Tucker Carlson, one of America's most influential conservative journalists, told The National on Saturday that Elon Musk has a "great" and positive influence on American society.
"Elon Musk has been great for American society so far in that he's allowed uncensored news coverage on X for which he paid $44 billion," Carlson told The National at the 1 Billion Followers Summit in Dubai.
He said that in the United States "the citizen has a right to say what he thinks" but had not always enjoyed that freedom, and Mr Musk created the space for that when he bought X. The company was originally valued at $22 billion, causing Musk $22 billion in losses.
"I think because he thought the promise of America's free speech and we didn't have it, so that is a historic addition to the United States," he added.
In a separate speech at the three-day summit, at which major social media companies and content creators are gathered, Mr Carlson said that the US prides itself on the principle of free speech, giving its citizens the right of freedom of expression.
"Every country is different, but there's one country on the globe that allows, as a matter of core principle free speech on federal, and that's the United States of America. And so you cannot let that erode," he said.
In 2022, Mr Musk acquired Twitter and merged it into his own company X Corp, with the social platform now known as X.
With social media reporting and citizen journalism taking over the media landscape, Carlson said that mainstream media are undoubtedly partisan influencers.
"During the Covid pandemic in the US or Europe, where were you getting the more accurate information? Looking back now that we know a lot of what we didn't know," he said.
He claims that mainstream American media perpetuate lies, making it hard to trust the content or pay for it. But on social media, there is a diverse range of voices that could be closer to the truth than news produced by media outlets, he said.
"The partisans on social media are no more partisan than the institutions they are replacing," he said in his speech at the summit.
Trump re-election might bring about positive change
Carlson told The National that Donald Trump approaching the beginning of his second presidency on January 20 is a moment that presents an opportunity for "positive change".
"Trump got re-elected for the second time with a four-year gap at exactly the moment that a lot of trends are coming to their natural end, like neoliberalism," Carlson said.
He remains hesitant to declare which of Mr Trump's promises will come true, and claims that the escalation of the recent California fires were a result of the alleged poor response from America's liberal administrations.
"It's just this amazing confluence of events … the current system is tapped out, ineffective, discredited," he added.
In a speech he gave at the summit, titled 'The New Rules of Influence,' he said that he supports democracy, but does not believe it cannot be effective for long-term decision making.
Although the world has already experienced Mr Trump's leadership, Mr Carlson believes his second term could be transformative, bringing about positive change.
"Trump, I mean, I think a lot could happen, a lot of really good things. If there was ever a time for positive change, it's now, and I'm hoping for it, of course," he said.
5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai
Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:
• Dubai Marina
The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104
• Downtown
Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure. “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154
• City Walk
The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena. “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210
• Jumeirah Lake Towers
Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941
• Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152
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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Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
