• Models showcase Gucci's autumn/winter women's collection at Milan Fashion Week. AFP
    Models showcase Gucci's autumn/winter women's collection at Milan Fashion Week. AFP
  • The fishing village of Sakrisoya, in Norway's Lofoten islands. AFP
    The fishing village of Sakrisoya, in Norway's Lofoten islands. AFP
  • A bronze replica of Michelangelo's statue of David being moved from Copenhagen's waterfront to the city's National Gallery of Denmark for an exhibition that runs until September. EPA
    A bronze replica of Michelangelo's statue of David being moved from Copenhagen's waterfront to the city's National Gallery of Denmark for an exhibition that runs until September. EPA
  • Bektashi leader Baba Mondi prays inside a temple in Tirana. Last year, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced plans to establish a sovereign Muslim microstate run by the Sufi sect with roughly 100,000 members on the land where the temple stands. It would cover 0.11 square kilometres, making it the smallest country on Earth. AFP
    Bektashi leader Baba Mondi prays inside a temple in Tirana. Last year, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced plans to establish a sovereign Muslim microstate run by the Sufi sect with roughly 100,000 members on the land where the temple stands. It would cover 0.11 square kilometres, making it the smallest country on Earth. AFP
  • Hindu devotees bathe at the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati on Shivratri, the final day of Maha Kumbh festival, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India. AP
    Hindu devotees bathe at the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati on Shivratri, the final day of Maha Kumbh festival, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India. AP
  • Israelis gather for the funeral procession of Shiri Bibas, 32, and her two children, Kfir, nine months, and Ariel, four, who were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas and whose bodies were released on February 21, in Rishon Le Zion, Israel. Reuters
    Israelis gather for the funeral procession of Shiri Bibas, 32, and her two children, Kfir, nine months, and Ariel, four, who were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas and whose bodies were released on February 21, in Rishon Le Zion, Israel. Reuters
  • Syrian police burn seized Captagon and hashish in Damascus. EPA
    Syrian police burn seized Captagon and hashish in Damascus. EPA
  • White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks at a briefing next to TV screens displaying the word 'Victory' after a judge ruled against Associated Press. The news agency had requested the immediate restoration of access after its journalists were barred for continuing to refer to the Gulf of Mexico in coverage. Reuters
    White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks at a briefing next to TV screens displaying the word 'Victory' after a judge ruled against Associated Press. The news agency had requested the immediate restoration of access after its journalists were barred for continuing to refer to the Gulf of Mexico in coverage. Reuters
  • Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Jack Dashwood warms up before a game against the San Diego Padres, in Peoria, Arizona. AP
    Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Jack Dashwood warms up before a game against the San Diego Padres, in Peoria, Arizona. AP
  • Former members of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and police officers who allegedly surrendered to M23 rebels arrive in Goma, Congo. AP
    Former members of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and police officers who allegedly surrendered to M23 rebels arrive in Goma, Congo. AP
  • MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 25: Conor Benn is seen with egg on his face whilst being held back by a member of security after Chris Eubank Jr (not pictured) throws an egg at him during a press conference at Manchester Central on February 25, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey / Getty Images)
    MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 25: Conor Benn is seen with egg on his face whilst being held back by a member of security after Chris Eubank Jr (not pictured) throws an egg at him during a press conference at Manchester Central on February 25, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey / Getty Images)

Best photos of February 26: Gucci at Milan to egg on Conor Benn’s face


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Results:

6.30pm: Handicap (Turf) | US$175,000 2,410m | Winner: Bin Battuta, Christophe Soumillon (jockey), Saeed bin Suroor (trainer)

7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (Dirt) | $100,000 1,400m | Winner: Al Hayette, Fabrice Veron, Ismail Mohammed

7.40pm: Handicap (T) $145,000 1,000m | Winner: Faatinah, Jim Crowley, David Hayes

8.15pm: Dubawi Stakes Group 3 (D) $200,000 1,200m | Winner: Raven’s Corner, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar

8.50pm: Singspiel Stakes Group 3 (T) $200,000 1,800m | Winner: Dream Castle, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor

9.25pm: Handicap (T) $175,000 1,400m​​​ | Winner: Another Batt, Connor Beasley, George Scott

The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA

Price, base / as tested Dh150,900 / Dh173,600

Engine 2.0L inline four-cylinder

Transmission Seven-speed automatic

Power 211hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque 350Nm @ 1,200rpm

Fuel economy, combined 6.4L / 100km

Juliet, Naked
Dir: Jesse Peretz
Starring: Chris O'Dowd, Rose Byrne, Ethan Hawke​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​Two stars

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DIVINE%20INTERVENTOIN
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How to avoid crypto fraud
  • Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
  • Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
  • Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
  • Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
  • Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
  • Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
  • Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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 Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable
Amitav Ghosh, University of Chicago Press

The Library: A Catalogue of Wonders
Stuart Kells, Counterpoint Press

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

What is the definition of an SME?

SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.

A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors. 

History's medical milestones

1799 - First small pox vaccine administered

1846 - First public demonstration of anaesthesia in surgery

1861 - Louis Pasteur published his germ theory which proved that bacteria caused diseases

1895 - Discovery of x-rays

1923 - Heart valve surgery performed successfully for first time

1928 - Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin

1953 - Structure of DNA discovered

1952 - First organ transplant - a kidney - takes place 

1954 - Clinical trials of birth control pill

1979 - MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, scanned used to diagnose illness and injury.

1998 - The first adult live-donor liver transplant is carried out

Tips for job-seekers
  • Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
  • Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.

David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East

TEAMS

EUROPE:
Justin Rose, Francesco Molinari, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Alex Noren, Thorbjorn Olesen, Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson

USA:
Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, Jordan Spieth,​​​​​​​ Rickie Fowler, Webb Simpson, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau ( 1 TBC)

What are NFTs?

Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.

You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”

However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.

This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”

This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.

Defence review at a glance

• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”

• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems

• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.

• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%

• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade

• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol

Power: 154bhp

Torque: 250Nm

Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option 

Price: From Dh79,600

On sale: Now

Dunki
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The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm

Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Price: from Dh155,000

On sale: now

Updated: February 26, 2025, 1:17 PM