Emirates and flydubai have extended the suspension of flights to Khartoum.
Emirates has cancelled flights to Sudan until August 31 “at the earliest”.
In an update on its website, Emirates said the cancellations were “due to a deteriorating situation of civil unrest in Khartoum”.
“Customers connecting on Emirates or flydubai flights to Sudan will not be accepted for travel at the point of origin until further notice,” the airline said. “We regret any inconvenience caused to our customers.
“We are closely monitoring the situation in Khartoum and updates with regards to Emirates operations will be published in due course.”
Passengers who have bookings with travel agents have been advised to contact them for alternative travel arrangements or refund requests.
Travellers who booked directly with Emirates can complete the airline's refund form or contact the airline's local office for rebooking options.
Low-cost airline flydubai has also extended its suspension on services to Sudan.
“Due to the ongoing situation in Sudan, all flydubai flights between Dubai and Khartoum Airport have been temporarily suspended,” a representative for the airline told The National. “We will continue to monitor the situation closely and revise our schedule accordingly.
“The safety of our crew and passengers is our number-one priority, we apologise for the inconvenience caused to our passengers’ travel schedules.”
Flydubai normally operates a daily service to the Sudanese capital.
The National contacted Sharjah's Air Arabia for an update on the airline's flight cancellations to Khartoum. The low-cost airline had suspended flights to Sudan until further notice and booking capabilities for the route remain disabled on its website until June 1.
Several airlines suspended flights to Khartoum after fighting broke out on April 15, after weeks of tension between army chief Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan and Rapid Support Forces commander Gen Mohamed Dagalo, his deputy on the ruling, military-led Sovereign Council.
Saudi Arabia's national airline Saudia cancelled all flights to and from Khartoum until further notice after one of its planes was shot at while preparing to take-off from Khartoum airport on the first day of clashes.
Turkish Airlines has also suspended flights to and from Khartoum until May 31 at the earliest, and Qatar Airways has no flights operating between Doha and Sudan before the end of this month.
The unrest in the Sudanese capital has killed hundreds and displaced more than 700,000 people, latest UN data indicates.
The UAE has supported several evacuation flights from Sudan, with citizens from several countries arriving in the Emirates. The country has also sent several aid flights carrying medical supplies and food to Sudan in a show of solidarity with the North African nation.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
TALE OF THE TAPE
Floyd Mayweather
- Height
- Weight
- Reach
- Record
Conor McGregor
- Height
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- Reach
- Record
Company profile
Company: Eighty6
Date started: October 2021
Founders: Abdul Kader Saadi and Anwar Nusseibeh
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Hospitality
Size: 25 employees
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investment: $1 million
Investors: Seed funding, angel investors
