Travellers planning their next trip might want to consider a new Japan Airlines deal that allows some international visitors to book complimentary domestic flights. In the US, it's the end of an era(s) as Taylor Swift gets set to embark on the final leg of her worldwide tour, with Swiftie mania sweeping cities and Airbnb bookings going through the roof.
In the Middle East, new rules are in place for air passengers flying to Lebanon and Saudi Arabia is leading the way for tourism among G20 nations. Here is a round-up of recent travel and tourism news – in case you missed it.
Indian and Filipino travellers offered free domestic flights in Japan
Free internal transfers to any destination in Japan are being offered to some international travellers who book a Japan Airlines flight to the country.
The deal, designed to encourage international visitors to explore more of the country, is only available to travellers from the US, Mexico, Canada, Thailand, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. Travellers from the Philippines and Vietnam will be able to take advantage of the offer from Wednesday, while from Friday, it will be extended to those from India, Indonesia, China and Taiwan.
At the moment, the offer is not open to travellers from the Middle East. However, Japan Airlines said “plans are in place to extend the eligible countries”. Those who are eligible must book a domestic flight on the same booking as their international flight and stopover fees may apply to some routes.
The offer aims to ease overtourism in some popular destinations after a record-high 17 million foreign visitors arrived in the first half of this year. The main problem is the concentration of foreign travellers heading to three cities – Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto.
Swiftie mania sweeps US concert cities
Taylor Swift fever has taken over the US as the pop star gets ready to embark on the final leg of her Eras Tour. Fans are searching for concert tickets and accommodation ahead of her gigs next month. Airbnb data shows that the interest is huge.
In Indianapolis, where Swift will be playing from November 1 to 3, Airbnb searches were up 1,400 per cent compared to the same time last year. In Miami, there has been a 200 per cent increase in searches for stays in October coinciding with concert dates. Orlando is the top source market for fans outside the city looking to book Airbnb accommodation, with travellers from New York coming in a close second.
It is a similar story in Canada. In Toronto, where Swift will play a mini-residency at the Rogers Centre from November 14 to 23, Airbnb has noted a 450 per cent surge in searches, with most travelling fans coming from other Canadian cities like Calgary, Winnipeg and Montreal. In Vancouver, on Canada’s west coast, Swift is scheduled to conclude her 18-month extravaganza with three shows from December 6. The waterfront city has recorded a 900 per cent increase in searches on the same dates, with American visitors from Seattle, Portland and San Francisco leading the charge.
Economies worldwide have benefited from the highest-grossing music tour in history. During the first leg of Swift's tour in the US last year, Airbnb hosts earned more than $62 million during her concert weekends – a 38 per cent increase on the previous year.
Airlines restrict pagers and walkie-talkies on Lebanon flights
Travellers flying to and from Lebanon can no longer bring select electronic devices. The move follows the walkie-talkie detonations and pager explosions in the country last week believed to have been carried out by Israel. Lebanon's Civil Aviation Authority has since announced that travellers are no longer permitted to bring these devices on flights.
Qatar Airways also confirmed a ban on pagers and walkie-talkies on all of its flights between Doha and Beirut. “The ban applies to both checked and carry-on luggage, as well as cargo, and will be enforced until further notice,” it said.
In the UAE, no new restrictions have been communicated, however, some airlines flying to Lebanon have confirmed that they are following directives put in place by Lebanese authorities. “Flydubai follows all directives issued by the local authorities,” a representative told The National.
Meanwhile, Emirates reposted a notice about carrying electronics on flights, reminding passengers that they may not bring more than 15 personal electronic devices on flights.
Saudi Arabia is the most-visited G20 nation this year
Saudi Arabia is the most-visited G20 nation for international tourists this year, according to a new report. The UN Tourism Barometer research recorded 17.5 million visitors in the first seven months of the year – a 73 per cent increase compared to the same period pre-pandemic.
As the fastest-growing tourism destination in the G20, Saudi Arabia has already surpassed its original target of welcoming 100 million visitors by 2030. The kingdom is now aiming to attract 150 million domestic and international travellers, with new flight routes, continuing investment and easier visa schemes put in place to help the country achieve its goal.
Saudi Arabia has also reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable tourism. Speaking at the G20 tourism ministerial meeting in Brazil on Friday, Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al Khateeb said that the kingdom “shares and celebrates the G20's dedication to boost tourism growth and to put sustainability at the heart of our work”.
Al Khateeb said the growth of tourism is about more than increased revenue. “It also provides the chance for people from around the world to explore the rich culture of Saudi Arabia and for our people to experience the wonders of other countries and cultures,” he said.
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The specs: McLaren 600LT
Price, base: Dh914,000
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 600hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 620Nm @ 5,500rpm
Fuel economy 12.2.L / 100km
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
Profile of VoucherSkout
Date of launch: November 2016
Founder: David Tobias
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers
Sector: Technology
Size: 18 employees
Stage: Embarking on a Series A round to raise $5 million in the first quarter of 2019 with a 20 per cent stake
Investors: Seed round was self-funded with “millions of dollars”
How to donate
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
NYBL PROFILE
Company name: Nybl
Date started: November 2018
Founder: Noor Alnahhas, Michael LeTan, Hafsa Yazdni, Sufyaan Abdul Haseeb, Waleed Rifaat, Mohammed Shono
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Software Technology / Artificial Intelligence
Initial investment: $500,000
Funding round: Series B (raising $5m)
Partners/Incubators: Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 4, Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 6, AI Venture Labs Cohort 1, Microsoft Scale-up
US households add $601bn of debt in 2019
American households borrowed another $601 billion (Dh2.2bn) in 2019, the largest yearly gain since 2007, just before the global financial crisis, according to February data from the New York Federal Reserve Bank.
Fuelled by rising mortgage debt as homebuyers continued to take advantage of low interest rates, the increase last year brought total household debt to a record high, surpassing the previous peak reached in 2008 just before the market crash, according to the report.
Following the 22nd straight quarter of growth, American household debt swelled to $14.15 trillion by the end of 2019, the New York Fed said in its quarterly report.
In the final three months of the year, new home loans jumped to their highest volume since the fourth quarter of 2005, while credit cards and auto loans also added to the increase.
The bad debt load is taking its toll on some households, and the New York Fed warned that more and more credit card borrowers — particularly young people — were falling behind on their payments.
"Younger borrowers, who are disproportionately likely to have credit cards and student loans as their primary form of debt, struggle more than others with on-time repayment," New York Fed researchers said.
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is the most popular virtual currency in the world. It was created in 2009 as a new way of paying for things that would not be subject to central banks that are capable of devaluing currency. A Bitcoin itself is essentially a line of computer code. It's signed digitally when it goes from one owner to another. There are sustainability concerns around the cryptocurrency, which stem from the process of "mining" that is central to its existence.
The "miners" use computers to make complex calculations that verify transactions in Bitcoin. This uses a tremendous amount of energy via computers and server farms all over the world, which has given rise to concerns about the amount of fossil fuel-dependent electricity used to power the computers.
