After a year of being largely grounded, flights around the world are slowly resuming as countries ease border restrictions and more people receive their Covid-19 vaccinations.
With the UAE summer stretching out ahead, many people are dreaming of a change of scenery, whether reconnecting with nature, visiting friends and family, or simply enjoying the luxury of being able to get away.
And, with a long break expected for Eid Al Adha, plus the school summer holidays rapidly approaching, travel is on the minds of many UAE citizens and residents.
Etihad, the national airline of the UAE, is encouraging people to plan summer holidays by launching a seasonal sale, with fares to several quarantine-free destinations included in the promotion.
From the Spanish capital of Madrid to the island paradise of the Seychelles, Etihad is currently flying to 12 destinations where travellers can enjoy quarantine-free travel on both ends of their trip.
Some countries require tourists to be vaccinated, while others will allow entry with a negative Covid-19 test. Travellers should check the regulations for each destination before booking any flight.
12 quarantine-free destinations
- Bahrain
- Chicago
- New York City
- Washington, DC
- Seychelles
- Athens
- Mykonos
- Santorini
- Geneva
- Zurich
- Barcelona
- Madrid
Summer sale on Etihad destinations
Fly from Abu Dhabi to the Greek capital with fares from Dh1,495 in Economy class, or go to one of Greece's islands with Mykonos and Santorini also on Etihad's network. Travellers who are fully vaccinated will not need to quarantine and unvaccinated tourists can also fly to Greece, but will have to self-isolate on return to the UAE.
To Spain, travellers can fly with Etihad from Dh1,995 with the airline operating routes to Barcelona and Madrid. There's no quarantine needed for vaccinated travellers, as Spain is listed on the Abu Dhabi Green List.
For an island escape, tourists can fly to the Seychelles, one of the UAE's vaccine corridors, from Dh2,795 return.
With Switzerland set to reopen to travellers on Monday, June 28, and the country included on Abu Dhabi's Green List, the European nation is another choice set to be popular for summer escapes. Fly to Geneva or Zurich direct from the UAE capital with sale fares from Dh1,995.
Travellers that want to go further afield may want to consider a trip to the US, where there's no quarantine if you're vaccinated, and a recommended home isolation if not. Fly to Chicago with Economy seats on sale for under Dh3,000.
All travellers that make new bookings can save 30 per cent on Economy Space seats, where passengers can enjoy extra legroom.
If you prefer to fly at the front of the plane, Business Class return fares to the Seychelles are on sale from Dh9,495, and to Switzerland from Dh10,995. All of Etihad's summer promotional fares are available until Thursday, June 24 and valid on travel between now and November 20, 2021.
Checking-in from home
With so many more things to think about when travelling these days, Etihad is also introducing new systems designed to simplify the process.
The airline's Verified to Fly service lets travellers validate their required Covid-19 travel documents before arriving at the airport. There's also fast-track check-in thanks to a Verified to Fly desk at Abu Dhabi International Airport.
Checking in for a flight from home is also possible, thanks to Etihad's home check-in service. Travellers can use this up to seven hours ahead of their flights. Staff members will collect passengers' bags from their home, check travel documents and issue boarding passes before holidaymakers leave for the airport, allowing passengers to skip queues at the airport and focus on getting their holiday started.
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Team Team Pederson (-40), Team Kyriacou (-39), Team De Roey (-39), Team Mehmet (-37), Team Pace (-36), Team Dimmock (-33)
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A ancient classical dance from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Intricate footwork and expressions are used to denote spiritual stories and ideas.
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
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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
Company profile
Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
Future funding plans: None at present
Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: from Dh155,000
On sale: now
