About 664 tonnes of aid have been dropped into Gaza under the Birds of Goodness operation. Photo: Ministry of Defence
About 664 tonnes of aid have been dropped into Gaza under the Birds of Goodness operation. Photo: Ministry of Defence
About 664 tonnes of aid have been dropped into Gaza under the Birds of Goodness operation. Photo: Ministry of Defence
About 664 tonnes of aid have been dropped into Gaza under the Birds of Goodness operation. Photo: Ministry of Defence

UAE sends 124 tonnes of aid to Gaza under joint air relief campaigns


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The UAE delivered a further 124 tonnes of humanitarian aid to northern Gaza in air drop operations with Egypt and Jordan.

The Ministry of Defence said late on Wednesday that an additional 90 tonnes of food and relief supplies were sent to the besieged enclave by the UAE and Egyptian air forces as part of the Birds of Goodness campaign.

It was the largest aid drop since the operation was launched at the end of February, the ministry said.

About 664 tonnes of aid have been distributed in Gaza through theinitiative.

Meanwhile, the UAE and Jordan dropped another 34 tonnes of aid to northern Gaza, the ministry said on Wednesday.

It is the third such air relief mission completed by their air forces. The continued support is central to the UAE's commitment to support the Palestinian people as the Israel-Gaza war rages on.

On Wednesday, the latest group of injured Palestinian children and cancer patients landed in Abu Dhabi to receive medical treatment.

A plane carrying 32 patients and 64 of their family members arrived at Zayed International Airport on a flight from Al Arish in Egypt, state news agency Wam reported.

The initiative is part of a directive from President Sheikh Mohamed to provide treatment for 1,000 wounded children and 1,000 cancer patients from the Gaza Strip.

The patients were taken to hospital. Their family members are to be housed at Emirates Humanitarian City, in Abu Dhabi.

The death toll in Gaza has risen to more than 32,400, with 74,889 injured since the conflict broke out in October. Most of Gaza's 2.3 million population have been displaced during the fighting.

The UN Security Council on Monday adopted a resolution to call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire that is to be “respected by all parties, leading to a lasting, sustainable ceasefire”. The resolution passed with 14 votes in favour and one abstention from the US.

It marked the first time the council passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the war.

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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

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