• For one night, 15 guests (including a plus one) will have the opportunity to watch the Olympics opening ceremony from a garden on top of Musee d’Orsay's terrace in Paris. All photos: Walter-Romand
    For one night, 15 guests (including a plus one) will have the opportunity to watch the Olympics opening ceremony from a garden on top of Musee d’Orsay's terrace in Paris. All photos: Walter-Romand
  • The gallery offers sweeping panoramic views of the city and the Seine
    The gallery offers sweeping panoramic views of the city and the Seine
  • Mathieu Lehanneur, the designer of the Olympic Torch and Cauldron for the Paris games, will be the host for the evening
    Mathieu Lehanneur, the designer of the Olympic Torch and Cauldron for the Paris games, will be the host for the evening
  • The event, which is free, will take place on July 26 from 6pm until 1am
    The event, which is free, will take place on July 26 from 6pm until 1am
  • This year's Olympic parade – which is expected to feature 10,500 athletes – will pass through central Paris
    This year's Olympic parade – which is expected to feature 10,500 athletes – will pass through central Paris
  • An art tour, tasting and refreshments workshop, light bites and a DJ set will also be part of the experience
    An art tour, tasting and refreshments workshop, light bites and a DJ set will also be part of the experience
  • The experience from Airbnb does not include travel and accommodation
    The experience from Airbnb does not include travel and accommodation

Watch the Paris Olympics opening ceremony from the top of the Musee d'Orsay with Airbnb


Evelyn Lau
  • English
  • Arabic

Airbnb is offering a unique experience for fans during the Paris Olympic Games.

For one night, guests will have the opportunity to watch the opening ceremony from the garden terrace of the Musee d’Orsay on July 26 from 6pm.

This year's Olympic parade – which is expected to feature 10,500 athletes – will pass through central Paris, and the museum's location provides an ideal viewing spot. Guests on the terrace will have a clear view of the parade, along with panoramic views of the city and the Seine.

The evening will be hosted by Mathieu Lehanneur, the designer of the Olympic Torch and Cauldron for the Paris games.

“As a French designer, being part of such a significant global event taking place in Paris is an honour. Hosting this evening allows me to share my passion for both art and the Olympics with fans from around the world,” he said.

The night will begin with a guided tour of the museum, home to the world’s largest collection of Impressionist art, led by an art historian.

Following the tour, there will be a tasting and refreshments workshop by Margot LeCarpentier, who was named the most influential bartender in Paris by the World’s Best Bar list in 2020.

Light bites inspired by French flavours will also be served. Additionally, the evening will feature a DJ set by Kirou, the founder of the Paris-based art and music collective 99Ginger.

Booking for this event will open at 5pm UAE time on June 13. Fifteen guests will be selected, allowing a plus one each, meaning there will be 30 people in total. Travel and accommodation is not included.

For more information, visit www.airbnb.com

Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.

Based: Riyadh

Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany

Founded: September, 2020

Number of employees: 70

Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions

Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds  

Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
  • Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
THE BIO

Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.

Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.

Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.

Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.

 

 

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

Updated: June 08, 2024, 10:16 AM