Two women have joined the race to become Libya's next president, in a field of 98 candidates including prominent political figures, the country’s electoral commission said on Tuesday.
Registrations closed late on Monday.
UN special envoy Jan Kubis praised the process and urged rival factions to ensure the vote goes ahead as planned next month.
As part of the UN-backed peace process, presidential and parliamentary elections are set to be held on December 24, but there has been no broad agreement on the law to govern the vote.
The leader of the National Movement Party in Libya, Laila Ben Khalifa, registered as a candidate. Hunaida Al Mahdi who is a researcher in social sciences, is the other woman vying to be president.
Among the prominent candidates are Aguila Saleh, Speaker of the eastern-based parliament, the eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar, who led fighting against the government in Tripoli, Saif Al Islam Qaddafi, son of former dictator Muammar Qaddafi, Fathi Bashagha, a former interior minister with the western-based government and former prime minister Ali Zeidan.
Disputes between rival factions and political entities have centred on who should be allowed to enter the race, meaning that even with just weeks to go there is no clarity on whether the poll will actually take place. Other challenges facing the long-awaited vote include infighting among armed groups and the presence of thousands of foreign fighters and troops.
Since 2011, the country has been plagued by unrest following the uprising, with Nato support, that toppled Muammar Qaddafi. For years, Libya has been split between rival administrations in the country's east and west.
“Ninety-eight presidential candidates have officially been registered,” said Libya’s electoral commission when the sign-up period ended.
The electoral body said it would announce the final tally of registered candidates who have been accepted to run later on Tuesday.
Out of the 98 candidates, 73 registered at the centre in the capital of Tripoli, 12 registered in Benghazi and 13 registered in Sabha, it said.
More than 2.8 million of Libya's seven million population have registered to vote.
Meanwhile, more than 1,000 candidates have submitted their nominations for the parliamentary elections, said the commission.
But many observers gave warnings that some candidates may pull out closer to the time due to agreements made to secure other public offices, or seats in parliament.
Mr Kubis stressed the importance of holding the elections as planned, calling on all Libyans to vote and accept the results.
The UN envoy's message came during a meeting with the vice-president of the Libyan Presidential Council, Abdullah Al Lafi, on Monday.
“Libya's current situation is very sensitive,” he said. He added that the judiciary will look into possible objections against any candidates.
Mr Kubis said he would convey different views and observations regarding the elections to the Security Council in his briefing on Wednesday.
The head of the High National Election Commission expressed optimism about the turnout in the elections.
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- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
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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.
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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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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
