President Sheikh Mohamed inspects the Hili autonomous aircraft with representatives of LODD Autonomous. Photo: UAE Presidential Court
President Sheikh Mohamed inspects the Hili autonomous aircraft with representatives of LODD Autonomous. Photo: UAE Presidential Court
President Sheikh Mohamed inspects the Hili autonomous aircraft with representatives of LODD Autonomous. Photo: UAE Presidential Court
President Sheikh Mohamed inspects the Hili autonomous aircraft with representatives of LODD Autonomous. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

News

UAE

President Sheikh Mohamed inspects UAE-made hybrid cargo aircraft at Dubai Airshow 2025

UAE leader also holds talks with Italy's Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto at major aviation event

The National

November 19, 2025

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  • Arabic

President Sheikh Mohamed was given a glimpse of the future of aerial transport at the Dubai Airshow 2025 on Wednesday - including an Abu Dhabi-made autonomous aircraft poised to make its mark in the cargo sector.

The UAE leader viewed the innovative heavy-lift cargo aircraft, Hili, which can carry payloads of up to 250kg across distances of close to 700km.

It is powered by a hybrid propulsion system that combines electric and internal combustion technologies within a modular design, aimed at ensuring high levels of efficiency, safety and sustainability in aerial cargo operations.

The aircraft was designed, built and manufactured entirely in Abu Dhabi by the cutting-edge UAE company, LODD Autonomous.

Sheikh Mohamed also toured the pavilions of several national and international companies specialising in aircraft manufacturing and air defence systems on the third day of the aviation event, staged at Dubai World Central.

He was briefed on the latest innovations, technologies and advanced solutions on display, including civil and military aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and advanced radar systems.

President Sheikh Mohamed, right, meets Guido Crosetto, Italy's Minister of Defence, at the Dubai Airshow 2025, at Dubai World Central. Photo: UAE Presidential Court
President Sheikh Mohamed, right, meets Guido Crosetto, Italy's Minister of Defence, at the Dubai Airshow 2025, at Dubai World Central. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

On the sidelines of the event, Sheikh Mohamed met Guido Crosetto, Italy's Minister of Defence.

The two men reviewed ways to further bolster defence co-operation between the countries and discussed the importance of the Dubai Airshow as a global platform for technological advances and innovations in aviation.

Sheikh Mohamed was accompanied on the visit by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs; Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad, Adviser to the UAE President and several ministers and senior officials.

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Chatham House Rule

A mark of Chatham House’s influence 100 years on since its founding,  was Moscow’s formal declaration last month that it was an “undesirable
organisation”. 

 

The depth of knowledge and academics that it drew on
following the Ukraine invasion had broadcast Mr Putin’s chicanery.  

 

The institute is more used to accommodating world leaders,
with Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher among those helping it provide
authoritative commentary on world events. 

 

Chatham House was formally founded as the Royal Institute of
International Affairs following the peace conferences of World War One. Its
founder, Lionel Curtis, wanted a more scientific examination of international affairs
with a transparent exchange of information and ideas.  

 

That arena of debate and analysis was enhanced by the “Chatham
House Rule” states that the contents of any meeting can be discussed outside Chatham
House but no mention can be made identifying individuals who commented.  

 

This has enabled some candid exchanges on difficult subjects
allowing a greater degree of free speech from high-ranking figures.  

 

These meetings are highly valued, so much so that
ambassadors reported them in secret diplomatic cables that – when they were
revealed in the Wikileaks reporting – were thus found to have broken the rule. However,
most speeches are held on the record.  

 

Its research and debate has offered fresh ideas to
policymakers enabling them to more coherently address troubling issues from climate
change to health and food security.   

 
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

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Tomorrow 2021
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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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

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Name: Mamo 

 Year it started: 2019 Founders: Imad Gharazeddine, Asim Janjua

 Based: Dubai, UAE

 Number of employees: 28

 Sector: Financial services

 Investment: $9.5m

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Updated: November 19, 2025, 5:50 PM