President Sheikh Mohamed receives Saudi Crown Prince on UAE visit

President Sheikh Mohamed welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the UAE as part of a visit on Sunday.

Sheikh Mohamed and Prince Mohammed held talks on the solid relations between the two countries during their meeting at Al Rawda Palace in Al Ain, followed by a dinner in the Crown Prince's honour.

Sheikh Mohamed sent his greetings to Saudi King Salman and his wishes for continued progress and prosperity for the country.

Prince Mohammed congratulated Sheikh Mohamed on Eid Al Etihad, the UAE's 53rd National Day, expressing his wishes for more progress and prosperity for the UAE and its people.

The two sides discussed co-operation between their countries and opportunities for developing their strategic partnership, as well as the importance of promoting joint Gulf action that contributes to security and stability in the region.

They also stressed the importance of enhancing joint Arab action in light of the difficult conditions the region is facing.

The leaders reviewed the latest developments in the region and internationally and stressed the importance of maintaining regional security and stability. They also called for a comprehensive and lasting peace in Gaza and Israel based on a two-state solution.

Sheikh Mohamed welcomed Prince Mohammed on his arrival at Al Ain airport. Also present were Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and National Security Adviser, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed, Deputy Chief of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad, Adviser of Special Affairs at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, and Sheikh Nahyan bin Saif, UAE ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Crown Prince was accompanied on his trip by Prince Khalid bin Salman, Minister of Defence, and Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki, Minister of Sports.

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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- an average of 2.1 children per woman is required to sustain population growth

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2.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,800m; Winner: Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.

3.15pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,600m; Winner: Native Appeal, Adam McLean, Doug Watson.

3.45pm: Handicap Dh115,000 1,950m; Winner: Conclusion, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.

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Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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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?

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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
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Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.

Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.

Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.

Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.

Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.

Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia

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President Sheikh Mohamed receives Saudi Crown Prince on UAE visit

Leaders hold talks on solid relations between the two countries, as well as regional and international events

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

%20Ramez%20Gab%20Min%20El%20Akher

While you're here

UAE rugby in numbers

Biog:

While you're here

Who's who in Yemen conflict

In numbers

Result

Our family matters legal consultant

How to apply for a drone permit

What are the regulations?

Dhadak

Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest

World%20Food%20Day%20

LA LIGA FIXTURES

Company%20profile