The UAE experienced record rainfall last Tuesday, leading to widespread flooding. Antonie Robertson / The National
The UAE experienced record rainfall last Tuesday, leading to widespread flooding. Antonie Robertson / The National
The UAE experienced record rainfall last Tuesday, leading to widespread flooding. Antonie Robertson / The National
The UAE experienced record rainfall last Tuesday, leading to widespread flooding. Antonie Robertson / The National

UAE announces Dh2bn fund to support Emiratis affected by floods


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The UAE on Wednesday approved a Dh2 billion ($540 million) aid package to support Emiratis affected by the country's worst storms on record.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, set out the major relief effort as he chaired a meeting of the UAE Cabinet at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi.

He said the funds would be used to address damage caused to the homes and property of citizens.

He said a committee would be established to assess the damage caused by the adverse weather, which struck the Emirates last Tuesday.

"In the Council of Ministers today, we approved an amount of 2 billion dirhams to address the damage to citizens’ homes," Sheikh Mohammed wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

"A ministerial committee was assigned to follow up on this file, inventory the damage to homes, and disburse compensation in co-operation with the rest of the federal and local authorities."

Sheikh Mohammed said the extreme weather was "unprecedented in its severity" and lessons would be learned from the deluge.

He said emergency services had received more than 200,000 calls related to the heavy flooding.

  • Tankers clearing waterlogged roads near Discovery Gardens metro station in Dubai on April 22. Pawan Singh / The National
    Tankers clearing waterlogged roads near Discovery Gardens metro station in Dubai on April 22. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Many roads in Dubai have been flooded since last week's torrential rainfall. Pawan Singh / The National
    Many roads in Dubai have been flooded since last week's torrential rainfall. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The tankers are pumping the water from the roads. Pawan Singh / The National
    The tankers are pumping the water from the roads. Pawan Singh / The National
  • School buses on hand to drive pupils through the water after the flood. Antonie Robertson / The National
    School buses on hand to drive pupils through the water after the flood. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Pupils are returning to school after many were closed due to the heavy rain and flooding. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Pupils are returning to school after many were closed due to the heavy rain and flooding. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • The clean-up is under way in District 5, Jumeirah Park. Antonie Robertson / The National
    The clean-up is under way in District 5, Jumeirah Park. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • District 5 residents deal with the aftermath of the flooding one week on. Antonie Robertson / The National
    District 5 residents deal with the aftermath of the flooding one week on. Antonie Robertson / The National

The UAE was lashed by the highest single day of rainfall in 75 years, leading to widespread flooding of homes and roads and significant disruption to travel.

Deadly floods

At least three people died in the torrential rainfall which battered large parts of the country.

An Emirati man died during fierce flash flooding on Tuesday in Ras Al Khaimah.

The citizen, who was in his 70s, was killed when his vehicle was swept away by strong currents during treacherous weather in Ras Al Khaimah.

Police said the man was attempting to travel through a flooded wadi as heavy rain battered the emirate.

Emergency response teams recovered his body.

Two people suffocated in their car in Sharjah on the same day.

The incident happened after they became trapped in their car as they travelled to their homes in Sharjah.

Maj Gen Saif Al Shamsi, commander-in-chief of Sharjah Police, told The National the two were travelling along Al Wahda Street when their vehicle became stuck in a traffic jam caused by the flooding.

“At this time, the vehicle was completely sealed, which unfortunately led to the accumulation of carbon monoxide from the running air-conditioning unit” he said.

“The autopsy confirmed their death was due to carbon monoxide poisoning."

Flood response

President Sheikh Mohamed called for a quick response from authorities.

Sheikh Mohamed expressed his appreciation for the awareness and responsibility shown by people during the adverse weather, state news agency Wam reported.

He has requested that authorities quickly work on limiting the damage caused after the country witnessed its heaviest rainfall on record.

Sheikh Mohamed also asked that necessary support be provided to all families affected by the severe weather, ordering that they be moved to safe locations in co-operation with local authorities.

  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, chairs a Cabinet meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi on April 24. All photos: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, chairs a Cabinet meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi on April 24. All photos: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, chairs a Cabinet meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, chairs a Cabinet meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, chairs a Cabinet meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, chairs a Cabinet meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, chairs a Cabinet meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, chairs a Cabinet meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, chairs a Cabinet meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, chairs a Cabinet meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, chairs a Cabinet meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, chairs a Cabinet meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, chairs a Cabinet meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, chairs a Cabinet meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, chairs a Cabinet meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, chairs a Cabinet meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid

Economy and tourism on agenda

Ministers reviewed the nation's economic progress and a positive tourism outlook during the meeting.

Sheikh Mohammed said economic partnerships agreed with more than a dozen countries would enable the country to increase exports by Dh366bn annually by 2031.

The Prime Minister said the UAE's foreign trade for all goods in services reached Dh445bn in 2023, a record figure.

The Prime Minister revealed the number of hotel guests nationwide reached 28 million in 2023, up 11 per cent on the previous year.

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

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 five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Walls

Louis Tomlinson

3 out of 5 stars

(Syco Music/Arista Records)

In numbers

1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:

  • 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
  • 150 tonnes to landfill
  • 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal

800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal

Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year

25 staff on site

 

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%3Cp%3E38.7C%20(101.7F)%20set%20in%20Cambridge%20in%202019%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog

Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi

Age: 23

How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them

Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need

Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman

Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs 

Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing

GIANT REVIEW

Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan

Director: Athale

Rating: 4/5

'Cheb%20Khaled'
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EArtist%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKhaled%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELabel%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBelieve%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
FIXTURES

December 28
Stan Wawrinka v Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
Milos Raonic v Dominic Thiem, no earlier then 7pm

December 29 - semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Stan Wawrinka / Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Milos Raonic / Dominic Thiem, no earlier then 7pm

December 30
3rd/4th place play-off, 5pm
Final, 7pm

Company profile

Date started: January, 2014

Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe

Based: Dubai

Sector: Education technology

Size: Five employees

Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.

Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENomad%20Homes%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2020%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHelen%20Chen%2C%20Damien%20Drap%2C%20and%20Dan%20Piehler%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20and%20Europe%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20PropTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2444m%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Acrew%20Capital%2C%2001%20Advisors%2C%20HighSage%20Ventures%2C%20Abstract%20Ventures%2C%20Partech%2C%20Precursor%20Ventures%2C%20Potluck%20Ventures%2C%20Knollwood%20and%20several%20undisclosed%20hedge%20funds%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Recipe: Spirulina Coconut Brothie

Ingredients
1 tbsp Spirulina powder
1 banana
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (full fat preferable)
1 tbsp fresh turmeric or turmeric powder
½ cup fresh spinach leaves
½ cup vegan broth
2 crushed ice cubes (optional)

Method
Blend all the ingredients together on high in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy. 

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

FROM%20THE%20ASHES
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Khalid%20Fahad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Shaima%20Al%20Tayeb%2C%20Wafa%20Muhamad%2C%20Hamss%20Bandar%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Rashid & Rajab

Director: Mohammed Saeed Harib

Stars: Shadi Alfons,  Marwan Abdullah, Doaa Mostafa Ragab 

Two stars out of five 

Updated: April 24, 2024, 4:37 PM