Dog owners looking for a staycation with their four-legged friend can make tracks to Dubai's only mountain resort: JA Hatta Fort Hotel.
Located about 130 kilometres from the centre of Dubai, the four-star retreat is now officially dog-friendly and welcoming pups to spend the night with their owners at the hotel.
The news comes a few weeks after pet-loving community group Flopster announced it was partnering with the hotel to create a dog-friendly space for daytime visitors.
Set in 80 acres of grounds, JA Hatta Fort Hotel has plenty of grassy lawns where visitors and their dogs can take a walk and enjoy fantastic views of the surrounding Al Hajar mountains and the Hollywood-esque Hatta sign.
Doggy staycations at the hotel are available for pooches of any size and weight, although there may be some restrictions on how many large dogs are allowed in each room.
Pups can't go into the lobby, instead there is a separate parking area for people with dogs. A member of the hotel team will greet guests there and provide them with their room key, then complete check-in formalities with guests inside their room. Pet parents can also request dog beds and toys.
When it comes to dining, options include ordering room service and enjoying it in your chalet, or dining outside at the picnic tables set across the shaded area of the hotel's Palm Tree Garden.
There, guests can order meals from any of the hotel's restaurants. There are also plans to host picnics and barbecues where dogs and their owners can mingle and dine alfresco.
Dog-friendly hotel etiquette
Rules state that dogs must remain on a lead in most areas of the hotel, both for their own safety and that of other guests. This also makes sure that the other wildlife at the resort – ponies, deer, goats, peacocks and tortoises – stay safe.
There are plenty of places for walking dogs, and they are able to run free in the hotel's outdoor marquee area. And if you fancy a sport of adventure during your stay, the surrounding region has awesome trekking opportunities, while the nearby Hatta Kayak offers dog-friendly activities on the water.
Overnight stays at JA Hatta Fort Hotel start from Dh575, including breakfast. Pet owners will have to pay a Dh150 sanitation fee, plus an additional Dh50 per pet, per day for extra cleaning.
Day visitors are also welcome and a special Flopster menu is available for pet parents to order from. This costs Dh80 per person.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2a)
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Rain Management
Year started: 2017
Based: Bahrain
Employees: 100-120
Amount raised: $2.5m from BitMex Ventures and Blockwater. Another $6m raised from MEVP, Coinbase, Vision Ventures, CMT, Jimco and DIFC Fintech Fund
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T20 squad: Eoin Morgan (capt), Jonny Bairstow, Tom Banton, Sam Billings, Pat Brown, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Lewis Gregory, Chris Jordan, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Matt Parkinson, Adil Rashid, James Vince
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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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