Syrian President Bashar Al Assad meets Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on Wednesday. EPA
Syrian President Bashar Al Assad meets Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on Wednesday. EPA
Syrian President Bashar Al Assad meets Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on Wednesday. EPA
Syrian President Bashar Al Assad meets Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on Wednesday. EPA

Western powers call for Assad to be held responsible for atrocities


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The US, the UK, France and Germany have called for the Assad regime to be held responsible for atrocities against Syrians, jointly marking the 12th anniversary of the uprising.

The four countries said they would neither normalise relations with Syrian President Bashar Al Assad's government nor fund the country's reconstruction “until there is authentic and enduring progress towards a political solution”.

In 2011, Syria was gripped by protests as part of the Arab uprisings in the region.

About 500,000 Syrians have been killed since then.

Amid widespread suffering and the displacement of millions, another 10,000 people died in the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck in early February.

“We remain committed to supporting Syrian civil society and ending the human rights violations and abuses the Syrian people have suffered — from the Assad regime and others — long before the earthquakes struck,” the four countries said.

“The international community must work together to hold the Assad regime and all perpetrators of abuses, violations and atrocities accountable.

Demonstrators march in rebel-held Al Bab to mark the twelfth anniversary of the uprising. AFP
Demonstrators march in rebel-held Al Bab to mark the twelfth anniversary of the uprising. AFP

“The ongoing conflict has created a permissive environment for terrorists and drug traffickers to exploit, further threatening regional stability.”

The call came a day after Mr Al Assad travelled to Moscow to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, hoping to ease strains between the Syrian leader and neighbouring Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has sent Turkish troops into northern Syria.

Of the country’s prewar population of 23 million, more than 6.7 million people remain internally displaced with many living in camps, according to the UN.

Bundesliga fixtures

Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)

Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm) 

RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm) 

Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm) 

Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn  (4.30pm) 

Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm) 

Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)

Sunday, May 17

Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),

Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)

Monday, May 18

Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)

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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Ain Dubai in numbers

126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure

1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch

16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.

9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.

5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place

192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.

Updated: March 17, 2023, 6:59 AM