Emirates is set to resume flights to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mauritius next month. Unsplash
Emirates is set to resume flights to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mauritius next month. Unsplash
Emirates is set to resume flights to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mauritius next month. Unsplash
Emirates is set to resume flights to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mauritius next month. Unsplash

Emirates resumes flights to South Africa, Mauritius and Zimbabwe


Hayley Skirka
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Emirates is resuming flights to destinations across South Africa, as well as Zimbabwe and Mauritius.

The Dubai airline will begin flying to all three countries in October as part of its network resumption plans.

The resumption of flights to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mauritius takes Emirates resumed network to 92 destinations. Courtesy Emirates
The resumption of flights to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mauritius takes Emirates resumed network to 92 destinations. Courtesy Emirates

To South Africa, Emirates will resume flights to Johannesburg and Cape Town on Thursday, October 1. The airline will also begin flying to Durban from Sunday, October 4.

This follows South Africa's recent announcement that it will reopen international borders about six months after it first closed them. More details on Emirates flight schedules for destinations across its South African network will be available on the airline's website later this week.

Elsewhere, Emirates is also resuming services to Zimbabwe from October 1 and to Mauritius from Saturday, October 3.

To Harare in Zimbabwe, Emirates will operate twice per week with flights linked to its existing Lusaka service. This linked service will connect Zambia and Zimbabwe to key destinations across the Emirates network via a stop in Dubai.

Weekly flights to Mauritius

Flights to the Indian Ocean island destination of Mauritius will resume from Dubai with one flight per week. This flight will operate every Saturday with the first journey set for October 3.

Emirates will fly weekly to Mauritius from Dubai. Unsplash
Emirates will fly weekly to Mauritius from Dubai. Unsplash

All travellers flying to Dubai, including transit passengers, must have a negative Covid-19 PCR test before they can fly to the UAE.

Emirates has introduced several safety measures on all flights including contactless check-in, PPE uniforms for crew and mandatory face masks for travellers.

Passengers flying with the Dubai airline can also get free Covid-19 medical insurance if they contract the coronavirus while travelling.

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TCL INFO

Teams:
Punjabi Legends 
Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan

Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
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If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

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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. 

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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

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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

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