Anyone who does yoga will appreciate the overwhelming sense of calm and peace it brings. But when it’s done against a stunning backdrop, it can be a truly unforgettable experience.
Thankfully, in the UAE, we are inundated with places to practice, and many studios regularly take advantage of the country’s natural beauty and impressive landmarks to offer anything but ordinary yoga sessions.
As Monday marks International Yoga Day, here are seven of the most beautiful spots in the UAE to get your practice in:
The View at The Palm
The Palm's brand new 360-degree observation deck, which offers unparalleled views of the Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina skyline, is hosting a series of morning yoga sessions. Every Tuesday and Friday from 7am to 8am, join Core Direction for a 60-minute vinyasa yoga session on the 52nd floor of The Palm Tower for an unforgettable start to the day.
Tuesdays and Fridays, 7am-8am; Dh149; The View at The Palm, The Palm Tower, Palm Jumeirah; theviewpalm.ae/events/yoga-at-the-view
Burj Khalifa
For another sky-high yoga session, visit at At The Top, located on the 124th floor of the world's tallest building. Not only will you be able to enjoy incredible views, but you will have the pleasure of saying you've taken part in the highest yoga session in the world. The classes, run by Core Direction, take place every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday between 7am and 8am.
Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, 7am-8am; Dh149; At The Top, Burj Khalifa; coredirection.com/atthetop
The Green Planet
Embrace nature with a yoga class at Dubai's The Green Planet, where you will be able to practise against the backdrop of a living indoor rainforest, while having a few critters pop by to say hello. The guided 60-minute Yin Yoga and meditation class takes place inside the bio-dome, and is set to the natural soundtrack of birds chirping around you.
Fridays, 8.30am-9.30am; Dh149; The Green Planet, City Walk; coredirection.com/thegreenplanet
Burj Al Arab
Take in one of Dubai's most famous views with a full moon yoga session on the lawns of Jumeirah Beach Hotel. As the sun goes down behind the Burj Al Arab, move through your flow as you witness the Moon move through the sky. The classes take place each month, and vary based on the Moon's cycle.
Dates vary, 6.30pm-7.30pm; Dh114; The lawn, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah; coredirection.com/burjalarab
Dubai Opera Garden
Let Downtown Dubai’s famous skyline light up your evening yoga session on Dubai Opera’s lawn. The class is the perfect way to wind down your day, with a 60-minute yoga flow from the raised private garden at sunset. The class takes place every Saturday evening, offering the perfect chance to relax and de-stress ahead of the week.
Saturdays, 6.30pm-7.30pm; Dh60; Dubai Opera Gardens; Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard; coredirection.com/dubai-opera
Saadiyat Beach Club
Set against the backdrop of Saadiyat's white sandy beach and the rolling azure waves of the Arabian Gulf, Saadiyat Beach Club is one of the capital's most popular spots to relax and unwind, and it also makes for an ideal spot for sunset yoga. Bodytree Wellness Studio offers a selection of Pilates and yoga sessions at the beach club each week, with restorative yoga, hatha and Total Body Care Pilates on the schedule.
Days and times vary; single classes start from Dh95; Saadiyat Beach Club, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi; bodytreestudio.com/saadiyat-class-packages
Louvre Abu Dhabi
Take in the stunning architecture of Louvre Abu Dhabi with Yoga Under the Dome. Taking place numerous times per week, the 75-minute classes are run by Bodytree Wellness Studio, and allow participants to practice their flow in one of the capital's top cultural destinations. The classes take place Sundays and Tuesdays at 10.15am and 5pm, as well as Saturdays at 11am and 5pm. During the summer months, the sessions take place inside the museum with views of the ocean and dome.
Sundays and Tuesdays, 10.15am and 5pm, Saturdays, 11am and 5pm; Dh90; Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island; bodytreestudio.com/product/yoga-under-the-dome-at-the-louvre-abu-dhabi
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Seven tips from Emirates NBD
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2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes.
Where to stay
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.
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
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Sri Lanka World Cup squad
Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Isuru Udana, Milinda Siriwardana, Avishka Fernando, Jeevan Mendis, Lahiru Thirimanne, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal.
Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face
The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.
The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.
Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.
"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.
Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.
The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.
STAGE%201%20RESULTS
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Test squad: Azhar Ali (captain), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan(wicketkeeper), Musa Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah
Twenty20 squad: Babar Azam (captain), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Musa Khan, Shadab Khan, Usman Qadir, Wahab Riaz
The specs: Rolls-Royce Cullinan
Price, base: Dh1 million (estimate)
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 563hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 850Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 15L / 100km
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Tabby%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%20August%202019%3B%20platform%20went%20live%20in%20February%202020%3Cbr%3EFounder%2FCEO%3A%20Hosam%20Arab%2C%20co-founder%3A%20Daniil%20Barkalov%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Payments%3Cbr%3ESize%3A%2040-50%20employees%3Cbr%3EStage%3A%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Arbor%20Ventures%2C%20Mubadala%20Capital%2C%20Wamda%20Capital%2C%20STV%2C%20Raed%20Ventures%2C%20Global%20Founders%20Capital%2C%20JIMCO%2C%20Global%20Ventures%2C%20Venture%20Souq%2C%20Outliers%20VC%2C%20MSA%20Capital%2C%20HOF%20and%20AB%20Accelerator.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Primera Liga fixtures (all times UAE: 4 GMT)
Friday
Real Sociedad v Villarreal (10.15pm)
Real Betis v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Saturday
Alaves v Barcelona (8.15pm)
Levante v Deportivo La Coruna (10.15pm)
Girona v Malaga (10.15pm)
Las Palmas v Atletico Madrid (12.15am)
Sunday
Espanyol v Leganes (8.15pm)
Eibar v Athletic Bilbao (8.15pm)
Getafe v Sevilla (10.15pm)
Real Madrid v Valencia (10.15pm)
The biog
Marital status: Separated with two young daughters
Education: Master's degree from American Univeristy of Cairo
Favourite book: That Is How They Defeat Despair by Salwa Aladian
Favourite Motto: Their happiness is your happiness
Goal: For Nefsy to become his legacy long after he is gon
