Flydubai has unveiled the first pictures of its new business class suites.
Dubai's low-cost airline will add 10 private premium suites on select flights this year, with the first planes featuring the new business suites joining the fleet in November.
The new suites have been designed exclusively for single-aisle aircraft and flydubai is the first airline in the world to introduce the new seats — each of which gives passengers direct aisle access — on a Boeing aircraft.
The low-cost airline unveiled the suites on the first day of the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai.
Today, we are proud to unveil a new premium product which rivals the business class experience offered by many airlines on wide-body aircraft
Ghaith Al Ghaith,
Flydubai
The suites will feature on a further six flydubai aircraft in the first quarter of next year, with priority on jets serving the airline's longer routes.
Each seat allows passengers to choose their level of privacy, with the option to close doors for a fully enclosed experience or to fly in more traditional open-plan seating. All passengers will have a 17-inch, built-in touchscreen monitor, compatible with Bluetooth headphones.
There is additional storage space for travellers and suites have ambient lighting providing a relaxing atmosphere.
“Flydubai is committed to exceeding expectations. Our business and product offerings have evolved from the initial no-frills model over the past 14 years to cater to the ever-growing needs of our customers and the markets we operate to," said Ghaith Al Ghaith, chief executive.
"Today, we are proud to unveil a new premium product which rivals the business class experience offered by many airlines on wide-body aircraft. We will continue to invest in innovation to enhance the customer experience across our growing fleet."
Flydubai first introduced business class cabins in October 2013.
Recliner business class seats are available on select Boeing 737 Max 8 jets serving short and medium-haul flights. Lie-flat business-class seats can be found on select medium and long-haul flydubai routes.
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Etihad unveils new Dreamliner business class suites
Etihad Airways also used the first day of the Arabian Travel Market to unveil its new business-class suites.
The Abu Dhabi airline's new interiors are being introduced on its new Boeing 787 Dreamliners, joining the fleet in the third quarter of this year.
Each business suite features privacy doors and the airline has increased the height of the suites from its previous design aboard its Airbus A350 models to give travellers even more privacy.
The fully reclining seats offer some of the longest lie-flat beds in the air and some of the largest entertainment screens — featuring 17.3-inch monitors with Bluetooth headphone pairing. Suites also have several charging ports including wireless charging and plenty of storage.
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The Cockroach
(Vintage)
Ian McEwan
Best Academy: Ajax and Benfica
Best Agent: Jorge Mendes
Best Club : Liverpool
Best Coach: Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
Best Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker
Best Men’s Player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Best Partnership of the Year Award by SportBusiness: Manchester City and SAP
Best Referee: Stephanie Frappart
Best Revelation Player: Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid and Portugal)
Best Sporting Director: Andrea Berta (Atletico Madrid)
Best Women's Player: Lucy Bronze
Best Young Arab Player: Achraf Hakimi
Kooora – Best Arab Club: Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Kooora – Best Arab Player: Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al-Nassr FC, Saudi Arabia)
Player Career Award: Miralem Pjanic and Ryan Giggs
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Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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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