Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Wednesday rejected US President Donald Trump's declared wish to see Palestinians from Gaza move to “safer” locations, including Egypt or Jordan, saying this would amount to “an act of oppression”.
The Egyptian leader, whose country has been a close US ally for nearly 50 years, said Egypt was determined to work with Mr Trump “who wishes to achieve peace based on the two-state solution”.
He added: “We believe that President Trump is capable of achieving this long-awaited goal of realising a just and permanent peace in the Middle East.”
Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, although the Middle Easter neighbours have seen their relations sour since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023.
On Wednesday, Mr El Sisi repeated his warning that the Gaza war, sparked by a deadly Hamas attack on southern Israel, had been an attempt by Israel to make life in the Palestinian enclave impossible as a prelude to evicting its population of 2.3 million.
The majority of homes in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged in Israel's military response to the attack, and most of its population displaced at least once.
The war was paused last week when Hamas and Israel accepted a deal brokered by mediators from Egypt, Qatar and the US.
“What will I say to Egyptians if I am asked to move Palestinians to Egypt? If I am ever asked to do so, the people of Egypt will take to the streets to say 'no',” Mr El Sisi said. “Displacing or evicting them is an act of oppression that we can never be part of.”
Mr Trump repeated his desire to move Palestinians from Gaza to “safer” locations, including Egypt or Jordan, on Monday, after calling on the two US allies to take people from Gaza to “clean out the whole thing” at the weekend.
Mr El Sisi forged close relations with Mr Trump during his first term as US president from 2016 to 2020. He sent him a warm congratulatory message when he won the US presidential election in November, pointing out the strategic partnership between the two nations.
However, his comments on Wednesday laid bare fundamental differences over an issue that has been at the heart of regional politics for more than 70 years and which has grown over the years to be associated with Arab identity.
Egypt, the most populous Arab nation, fought Israel in four full-fledged wars between 1948 and 1973 and despite the 1979 treaty, Israel remains the number one enemy to most Egyptians.
“It's unimaginable to deviate from or relinquish in any way the foundations of the Egyptian position on the Palestinian question,” Mr El Sisi said in his televised comments. “They are based on creating a Palestinian state and safeguarding the pillars of that state, particularly its people and territory.
“I would like to reassure the Egyptian people that there can never be any leniency toward or tolerance for any breach of Egyptian national security. The solution is the two-state solution. These are historical rights that cannot be ignored.
“A historical oppression has befallen the Palestinians during the past 70 years. The solution is not the eviction of the Palestinians but the two-state solution.”
The comments were his first since Mr Trump floated his suggestion about moving Gazans. Jordan, which also has a peace treaty with Israel, has rejected the idea.
Mr Trump said on Saturday he planned to discuss his Gaza proposals with the Egyptian leader in a telephone call the next day. But there has been no confirmation from Cairo or Washington that it took place.
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
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
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Company%20Profile
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Geneva from Dh2,845 return, including taxes. The flight takes 6 hours.
The package
Clinique La Prairie offers a variety of programmes. A six-night Master Detox costs from 14,900 Swiss francs (Dh57,655), including all food, accommodation and a set schedule of medical consultations and spa treatments.
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Napoleon
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
SPIDER-MAN%3A%20ACROSS%20THE%20SPIDER-VERSE
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
SUNDAY'S ABU DHABI T10 MATCHES
Northern Warriors v Team Abu Dhabi, 3.30pm
Bangla Tigers v Karnataka Tuskers, 5.45pm
Qalandars v Maratha Arabians, 8pm
More coverage from the Future Forum
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
