weekly service to Guangzhou will start from July 25. On August 1, the airline will commence three flights a week to Addis Abada and on August 4 it will begin flying to Oslo once again, with two flights per week.

All of the flights will be operated with a Boeing 777-300ER, with enhanced safety procedures in place to protect passengers against Covid-19. This includes the distribution of complimentary hygiene kits to passengers containing masks, gloves, hand sanitiser and antibacterial wipes.

Travellers can now travel to and from Dubai, but Emirates reminds passengers to check entry requirements for destinations as these are constantly being updated. The status of many passports has changed recently, so it is important to check in advance.

Some travellers will need to prove they are Covid-19 free before being allowed on flights. This only applies to people coming from 12 countries listed by Emirates.

Emirates is now flying to six continents around the world.

It has been a busy week for the Dubai airline. On Wednesday, the Emirates A380 superjumbo took to the sky for the first time in nearly four months.

It is now operating between London and Paris, and will begin flying to Amsterdam on August 1.

This week Emirates also resumed passenger flights to eight other cities – Athens, Barcelona, Geneva, Glasgow, Larnaca, the Maldives, Munich, and Rome. On Friday, it will resume flights to Brussels.

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 Brutalist

Director: Brady Corbet

Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn

Rating: 3.5/5

Race card

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m