A new high-speed train will take travellers direct from Amsterdam or Rotterdam to London in around four hours with tickets from Dh199. Courtesy NS
A new high-speed train will take travellers direct from Amsterdam or Rotterdam to London in around four hours with tickets from Dh199. Courtesy NS
A new high-speed train will take travellers direct from Amsterdam or Rotterdam to London in around four hours with tickets from Dh199. Courtesy NS
A new high-speed train will take travellers direct from Amsterdam or Rotterdam to London in around four hours with tickets from Dh199. Courtesy NS

You'll soon be able to take a train from the Netherlands direct to London

The high-speed option will depart Amsterdam and Rotterdam for the UK capital with a travel time of four hours

Hayley Skirka
Hayley Skirka

August 24, 2020

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  • Arabic

Travellers in the Netherlands will soon be able to catch a train from Amsterdam or Rotterdam direct to the UK capital.

Dutch state-owned railway operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) and Eurostar have partnered to introduce the new high-speed rail service that will launch on October 26.

From Rotterdam, the train will whisk commuters to London in just three-and-a-half hours. From Amsterdam, the trip takes a little over four hours. Fares start from €46 (Dh199) and tickets go on sale from September 1, with booking available six months ahead of travel dates.

Previously, rail commuters in the Netherlands had to transfer in Brussels to reach London by train.

From October, travellers can catch a train directly from Rotterdam to London with a journey time of three and a half hours. Unsplash
From October, travellers can catch a train directly from Rotterdam to London with a journey time of three and a half hours. Unsplash

“The direct high-speed train takes you quickly and without hassle from the centre of Amsterdam and Rotterdam to the heart of London, making it a strong competitor for the aircraft," said Roger van Boxtel, chief executive of NS.

The train could also open up more flight options for UAE travellers trying to reach the UK, especially at busy times of the year when direct flights to London often increase in price. KLM flies direct from Dubai to Amsterdam and this high-speed rail service means it will be relatively simple for many passengers to carry on to London after landing in the Netherlands.

Coronavirus precautions

Rail travellers on NC's Eurostar direct service from The Netherlands to London will have to wear face coverings and abide by social distancing rules. Courtesy NC
Rail travellers on NC's Eurostar direct service from The Netherlands to London will have to wear face coverings and abide by social distancing rules. Courtesy NC

The rail service's introduction was delayed due to coronavirus restrictions, but it is now confirmed it will start in October when the number of people travelling throughout Europe looks set to increase again, according to NS.

Due to the uncertainty surrounding travel, commuters will be able to make changes on their tickets up to 14 days before departure without fees until the end of the year.

On the high-speed trains, commuters must follow safety rules in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19. These include compulsory face masks and social distancing where possible. All trains are thoroughly cleaned before each journey, with additional cleaning in place for frequently touched surfaces.

Train travel is a viable alternative to air travel in terms of sustainability, A growing number of European countries have seen a rising interest in rail travel in the age of Greta Thunberg's 'flygskam'.

Researchers have also found that travelling on trains during the pandemic is not as dangerous as some people believe. A study by British and Chinese researchers drawn from high-speed routes in China in the first three months of 2020 used modelling to analyse the interactions of the 2,000+ "index patients" (Covid-infected people) who had used the train network during this period.

Passengers travelling in seats directly adjacent to an index patient suffered the highest level of transmission with an average of 3.5 per cent contracting the disease. For those sitting on the same row, the figure was 1.5 per cent. Researchers found that only 0.075 per cent of people who used a seat previously occupied by an index patient went on to contract the disease.

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How to apply for a drone permit
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  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
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  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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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

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4.30pm Jebel Jais – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (Turf) 1,000m
5pm: Jabel Faya – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (T) 1,000m
5.30pm: Al Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m
6pm: The President’s Cup Prep – Conditions (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,200m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club – Prestige (PA) Dh125,000 (T) 1,600m
7pm: Al Ruwais – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 1,200m
7.30pm: Jebel Hafeet – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m

Killing of Qassem Suleimani

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.”

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

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