• Citymax Hotel Business Bay will be the brand's first four-star hotel. Courtesy Citymax Hotel
    Citymax Hotel Business Bay will be the brand's first four-star hotel. Courtesy Citymax Hotel
  • The hotel will open to the public on February 14. Courtesy Citymax Hotel
    The hotel will open to the public on February 14. Courtesy Citymax Hotel
  • The lobby of the new property. Courtesy Citymax Hotel
    The lobby of the new property. Courtesy Citymax Hotel
  • The hotel houses 348 rooms and suites. Reem Mohammed / The National
    The hotel houses 348 rooms and suites. Reem Mohammed / The National
  • Guests can expect free WiFi, a workstation with Bluetooth connectivity, sleeper sofas, valet parking, and 24-hour room service. Reem Mohammed / The National
    Guests can expect free WiFi, a workstation with Bluetooth connectivity, sleeper sofas, valet parking, and 24-hour room service. Reem Mohammed / The National
  • The rooftop swimming pool at Citymax Hotel Business Bay. Reem Mohammed / The National
    The rooftop swimming pool at Citymax Hotel Business Bay. Reem Mohammed / The National
  • Food delivered to the rooftop pool. Reem Mohammed / The National
    Food delivered to the rooftop pool. Reem Mohammed / The National
  • The restaurant also houses Asian restaurant Sizzling Wok. Reem Mohammed / The National
    The restaurant also houses Asian restaurant Sizzling Wok. Reem Mohammed / The National
  • The restaurant will serve popular Asian street food. Reem Mohammed / The National
    The restaurant will serve popular Asian street food. Reem Mohammed / The National
  • Sizzling Wok features K-Pop vibes. Reem Mohammed / The National
    Sizzling Wok features K-Pop vibes. Reem Mohammed / The National
  • Brew House, another restaurant in Citymax Hotel Business Bay, features brick walls and has an outdoor garden space. Courtesy Citymax Hotel
    Brew House, another restaurant in Citymax Hotel Business Bay, features brick walls and has an outdoor garden space. Courtesy Citymax Hotel
  • The hotel will be following Covid-19 safety regulations including face masks being worn at all times and hand-sanitiser stations at frequent touch points. Reem Mohammed / The National
    The hotel will be following Covid-19 safety regulations including face masks being worn at all times and hand-sanitiser stations at frequent touch points. Reem Mohammed / The National

First look: Inside Citymax’s first four-star hotel in Downtown Dubai


Janice Rodrigues
  • English
  • Arabic

Citymax Hotels, known for its pocket-friendly rates, is kicking off the year with some grand plans.

The brand, which is Landmark Group's mid-market chain, will launch its first four-star hotel on Sunday.

Citymax Hotel Business Bay will be located in Downtown Dubai, a 10-minute drive from The Dubai Mall.

The four-star rating means guests can access larger multi-category rooms, and amenities that cater to both business and leisure travellers.

The hotel will be home to 348 rooms and suites, including queen beds, twin beds, interconnecting family rooms, executive rooms and wheelchair-accessible rooms. Guests can also expect free Wi-FI, a workstation with Bluetooth connectivity, sleeper sofas, valet parking and 24-hour room service.

The hotel will also have four meeting rooms, a rooftop pool and a gym.

There are some new food and beverage offerings housed within the hotel, too. Guests can dine at the Sizzling Wok, an Asian street-food restaurant with K-Pop vibes, or try Brew House, an American smokehouse which will feature brick walls, a garden space and a menu with barbecued food and freshly prepared pizza.

The all-day Citycafe, Aqua rooftop pool venue and Lavazza 24-hour coffee shop add to the culinary offerings.

“Our loyalty factor has always been high and though we have entered the four-star segment, we have ensured that the ambience of the Citymax experience has only been enhanced,” says Satish Nambiar, general manager of Citymax Hotel Business Bay.

Rates for Citymax Hotel Business Bay start at Dh199 per night.

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The specs

Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
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Range: Up to 610km

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Available: Now

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

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