• Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Christian deacon children carry candles during the Easter midnight mass in the Samaan el-Kharaz Monastery in the Mokattam Mountain area of Cairo, Egypt April 23, 2022. REUTERS / Amr Abdallah Dalsh
    Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Christian deacon children carry candles during the Easter midnight mass in the Samaan el-Kharaz Monastery in the Mokattam Mountain area of Cairo, Egypt April 23, 2022. REUTERS / Amr Abdallah Dalsh
  • Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Christian worshippers attend the mass in the Samaan El Kharaz Monastery. Reuters
    Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Christian worshippers attend the mass in the Samaan El Kharaz Monastery. Reuters
  • An Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Christian girl attends the Easter midnight mass with her mother. Reuters
    An Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Christian girl attends the Easter midnight mass with her mother. Reuters
  • Egyptian Christians pay at a midnight service to celebrate Christ's resurrection at St. Paul Coptic Orthodox Church in Cairo. AP
    Egyptian Christians pay at a midnight service to celebrate Christ's resurrection at St. Paul Coptic Orthodox Church in Cairo. AP
  • Egyptian Coptic Orthodox worshippers at St. Paul Coptic Orthodox Church. AP
    Egyptian Coptic Orthodox worshippers at St. Paul Coptic Orthodox Church. AP
  • Greek Orthodox Christians light candles with the 'Holy Fire' at St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
    Greek Orthodox Christians light candles with the 'Holy Fire' at St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
  • A Greek Orthodox Christian priest holds up the Holy Fire as he arrives at St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral from Jerusalem through Amman, in Beirut. EPA
    A Greek Orthodox Christian priest holds up the Holy Fire as he arrives at St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral from Jerusalem through Amman, in Beirut. EPA
  • Greek Orthodox Christians light candles with the 'Holy Fire' in Beirut. EPA
    Greek Orthodox Christians light candles with the 'Holy Fire' in Beirut. EPA
  • Palestinian Christians attend an Orthodox service during Easter night in Gaza City. AFP
    Palestinian Christians attend an Orthodox service during Easter night in Gaza City. AFP
  • Orthodox Christian believers mark the Holy Week of Easter in celebration of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. AFP
    Orthodox Christian believers mark the Holy Week of Easter in celebration of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. AFP
  • Palestinian Christians attend an Orthodox service during Easter night. AFP
    Palestinian Christians attend an Orthodox service during Easter night. AFP
  • The Eastern Orthodox world celebrates Easter Day according to the old Julian calendar. AFP
    The Eastern Orthodox world celebrates Easter Day according to the old Julian calendar. AFP
  • Worshippers attend the 'Holy Fire' ceremony outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Reuters
    Worshippers attend the 'Holy Fire' ceremony outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Reuters
  • Worshippers outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Reuters
    Worshippers outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Reuters
  • An Orthodox priest shows his lit candles in the courtyard of Jerusalem's Holy Sepulchre church. AFP
    An Orthodox priest shows his lit candles in the courtyard of Jerusalem's Holy Sepulchre church. AFP
  • Christian worshippers gather at the Tomb of Christ as they wait for the 'Holy Fire' ceremony to occur, in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, in Jerusalem. EPA
    Christian worshippers gather at the Tomb of Christ as they wait for the 'Holy Fire' ceremony to occur, in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, in Jerusalem. EPA
  • Eastern Orthodox Christians believe the 'Holy Fire' spontaneously lights other lamps and candles around the church and reaches Jerusalem and even foreign countries. AFP
    Eastern Orthodox Christians believe the 'Holy Fire' spontaneously lights other lamps and candles around the church and reaches Jerusalem and even foreign countries. AFP
  • Christian worshippers gather at the Tomb of Christ as they wait for the miracle of the Holy Fire ceremony to occur, in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, in Jerusalem, Israel. EPA
    Christian worshippers gather at the Tomb of Christ as they wait for the miracle of the Holy Fire ceremony to occur, in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, in Jerusalem, Israel. EPA
  • A worshipper shows her candles in the courtyard of Jerusalem's Holy Sepulchre church. AFP
    A worshipper shows her candles in the courtyard of Jerusalem's Holy Sepulchre church. AFP
  • A custodian in charge of the ancient key to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre unlocks the doors ahead of the Holy Fire ceremony in Jerusalem's old city. AFP
    A custodian in charge of the ancient key to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre unlocks the doors ahead of the Holy Fire ceremony in Jerusalem's old city. AFP

Orthodox Easter celebrated in the Mena region - in pictures


  • English
  • Arabic

More from The National:

Meet the young Saudis bringing back old Ramadan traditions and creating new ones

Venice Biennale: female artists dominate art fair for first time

Abu Dhabi designer aims to combat 'predatory' in-game purchases

How does ToTok work?

The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store

To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.

The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.

Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.

 

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet

Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt

Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi

Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe

For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.

Golden Dallah

For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.

Al Mrzab Restaurant

For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.

Al Derwaza

For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup. 

How it works

1) The liquid nanoclay is a mixture of water and clay that aims to convert desert land to fertile ground

2) Instead of water draining straight through the sand, it apparently helps the soil retain water

3) One application is said to last five years

4) The cost of treatment per hectare (2.4 acres) of desert varies from $7,000 to $10,000 per hectare 

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

Results

57kg quarter-finals

Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) beat Hamed Al Matari (YEM) by points 3-0.

60kg quarter-finals

Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) beat Hyan Aljmyah (SYR) RSC round 2.

63.5kg quarter-finals

Nouredine Samir (UAE) beat Shamlan A Othman (KUW) by points 3-0.

67kg quarter-finals

Mohammed Mardi (UAE) beat Ahmad Ondash (LBN) by points 2-1.

71kg quarter-finals

Ahmad Bahman (UAE) defeated Lalthasanga Lelhchhun (IND) by points 3-0.

Amine El Moatassime (UAE) beat Seyed Kaveh Safakhaneh (IRI) by points 3-0.

81kg quarter-finals

Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Ahmad Hilal (PLE) by points 3-0

The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80

Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000

Engine: 5.6-litre V8

Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 400hp @ 5,800rpm

Torque: 560Nm @ 4,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 12.1L / 100km

The five pillars of Islam
The specs

Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm

Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm

Transmission: eight-speed auto

Price: from Dh130,000

On sale: now

LIKELY TEAMS

South Africa
Faf du Plessis (captain), Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Lungi Ngidi.

India (from)
Virat Kohli (captain), Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik (wkt), Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.

The specs

Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder MHEV

Power: 360bhp

Torque: 500Nm

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Price: from Dh282,870

On sale: now

BULKWHIZ PROFILE

Date started: February 2017

Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: E-commerce 

Size: 50 employees

Funding: approximately $6m

Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait

Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.

Based: Riyadh

Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany

Founded: September, 2020

Number of employees: 70

Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions

Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds  

Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices

Updated: April 24, 2022, 9:31 AM