Louis Arnaud arrived in Paris on Thursday following his release from Iran, where he was imprisoned for more than 20 months for allegedly taking part in nationwide protests.
Mr Arnaud, who said he was only travelling in the country, was sentenced to five years in prison on security charges and held in Tehran's notorious Evin prison.
He was greeted at Paris-Le-Bourget airport by his family in the presence of French Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Sejourne.
“Louis Arnaud is free. He will be in France tomorrow after a long incarceration in Iran,” French President Emmanuel Macron said on X late on Wednesday, thanking Oman in particular for its role in obtaining his release.
French media reported that Mr Arnaud, a consultant, 35, was accused of having taken part in nationwide protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, who died after being arrested for allegedly wearing her hijab loosely, violating Iran's strict public dress code for women.
The release is rare positive news concerning the relationship between France and Iran.
Relations have deteriorated in recent months with Tehran holding four French citizens, including Mr Arnaud, in what Paris has said are arbitrary arrests equivalent to state hostage-taking.
France is also increasingly concerned by Iran's regional activities and the advancement of its nuclear programme.
Cecile Kohler, a teacher, and her partner Jacques Paris were arrested in May last year and remain in prison on espionage charges their family denies.
French authorities identified Ms Kohler and Mr Paris as a teachers’ union official and her partner on holiday in the country. Iranian authorities accused them of protesting with Iranian teachers and taking part in an anti-government rally.
The third French national detained in Iran has only been identified by his first name, Olivier.
“This evening, I also think of Cecile, Jacques and Olivier. I am calling on Iran to liberate them without delay,” Mr Macron said.
“I call on Iran to release them without delay.”
Mr Sejourne said on Thursday that France was “still working” for them to be freed.
“Our diplomacy is still mobilised,” he said. “That will be the next victory for tomorrow. But here we must be satisfied with a great diplomatic victory for France.”
Mr Arnaud’s parents, Jean-Michel and Sylvie Arnaud, previously described their son as a “simple citizen of the world”.
Evin prison – in pictures
“Our son is neither a plotter, nor a spy, nor a villain,” they said. “He's a simple citizen of the world, who wants to travel to better know and understand it.”
Mr Arnaud's parents said he had not “taken part in any protest, nor expressed ideas hostile to Iran, its government or Islam”.
Iran has frequently been accused of taking western citizens hostage to use as political bargaining chips.
Rights groups have accused Iran of trying to extract concessions from other countries through such arrests. Iran, which does not recognise dual nationality, denies taking prisoners to gain diplomatic leverage.
Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder
Started: October 2021
Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Industry: technology, logistics
Investors: A15 and self-funded
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8 UAE companies helping families reduce their carbon footprint
Greenheart Organic Farms
This Dubai company was one of the country’s first organic farms, set up in 2012, and it now delivers a wide array of fruits and vegetables grown regionally or in the UAE, as well as other grocery items, to both Dubai and Abu Dhabi doorsteps.
www.greenheartuae.com
Modibodi
Founded in Australia, Modibodi is now in the UAE with waste-free, reusable underwear that eliminates the litter created by a woman’s monthly cycle, which adds up to approximately 136kgs of sanitary waste over a lifetime.
www.modibodi.ae
The Good Karma Co
From brushes made of plant fibres to eco-friendly storage solutions, this company has planet-friendly alternatives to almost everything we need, including tin foil and toothbrushes.
www.instagram.com/thegoodkarmaco
Re:told
One Dubai boutique, Re:told, is taking second-hand garments and selling them on at a fraction of the price, helping to cut back on the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of clothes thrown into landfills each year.
www.shopretold.com
Lush
Lush provides products such as shampoo and conditioner as package-free bars with reusable tins to store.
www.mena.lush.com
Bubble Bro
Offering filtered, still and sparkling water on tap, Bubble Bro is attempting to ensure we don’t produce plastic or glass waste. Founded in 2017 by Adel Abu-Aysha, the company is on track to exceeding its target of saving one million bottles by the end of the year.
www.bubble-bro.com
Coethical
This company offers refillable, eco-friendly home cleaning and hygiene products that are all biodegradable, free of chemicals and certifiably not tested on animals.
www.instagram.com/coethical
Eggs & Soldiers
This bricks-and-mortar shop and e-store, founded by a Dubai mum-of-four, is the place to go for all manner of family products – from reusable cloth diapers to organic skincare and sustainable toys.
www.eggsnsoldiers.com
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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
