Live updates: Follow the latest on Syria
Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to President Sheikh Mohamed said on Wednesday that the UAE “presents a successful regional model to be emulated” amid a battle for control in Syria, after the fall of Bashar Al Assad.
Hayat Tahrir Al Sham may have established itself as the leading authority in Damascus, but the situation remains far from certain with Turkish-backed rebels advancing across north-eastern Syria attempting to take territory controlled by US-backed Kurdish militias.
However, Dr Gargash said that the UAE will never be a nation telling “anyone what to do” and that the country’s years of success amount to a message “stronger than any slogans or ideologies”.
“In a region rife with conflicts, the UAE does not dictate to anyone what to do, but rather presents a successful regional model to be emulated,” Dr Gargash wrote on X. “More than five decades of stability, justice and prosperity, a towering edifice stronger than any slogans or ideologies.”
“Our achievements speak for us, and our message is honest and clear,” he added.
'A major failure in politics and policy'
It comes after comments he made at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain on Sunday, where he warned that Syria could struggle to keep its status as a sovereign nation.
Speaking after Mr Al Assad boarded a plane from Damascus to Moscow, he said: “There was a major failure in politics and policy because Assad didn't use the lifeline that was thrown to him by various Arab countries, including the UAE, and overtures to open to Turkey.
“We gave him advice. The collapse of the regime is in part due to political failure. There is a real concern about Syria holding itself as a sovereign country. Where Bashar Al Assad goes is a footnote in history. The main concern for us is really the territorial integrity of Syria.”
Syria finds itself in a complex situation after more than 13 years of war, with an array of opposition groups grappling for power. Future challenges over the division of control among new government structures also remain.
In his closing remarks on Sunday, Dr Gargash added that “violence is devastating lives” in conflicts across the Middle East, stressing that it was vital to prevent non-state actors from going unchecked.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The drill
Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.
Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”
Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”
Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”
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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