Dubai Airports said late on Monday night it had “resumed full operations” after a temporary halt caused by Iran's thwarted overnight attack on Qatar's US airbase at Al Udeid.
Two waves of Iranian missiles were fired at the base, forcing Qatar to move to close its airspace.
All of the missiles were destroyed except one that fell in the base, which had been evacuated, a Qatari military official said.
Qatar reopened its airspace in the early hours of Tuesday.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation announced the resumption of air traffic in Qatar's airspace, according to Qatar News Agency.
Dubai Airports – which operates Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport – said it was working with airlines to ensure flights operated as scheduled but said travellers' plans may be disrupted.
“Dubai Airports has resumed full operations at its airports in the emirate following a temporary precautionary pause,” a Dubai Airports statement said.
“The safety and well-being of all travellers and aviation staff remain the highest priority. While Dubai Airports is working with airlines to ensure flights operate according to schedule, some flights may experience delays or cancellations.
“Travellers are advised to stay informed by checking regularly with their airlines for the latest updates.”
Flights diverted after air strike
Flights were diverted to airports across the region after Qatar said on Monday that it was temporarily closing its airspace.
Dozens of planes headed to Doha were rerouted, with AirNav Radar reporting that 91 flights travelling towards Qatar’s capital were diverted after the announcement. Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Dammam were reportedly among the list of new destinations for travellers.
Qatar’s move came “as part of a group of precautionary measures that were taken based on the developments in the region”, the country’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement after nearby Iran threatened retaliation for US strikes on its nuclear sites.
The UK and US issued alerts to their citizens in Qatar to shelter in place amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
“Following a US security alert for US nationals in Qatar, out of an abundance of caution, we recommend that British nationals in Qatar shelter in place until further notice,” the UK Foreign Office said in its update.
The US embassy in Qatar sent an email to US citizens in the country recommending they shelter in place until further notice. The message said the recommendation was “out of an abundance of caution” and offered no further information.
The region was braced possible Iranian retaliation against US interests in the Middle East after Washington bombed Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday, entering the Iran-Israel conflict for the first time.
US President Donald Trump said on Monday night that Iran and Israel have agreed to a 12-hour ceasefire, but Tehran has pushed back on this claim.
The ceasefire is expected to be enacted at about 12am Washington time, “at which point the war will be considered ended”, Mr Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
“Officially, Iran will start the ceasefire and, upon the 12th hour, Israel will start the ceasefire and, upon the 24th hour, an official end to the 12-day war will be saluted by the world,” he said.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday that there is currently no agreement on a ceasefire between his country and Israel.
“As Iran has repeatedly made clear: Israel launched war on Iran, not the other way around,” he said in a post on X.
Mr Araghchi added, however, that if Israel stops its “illegal aggression against the Iranian people no later than 4am Tehran time, we have no intention to continue our response afterwards”.
“The final decision on the cessation of our military operations will be made later,” he said.
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
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Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
THE SPECS
Cadillac XT6 2020 Premium Luxury
Engine: 3.6L V-6
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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
The Sky Is Pink
Director: Shonali Bose
Cast: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim, Rohit Saraf
Three stars
New process leads to panic among jobseekers
As a UAE-based travel agent who processes tourist visas from the Philippines, Jennifer Pacia Gado is fielding a lot of calls from concerned travellers just now. And they are all asking the same question.
“My clients are mostly Filipinos, and they [all want to know] about good conduct certificates,” says the 34-year-old Filipina, who has lived in the UAE for five years.
Ms Gado contacted the Philippines Embassy to get more information on the certificate so she can share it with her clients. She says many are worried about the process and associated costs – which could be as high as Dh500 to obtain and attest a good conduct certificate from the Philippines for jobseekers already living in the UAE.
“They are worried about this because when they arrive here without the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] clearance, it is a hassle because it takes time,” she says.
“They need to go first to the embassy to apply for the application of the NBI clearance. After that they have go to the police station [in the UAE] for the fingerprints. And then they will apply for the special power of attorney so that someone can finish the process in the Philippines. So it is a long process and more expensive if you are doing it from here.”
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
Where to buy
Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com
