Former Egyptian prime minister Kamal Ganzouri, 88, died on Wednesday at a military hospital in Cairo after suffering an undisclosed illness, Egyptian state media said.
"Egypt today lost a unique statesman," President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said in his eulogy to Ganzouri.
"He was a righteous person in Egypt, loyal to its soil and its people."
Ganzouri served twice as Egypt's prime minister, once in 1996 under former president Hosni Mubarak, and a second stint in 2011 under the ruling military council after the Egyptian uprising that toppled Mubarak.
He was chosen for the role in an attempt to quell a power struggle between police and protesters who demanded the military immediately hand power over to a civilian authority.
Protesters largely rejected Ganzouri’s appointment, arguing that he was too entwined with Mubarak-era institutions to meet protesters' demands for a reformed Egypt.
He served in the role for less than a year, resigning from the post in June 2012 after the election of Mohamed Morsi as president.
Ganzouri first joined the Egyptian government in 1982 when he was appointed minister of planning. He then became minister of international co-operation in 1984.
He served as the deputy prime minister to Mubarak from 1986 until 1996, and then became prime minister from 1996 to 1999.
As premier, he was widely credited with enacting several landmark laws, working to privatise key state-run companies in a bloated and ineffective public sector and taking the helm on major development projects.
Before officially joining the government, he worked as an economist and served as an adviser to former president Anwar Sadat.
Ganzouri was born on January 12, 1933 in Bagour city in Menoufia governorate.
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
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The specs
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Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
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