The season-ending Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is a few weeks away and preparations are in full swing to provide fans with a memorable finish to the campaign.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen seems set to secure his fourth Formula One title before arriving in the UAE, possibly denying F1 fans a thrilling fight until the end. However, there will still be a lot in play when the carnival arrives in Abu Dhabi for the final race of the championship at the Yas Marina Circuit on December 8.
Overseeing preparations for the race weekend is Saif Al Noaimi, CEO of Ethara – the management company of the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi GP.
The race week activities kick off with the National Day celebrations on December 2 at Yas Marina Circuit that will be open to the public, both visitors and ticket holders alike, and which will include entertainment, cultural activities and fireworks.
Thereafter, the final race of the World Supercross Championship will take place on December 4. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticket holders can upgrade their tickets and get access to watch two season finales just days apart.
Then, it will be all F1 with Yasalam race concerts, on-track and off-track entertainment from Thursday onwards leading up to the final race day on Sunday.
“Last year, a record 170,000 fans attended and the numbers are set to be more than that this year with the tickets for the final race already sold out,” Al Noaimi said, urging fans to purchase their tickets as early as June in future to avoid disappointment .
“The sport is growing, and the demand and interest in the sport is growing, attendance at Grand Prix events around the world is growing and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has seen record numbers year on year.
“Our ticket sales and our demands have been unprecedented. We sold out most of our products as early as June, which is six months before the Grand Prix weekend. So, the demand is unprecedented.”
Sustainability is a key focus for Abu Dhabi and Ethara is aiming to host the most sustainable race so far. Al Noaimi is really proud of how they have gone about achieving their vision .
“Sustainability has been a pillar of ours and part of our plans early on for the last few years,” he said.
“The 2023 race was the biggest event we delivered. We had the highest attendance, yet we were able to reduce our carbon footprint compared to the previous years through our sustainability initiatives - conversion of the track lights to LED, solar panels that we installed last year. Currently, we are covering over 30 per cent of our power from the solar panels.
“This year we have a sustainability partner to help us transition to more sustainable fuels, focus more on renewable energy and also identify energy efficiency opportunities.”
Al Noaimi still hopes that both the driver’s and constructor’s championships will be decided at the final race in Abu Dhabi.
The driver’s title race appears to be heavily in favour of Verstappen after his victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Verstappen, on 393 points, has a substantial lead on McLaren’s Lando Norris (331) and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (307).
The constructor’s title could go to the wire with McLaren (593), Ferrari (557) and Red Bull (544) in a close battle that could be decided in Abu Dhabi.
“The championship is very exciting this year and it's very much alive with both the driver’s and constructor’s championship up for grabs still, and hopefully they would be decided in Abu Dhabi,” Al Noaimi added.
“McLaren haven't won a constructor’s title since 1998. Ferrari in second place in the constructors and they haven't won it since 2008. And with Red Bull challenging them in third, it is very much an exciting season.
“They're going to be pushing up to the finish line in Abu Dhabi. This is also the longest season we've had, with 24 races, and it all points to a strong ending in Abu Dhabi.
“This year is a step forward for us. We have the Formula 1 race, we have the Formula 2 support race, and we also have F1 Academy ending the season in Abu Dhabi. So, there’s a lot to look forward to for the race fans.”
The championship turns into the final corner with the Las Vegas Grand Prix this weekend, followed by Qatar GP on December 1 and Abu Dhabi the following weekend.
The Good Liar
Starring: Helen Mirren, Ian McKellen
Directed by: Bill Condon
Three out of five stars
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
Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
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THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
Expert input
If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?
“There are a few shoes that have ‘grail’ status for me. But the one I have always wanted is the Nike x Patta x Parra Air Max 1 - Cherrywood. To get a pair in my size brand new is would cost me between Dh8,000 and Dh 10,000.” Jack Brett
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“If I had all the money in the world, I’d live somewhere where I’d never have to wear shoes again.” Raj Malhotra
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
MATCH INFO
Tottenham Hotspur 1
Kane (50')
Newcastle United 0
'Hocus%20Pocus%202'
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Teaching in coronavirus times
South Africa v India schedule
Tests: 1st Test Jan 5-9, Cape Town; 2nd Test Jan 13-17, Centurion; 3rd Test Jan 24-28, Johannesburg
ODIs: 1st ODI Feb 1, Durban; 2nd ODI Feb 4, Centurion; 3rd ODI Feb 7, Cape Town; 4th ODI Feb 10, Johannesburg; 5th ODI Feb 13, Port Elizabeth; 6th ODI Feb 16, Centurion
T20Is: 1st T20I Feb 18, Johannesburg; 2nd T20I Feb 21, Centurion; 3rd T20I Feb 24, Cape Town
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Directed by: Craig Gillespie
Starring: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry
4/5
