With travel slowly reopening across the world, many people may be thinking about taking a flight in the near future.
Passengers set to travel out of Abu Dhabi International Airport can now take advantage of new home check-in services introduced by Etihad Airways.
From today, travellers flying with the national airline of the UAE can check-in for flights, have their luggage collected and take a PCR test without leaving their home.
Etihad has partnered with airport baggage handling company Dubz to offer these preflight home services. Travellers can also use the platform to book additional baggage or add priority boarding to bookings.
The home check-in service starts from Dh209 for up to four bags, and allows travellers to complete preflight procedures from their house or hotel room.
“Etihad is continuously looking to enhance the travel experience and, with this latest initiative, the airline is giving guests more convenient travel options," said John Wright, vice president of global airport, network and cargo operations at Etihad.
“Especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, the home check-in service also limits human interaction at the airport as guests are able to head straight to immigration and avoid long lines at the airport."
Can all passengers use these home services?
Travellers using the home check-in facility should be located within 70 kilometres of Abu Dhabi airport, but those who are further away may be able to request the service for an additional fee, subject to availability.
All passengers booked to fly with Etihad must be at home for the check-in procedure. The services are not available for anyone flying to the US, unaccompanied minors, passengers travelling with pets or those requiring medical assistance.
How does home check-in work?
Travellers can book the service any time before their flights, and up to seven hours before departure. Passengers will be asked to select a date and time for the check-in procedure, with appointments available from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.
Once booked, agents will arrive at the designated location between 24 and seven hours before a traveller's flight departure time. They will check travel documents, complete the check-in process and collect bags.
Seat selection can also be made at the same time. Guests who want to board their flight early and receive their luggage first can add Priority Boarding or Priority Bag Tags for an additional fee.
Travellers who book the disinfection service will have their luggage treated, with the process claiming to remove germs and provide protection from microbes for up to 72 hours before bags are loaded on to aircraft.
Once at Abu Dhabi International Airport, all non-transit passengers using the home check-in service can skip the queues bag-free.
However, travellers should note they will need to collect their own luggage at their destination.
Pre-flight Covid-19 tests
All travellers flying with Etihad need a preflight Covid-19 test before boarding and Dubz allows passengers using home check-in services to book a PCR test at home, too.
The service costs Dh239 and involves a certified nurse from LifeDx arriving at travellers' homes to complete the test. Results will be digitally delivered within 48 hours.
Passengers should check testing requirements for their destination before booking, as timeframes for when results must be delivered can vary by country.
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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
If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Seattle from Dh5,555 return, including taxes. Portland is a 260 km drive from Seattle and Emirates offers codeshare flights to Portland with its partner Alaska Airlines.
The car
Hertz (www.hertz.ae) offers compact car rental from about $300 per week, including taxes. Emirates Skywards members can earn points on their car hire through Hertz.
Parks and accommodation
For information on Crater Lake National Park, visit www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm . Because of the altitude, large parts of the park are closed in winter due to snow. While the park’s summer season is May 22-October 31, typically, the full loop of the Rim Drive is only possible from late July until the end of October. Entry costs $25 per car for a day. For accommodation, see www.travelcraterlake.com. For information on Umpqua Hot Springs, see www.fs.usda.gov and https://soakoregon.com/umpqua-hot-springs/. For Bend, see https://www.visitbend.com/.
Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
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Famous left-handers
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