Sheikh Hamdan shares travel photos of ice drilling and driving from Finnish Lapland trip

The 10 images on Instagram, where he has more than 16 million followers, show him and his entourage enjoying the snowy landscape in Finnish Lapland and pouring hot coffee into a cup over a fire. He also shared a video of himself drilling a hole in the ice to go fishing.

In another shot, he is seen driving a BMW from Lapland Driving, a company that organises motorsports events around the snowiest landscape in Europe. It has three driving centres in Levi and Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland, which sits on the Arctic Circle.

In August, he returned to the north-east of England for his annual shooting trip, this time with his twins Sheikh Rashid and Sheikha Shaikha, and shared photos of his experience.

The previous month, he posted footage of his hiking triumph in Yosemite National Park, detailing his peak-to-peak Half Dome trek at the California park. Rising more than 1,500 metres above Yosemite Valley and 2,682 metres above sea level, Half Dome is one of the most challenging hikes in Yosemite.

Spanning more than 30km, the hike is suited to seasoned mountaineers and those with high levels of physical fitness, and takes enthusiasts to the peak of Half Rock, a well-known formation at the eastern end of Yosemite Valley.

A couple of months earlier, he shared his love for Japan after a visit to the country. There was a shot of him posing with a geisha and walking the capital’s busy road crossings, as well as exploring the city’s vibrant food and drink scene. He captioned the post: “I love Japan.”

He also shared photos of his friend and regular travel companion Abdulla Al Naboodah, who joined him on the trip, alongside Maj, the son of his close friend Ahmad Jaber Al Harbi.

This time last year he was making the most of the skiing season with a trip to Courchevel in south-east France. The Alps town is part of the Three Valleys, the biggest connected ski area in the world.

Accompanied by photographer Ali Essa, Sheikh Hamdan's photos show him taking to the slopes. There are also pictures from the resort, which include Maj and Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Juma, better known as Uncle Saeed, another one of his regular travel companions.

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

Sheikh Hamdan shares travel photos of ice drilling and driving from Finnish Lapland trip

Crown Prince of Dubai posts images and footage of his excursion on Instagram

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

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