Ukraine’s special envoy to the Middle East addressed the Arab League in Cairo on Thursday and accused Moscow of preventing much-needed wheat deliveries to the region, less than a month after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Egypt.
Maksym Subkh told the Arab League that Ukraine has 20 million tonnes of grain ready to be exported to the Middle East, but that deliveries had been hindered by “the siege of our ports by the Russian invaders”.
Several Arab League member states, including Egypt, rely heavily on Ukrainian wheat, which has been in short supply following the country’s invasion by Russia in February.
Mr Subkh said that the global food crisis is a “direct result of Russian aggression”.
State-owned Russian news outlet Sputnik said that Thursday's emergency meeting of the Arab League was requested by Ukraine, which is seeking to cut Russia’s ties with the Arab world. These ties, Sputnik said, have remained intact despite the severe sanctions that many other nations have imposed on Russia.
The Ukraine war has grievously affected grain supplies worldwide, as the country is one of the largest producers and exporters of wheat. But a deal signed in Istanbul between the two warring nations, brokered by Turkey and the UN, has allowed some Ukrainian ships to carry grain out of the country.
However, Mr Subkh said that Russia continues to hinder the departure of more ships. Ukraine has continuously accused Russia of publicly agreeing to co-operate and then defaulting on its promises.
Mr Subkh urged members of the Arab League to join in the sanctions that other countries have imposed on Russia to put pressure on the Kremlin to halt its aggression in Ukraine, Egyptian news outlet Cairo 24 said. He also reportedly stressed the importance of halting oil imports from Russia.
However, despite pressure from the US, several Arab states have been reluctant to cut ties with Moscow. Reuters said in an exclusive report on July 15 that Saudi Arabia, an Arab League member whose representative was at Thursday’s meeting, significantly increased its imports of Russian oil during the second quarter of this year.
When Mr Lavrov was in Cairo in July, he hailed the moderate way in which the Arab world has reacted to the war in Ukraine, praising the Arab League’s “balanced, fair, responsible position” in the conflict.
Mr Subkh, on the other hand, warned of Russian intervention in the region’s politics and accused the Kremlin of sending soldiers of fortune to the region to directly manipulate Arab nations’ affairs and exploit their wealth.
Following Thursday’s address, the Arab League issued a short statement on Facebook saying that it was “invested in solving the Ukrainian crisis through peaceful means”.
The statement added that Mr Subkh had stressed Ukraine’s desire to increase its co-operation with the Arab world in a number of sectors.
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Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
1st Test July 26-30 in Galle
2nd Test August 3-7 in Colombo
3rd Test August 12-16 in Pallekele
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
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Du Football Champions
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
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
