Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi sounded like a man who has had enough of Israel's actions when he addressed the Arab-Islamic summit in Qatar this week. He called Israel an “enemy” – the first time an Egyptian leader has done so publicly in decades – and warned the 1979 peace treaty between them would be annulled if the current situation continued.
“Don't allow the work for peace done by those before us go to waste. If you do, regret will be of no use,” he said at the summit on Monday.
Mr El Sisi has been steadily stepping up his criticism of Israel in recent months, calling it out for starving Palestinians in Gaza and describing its military operation in the Palestinian territory as genocide.
Beneath the talk, however, the former army general is quietly putting his army, the Middle East's largest, on a war footing to deal with the eventuality of Israel making living conditions in Gaza so intolerable that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians pour across the border into Egypt.
Mr El Sisi has repeatedly stated that any movement of Palestinians into Egypt, whether voluntary or forced, would be a red line that he would not tolerate.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed in an interview this month that he would allow Gazans to leave through the Rafah crossing with Egypt but that “they would be blocked”.
His comment drew a sharp Egyptian response, with government statements suggesting that such a move would be a declaration of war.
“The Egyptian red line has not yet been breached by Israel but no one can guarantee that this will not happen given the immense and barbaric pressure on Gaza residents that's pushing them towards the south,” said Diaa Rashwan, head of Egypt's State Information Service.
As a precaution, Egypt has been exploring the consequences of mass Palestinian movement as a result of Israel's policies, according to Mr Rashwan.
Sources told The National that the likelihood of Egypt going to war with Israel remains low, but Mr El Sisi and his government are taking a host of military, logistical and mobilisation steps that they hope will deter the Israelis.
Egypt, the sources said, has recently deployed the Chinese-made, cutting-edge, HQ-9B air defence system in Sinai, the location of all four of its wars with Israel between 1948 and 1973.
Egypt has also been beefing up its forces in Sinai, with unconfirmed media reports talking about a new network of tunnels, heavily-protected aircraft hangars and airstrips.
Egyptian troops stationed at the border with Gaza are literally a stone's throw away from Israeli soldiers, who in May 2024 seized the narrow strip that runs the length of the border on the Palestinian side as well as the Rafah land crossing.
The sources also said that thousands of Sinai tribesmen who had been armed by the military to fight extremists in northern Sinai were being readied to play a supporting role if hostilities break out.
Egypt's military has also been building up emergency supplies of fuel, food and medicine, they said, while boosting efforts to ensure that the nation of 107 million has sufficient reserves of wheat, flour and cooking oil.
Domestic security agencies, the sources said, have run exhaustive drills in Sinai and Suez Canal cities to gauge the readiness of special police units to deal with the eventuality of terror attacks or dissidents taking advantage of any war to foment unrest.
The state-influenced media and pro-government social media accounts have also been supporting patriotic narratives and trying to instil confidence in Mr El Sisi's leadership and the capability of his military.
Some television talk shows have been reminding Israel that Tel Aviv is only a short distance away from the Egyptian border and warned that going to war today would be worse than the last conflict in 1973.
Mr El Sisi's address at the Qatar summit came less than a week after Israel struck a residential district in the capital Doha in a bid to assassinate senior Hamas leaders who have been indirectly negotiating with Israeli delegates on an end to the Gaza war and the release of hostages.
The leaders, according to Hamas, survived the Israeli strike, which killed at least six people, five of them associated with the group.
The leaders attacked in Doha are frequently in Cairo, where they have since the start of the 23-month Gaza war held talks with Egyptian officials acting as mediators alongside representatives from Qatar and the US.
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Mica
Director: Ismael Ferroukhi
Stars: Zakaria Inan, Sabrina Ouazani
3 stars
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Results
Stage three:
1. Stefan Bissegger (SUI) EF Education-EasyPost, in 9-43
2. Filippo Ganna (ITA) Ineos Grenadiers, at 7s
3. Tom Dumoulin (NED) Jumbo-Visma, at 14s
4. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE-Team Emirates, at 18s
5. Joao Almeida (POR) UAE-Team Emirates, at 22s
6. Mikkel Bjerg (DEN) UAE-Team Emirates, at 24s
General Classification:
1. Stefan Bissegger (SUI) EF Education-EasyPost, in 9-13-02
2. Filippo Ganna (ITA) Ineos Grenadiers, at 7s
3. Jasper Philipsen (BEL) Alpecin Fenix, at 12s
4. Tom Dumoulin (NED) Jumbo-Visma, at 14s
5. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE-Team Emirates, at 18s
6. Joao Almeida (POR) UAE-Team Emirates, at 22s
How to donate
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
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6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
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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
