US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he would work to help bring an end to the war in Sudan, after he was asked to do so by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Speaking during a Saudi investment conference in Washington, Mr Trump said he began looking into the issue after Prince Mohammed explained the conflict and its origins.
“His Majesty would like me to do something very powerful having to do with Sudan,” Mr Trump said.
“It was not on my charts to be involved in, I thought it was just something that was crazy and out of control. But I just see how important that is to you and to a lot of your friends in the room, Sudan, and we're going to start working in Sudan.”
Saudi Arabia is a member of the Quad group, which also includes the US, UAE and Egypt, working to find a solution to end the war.
In a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump later said the US would work with the group to end the conflict.
“Tremendous atrocities are taking place in Sudan,” he wrote. “It has become the most violent place on Earth and, likewise, the single biggest humanitarian crisis.”
Sudan's army and the rival Rapid Support Forces continue to engage in fierce combat in several locations in Kordofan, with the paramilitary group believed to be close to seizing a major city in the region's western part.
The RSF has laid siege to Babanusa for more than a year, with troops from the army's 22nd Infantry Division fending off repeated attempts to dislodge them, including a major attack this week.
Tens of thousands are believed to have been killed in the conflict, the latest in a series of civil wars that have plagued Sudan since its independence in 1956.
Prince Mohammed “explained the whole culture and the whole history”, Mr Trump said. “It was very interesting to hear, really amazing actually to hear, and, you know, we've already started working on that.”
Massad Boulos, senior adviser to Mr Trump on Africa, said in a post on X that the US was “committed to ending the horrific conflict”.
“We are working with our partners to facilitate a humanitarian truce,” he said.
The international community, including the US, has imposed sanctions on senior Sudanese military and paramilitary officials, accusing them of war crimes, atrocities and other actions that have destabilised the country.
Sudan signed the Abraham Accords with Israel in 2021.
Mr Trump hosted Prince Mohammed at the White House on Tuesday during the Crown Prince's official visit to Washington.
After the meeting, Mr Trump announced the designation of Saudi Arabia as a major non-Nato ally.
The move will enable the US to share military technology with the kingdom and increase security co-operation. It is also a symbol of closer ties between the two nations.
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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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
The Word for Woman is Wilderness
Abi Andrews, Serpent’s Tail
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
UAE players with central contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Adnan Mufti, Mohammed Usman, Ghulam Shabbir, Ahmed Raza, Qadeer Ahmed, Amir Hayat, Mohammed Naveed and Imran Haider.
More coverage from the Future Forum
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
