Etihad Airways cancels flights from Abu Dhabi to Madinah until March

Etihad Airways has temporarily cancelled flights from Abu Dhabi to Madinah in Saudi Arabia.

Travellers booked to fly to the kingdom's holy city from the UAE capital will no longer be able to, as the airline has paused flights between the destinations until the end of March.

The decision has been made because of “operational reasons”, said a representative for the UAE’s national airline.

“Etihad regrets to advise that passenger services between Abu Dhabi and Madinah have been cancelled until March 28, 2022, due to operational reasons.

"Our teams are actively reaching out to affected travellers to provide them with alternative travel options or full refunds,” said the Etihad representative.

Etihad is offering travellers alternative flights or full refunds. Unsplash / Fabien Joy

Travellers who purchased flight tickets for the route via a travel agent should contact their agency directly for assistance on rebooking and refunds.

The airline also apologised for the inconvenience caused to guests by the operational change.

Located in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, Madinah is a three-hour flight from Abu Dhabi.

The city is home to the Prophet Mohammed’s Mosque and burial site and is an important holy place for Muslim pilgrims.

Etihad resumed thrice-weekly flights to the city in November last year, making it the airline’s fourth destination in the kingdom after Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh.

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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

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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme

Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.

The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.

It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.

The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.

Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”

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