Egypt criticises Ethiopia over claim Gerd dam dispute has become Arab-African conflict

Egypt rebuked Ethiopia on Wednesday for branding their dispute over a Nile dam being built by Addis Ababa as an Arab-African conflict, saying the Horn of Africa country had no right to speak for the entire continent.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry also disputed what it called "false claims" by Ethiopia that Cairo and Khartoum had agreed with Addis Ababa during past negotiations on details of the filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, or Gerd.

An Arab summit held in Saudi Arabia last week adopted a resolution supporting the position of Egypt and Sudan in their dispute with Ethiopia over the dam.

The Egyptian statement, released by ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid, said Ethiopia's assertion that the resolution amounted to an Arab-African dispute was a "desperate attempt to drive a wedge between Arab and African nations".

It also reminded the Ethiopians of Egypt's role in the 1950s and 1960s in support of African liberation movements and its current offer of technical assistance to African nations.

That the African Union is based in Addis Ababa, it added, does not give Ethiopia the right to speak for African countries.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry was responding to a statement by its Ethiopian counterpart on Monday that said Addis Ababa received with dismay news of the Arab League resolution.

"This resolution is an affront to the African Union and its member states ... it runs contrary to the cherished and shared history of the people of Africa and the Arab world," the Ethiopian ministry said. The resolution, it added, was a "deliberate mischaracterisation" of Ethiopia's position over the dam.

Egypt is concerned that the Gerd will reduce its share of the Nile's water, a possibility that would badly hurt its agricultural sector and disrupt its delicate food balance.

Both Egypt and Sudan want Ethiopia to enter a legally binding agreement on the filling and operation of the dam. Ethiopia, however, insists that guidelines should suffice. It has filled the dam three times in as many years without giving Cairo and Khartoum advance warning.

It plans a fourth filling this summer.

The last round of negotiations between the three countries collapsed in 2021 in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Ethiopian statement accused Egypt of using the Arab League to put pressure on Ethiopia over the Gerd dispute. That, it added, "represents [Egypt's] lack of good faith".

Opening Premier League fixtures, August 14

Brentford v Arsenal
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Chelsea v Crystal Palace
Everton v Southampton
Leicester City v Wolves
Manchester United v Leeds United
Newcastle United v West Ham United
Norwich City v Liverpool
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Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

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'The worst thing you can eat'

Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.

Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:

Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.

Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.

Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.

Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.

Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

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

The bio

Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home