As many of the world's airlines slowed or ceased operations as the coronavirus and travel restrictions limited flight demand, Wizz Air moved in the opposite direction.
The low-cost Hungarian airline announced on Sunday, May 3, that it will begin flying direct to Abu Dhabi from five cities across Central and Eastern Europe. Two of the new routes, Budapest and Bucharest, will launch next month, if the UAE has lifted its flight suspension. Another three routes to cities in Bulgaria, Poland and Romania will be available from September, depending on travel restrictions.
One-way fares to these destinations start from Dh244, giving UAE residents five new picks for an affordable holiday. But what is there to see in each city and which one should you visit when? Here's our guide to what to expect from a trip to each of Abu Dhabi's newest direct connections.
Bucharest, Romania: Go for a history-steeped bargain getaway
Flights to Romania’s capital are set to launch on Wednesday, June 3 when they will whisk travellers from Abu Dhabi to Bucharest in just five hours and 30 minutes.
This post-Communist city has a lot to offer travellers. Bucharest is a place of contrast, where rows of Communist buildings cluster around pretty blue fountains next to delicate French architecture and there's history to be found around every corner. Wander the cobbled streets and little laneways in the Old Town and visit the world’s second largest parliament buildings, ranking behind the Pentagon in the United States.
One big draw that this city offers over many others in Europe is its affordability
History aside, Bucharest is also known for its nightlife. From countless bars and clubs to an evening spent at the Bucharest National Opera House, the evenings here are to be enjoyed. One good option is to take in a play at the National Theatre, followed by refreshments on its famed rooftop terrace.
For a hint of old-world glamour, Calea Victoriei is the city’s oldest street and harks back to an era when French-inspired Bucharest was given the moniker Little Paris. The city even has its own Arc de Triomphe – the Triumphal Arch was built in 1935 to commemorate the country's reunification.
Before the pandemic, Bucharest was a city on the up, with quirky cafes, street-side dining and flourishing cultural quarters. One big draw that this city offers over many others in Europe is its affordability. A meal for two costs around Dh50 and rooms in a centrally located five-star hotel start from around Dh400. Coupled with return flight prices from Dh548, it’s an ideal pick for a bargain weekend escape.
Budapest, Hungary: Go for the outdoor lifestyle
On Wednesday, June 3, Wizz Air plans to launch flights from Budapest to Abu Dhabi, making the city within easy reach for a European holiday. The six hour-flight will transport travellers to the Danube-bisected Hungarian capital.
Visitors might fall in love with Buda’s hilltops, castles and relaxed pace of life or perhaps prefer Pest, with its bustling nightlife and myriad tourist attractions, but both are sure to enchant.
A must-do is a trip to Budapest’s outdoor spas. Here, "taking the waters" is as ingrained in Hungarian culture as goulash, and travellers could spend days sampling the city’s numerous spas. Try a relaxing dip under the art nouveau architecture of Gellert Baths or head to Szechenyi, the largest spa complex in all of Europe.
The Buda Hills are also within city limits and offer hiking or biking trails coupled with panoramic views and some decent local eateries which offer traditional Hungarian cuisine. Janos Hill is the highest point in the city; hike up to it or take the cable car. The Children's Railway – a pleasant remnant of the city's Socialist roots – is another good way to see the hillside scenery.
At the moment, Budapest is a city of silence with travel restrictions preventing tourists from entering the country. The city's festival and tourism centre has produced a seemingly ethereal video of an empty Budapest, featuring sweeping views of what's waiting for people when travel can recommence.
Katowice, Poland: Go for something different
While its industrial past traditionally ranks Katowice low in the beauty ratings, the city is worthy of a visit for its excellent arts scene and growing foodie clamour. Wizz Air plans to commence direct flights from the city in the south of Poland to Abu Dhabi from Tuesday, September 15 and the flight time is an easy six hours. This will be the first direct flight from Abu Dhabi to Katowice, so it’s a good pick if you like to be among the first in your group to travel somewhere new.
Wander the rose gardens and tree-lined paths and look out for sculptures from local artists
Waiting for you in the capital of the Silesian province of Poland is a blossoming food scene, a thriving cultural district and plenty of greenery backed by the Beskidy mountains.
If it's parks you seek, Katowice has them in droves. Kosciuszko Park was built in 1888 and has evolved from a tiny central plot to 72 hectares right in the heart of the city. Wander the rose gardens and tree-lined paths and look out for sculptures from local artists.
Silesia Park is another must-visit. At about 620 hectares – it's almost double the size of New York's Central Park – it has a zoological garden, planetarium, fairground, swimming pool, hotel and kids will love a visit to Legendia, Poland's largest theme park.
Foodies will enjoy the city’s blossoming culinary scene where ethnic cuisines, Polish influences and Silesian dishes vie for attention. One of the more famous restaurants is Tatiana, where diners can try a fusion of Polish and European dishes. Located in Katowice’s old market square, it is a good pick for history-seeking visitors that want a taste of the local cuisine as they are out exploring the city.
Sofia, Bulgaria: Go for a cut-price winter escape
Arriving in Sofia on the five-and-a-half-hour flight from Abu Dhabi, it’s likely the first thing travellers will spot is the soaring peak of Mount Vitosha.
This is Sofia’s very own mountain playground and it comes alive in winter when skiers flock to take on the country’s oldest slopes. While it's a little underdeveloped, ski pass prices are considerably lower here than at some of the other slopes in this part of the world, and it's probably the only city in Europe that has a run so close to its capital.
At the foothills of Vitosha is the affluent suburb of Boyana. Home to the National History Museum and the Unesco-listed Boyana church, it is a good attraction when you've had enough of your skis for one day. A winter visit to Sofia must also include a trip to the festive market, which takes place downtown in the City Garden each year.
Visiting in any other season also makes sense. Sofia has a surprisingly laid-back vibe for a capital city and spring to autumn offers open-air markets, ancient ruins, golden-dome topped churches and Ottoman mosques.
Known for its abundance of natural mineral springs, travellers to Sofia often head to the most popular sites, such as Centralna Banya, Knyazhevo and Gorna Banya.
At these basins, people are encouraged to drink the waters, which are rumoured to have numerous wellness benefits. Find out more about the city’s watery history at the former Central bathhouse, which is now home to the Museum of Sofia’s History. If you want to actually dip in the waters, head 12 kilometres outside of Sofia to the mineral village of Pancharevo.
Cluj-Napoca, Romania: Go for summer festivals
Romania’s Cluj-Napoca, or Cluj as the locals call it, is one of the country’s most-visited cities and is regarded as the unofficial capital of Transylvania. This lively student city has more than its fair share of bars, boho cafes, thrift stores and decent nightlife.
Visit in the summer when a lot of the students will have cleared out, leaving room for travellers to enjoy the balmy summer temperatures of around 27°C. Another perk of visiting in summer is the city's roster of events, many of which have carved a name for themselves on the international stage. From Untold – Romania's largest electronic music festival – to the Transilvania International Film Festival, Electric Castle or Jazz in the Park, there is something for everyone.
Cluj is also set up for city walks and the Botanical Gardens are a good place to while away a few hours on a summer afternoon. Cycle or stroll along the banks of the Somesul Mic or head to the open-air Ethnographic Park and Museum where you can watch recreations of rural Romanian life.
Visiting Transylvania without tasting the local cuisine would be a blunder, especially when prices err on the lower side of reasonable – approximately Dh100 for dinner for two in a nice restaurant.
If combining history with local cuisine appeals, Rhedey Cafe serves Transylvanian dishes alongside a black-and-white photography exhibit inside a 16th-century palace where Queen Elizabeth’s great, great grandmother was born. Caffeine seekers will also be at home in Cluj – the city is one of Europe's best-kept secrets when it comes to coffee culture.
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
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
SM Town Live is on Friday, April 6 at Autism Rocks Arena, Dubai. Tickets are Dh375 at www.platinumlist.net
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THE SPECS
2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE
Engine: 1.8 litre combined with 16-volt electric motors
Transmission: Automatic with manual shifting mode
Power: 121hp
Torque: 142Nm
Price: Dh95,900
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
The five pillars of Islam
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
The biog
Name: Shamsa Hassan Safar
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Degree in emergency medical services at Higher Colleges of Technology
Favourite book: Between two hearts- Arabic novels
Favourite music: Mohammed Abdu and modern Arabic songs
Favourite way to spend time off: Family visits and spending time with friends
