Follow the latest updates on the Covid-19 pandemic here
Residents of any UAE emirate and holders of “all types” of visas including residence and employment documents from India, are now permitted to fly to Dubai, airlines have confirmed.
Authorities this week confirmed that travellers from any country can apply for a visit visa for the Emirates, provided they are fully vaccinated with a WHO-approved shot.
The move affects travellers from 14 countries, from where travel to the UAE was banned earlier this year, including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, over concerns about increasing coronavirus cases.
There are many who have recently got jobs or who have sponsored their families so the husband has got residency and is waiting for his wife and kids to come to the UAE
Godly Babukutty,
Epic Travel
Until now, only residents were permitted to return to the UAE from those countries and they had to be vaccinated in the Emirates to qualify.
Dubai, which sets its own immigration and coronavirus rules, does not require residents to be vaccinated to return.
In a letter addressed to travel agents across the UAE on Monday, Air India confirmed any visa holder can now obtain permission to travel to Dubai.
“Holders [of] all type of visa and/or entry permission granted by the appropriate authority in the United Arab Emirates (i.e. employment visa, short stay/long stay visa, visit visa, residence visa, newly issued etc) are permitted to travel to Dubai, effective from Monday, August 30 at 0001hrs,” it said.
Residents must first obtain approval from either the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) or General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs before they are permitted to travel.
The rule does not apply to tourists, said the airline.
Emirates airline confirmed UAE residents with visas issued in any emirate can also now land in Dubai.
"As per the current update, all UAE residents, newly issued residence or employment visas, short stay/long-stay visa, visit visa, visa on arrival will be accepted for travel to Dubai. Passengers travelling with a UAE Resident visa must have GDRFA or ICA approval," a customer service representative replied in a tweet to a query from a customer.
All those travelling to the UAE from previously banned countries should present a negative Covid-19 test certificate issued within 48 hours before their flight.
They must also take a rapid PCR test at the airport within six hours of departure.
Dubai Civil Aviation Authorities issued these re-entry guidelines to all airlines for all visas effective from August 30.
Residents welcomed the news that tourist visas will once again be open to travellers from the 14 countries, and said the move would help reunite families who have been separated since travel was first restricted in April.
Febin Sillumon aims to book his parents on the first flight to Dubai from Kochi, Kerala to help care for his 1-year-old son Abram.
He usually has his parents or mother-in-law visiting through the year and prefers to leave the child with family instead of a babysitter.
“We heard the good news that visas have opened so on the first flight we will try to get my parents to Dubai,” the 30 year old said.
“We have an urgent requirement for them to help take care of our baby.”
His wife works as a nurse and took time off to look after the child when her mother left for India last month.
Abram started day care for the first time on Monday and Mr Sillumon was anxious after receiving phone calls that the child would not stop crying.
“We have never left him with a babysitter before. There is always family at home. He has stranger anxiety and when I hear that he is crying, it is very tough,” he said.
Others are hopeful the announcement will open the doors for wives and children to join them in the Emirates.
“This is not just for tourists but new resident visa holders. There are many who have recently got jobs or who have sponsored their families so the husband has got residency and is waiting for his wife and kids to come to the UAE,” said Godly Babukutty, an agent at Epic Travel in Dubai.
"It will mean a lot to these families."
Gaurav Sinha, chief executive and chief strategist at Insignia Worldwide, a destination design, strategy and placemaking consultancy based in the UAE, said the pandemic has “played havoc” with the global tourism and hospitality sectors and the uncertainty and sudden changes in rules has crippled the industry.
“Dubai’s recent announcement to welcome any and all tourists is a bold and positive move as it brings coherence and clarity to this situation,” he said.
“Dubai has made strides ever since the pandemic started, with a forward-facing perspective on preventative measures.
"It’s also a tribute to the civic duty and law-abiding residents of Dubai who are complying with the rules and regulations.."
The UAE temporarily halted passenger flights this year from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa, Zambia, Nigeria, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Namibia, Liberia, Vietnam and the Democratic Republic of Congo over concerns about coronavirus cases and variants of the virus.
Airlines have been asked to make sure the required tests have been done and not permit passengers who do not meet the criteria to board.
Should airlines transport passengers who do not meet the guidelines, the company will be held responsible and will have to return the traveller to the country of original departure.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
What is a calorie?
A food calorie, or kilocalorie, is a measure of nutritional energy generated from what is consumed.
One calorie, is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1°C.
A kilocalorie represents a 1,000 true calories of energy.
Energy density figures are often quoted as calories per serving, with one gram of fat in food containing nine calories, and a gram of protein or carbohydrate providing about four.
Alcohol contains about seven calories a gram.
Despacito's dominance in numbers
Released: 2017
Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon
Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube
Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification
Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.
Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards
((Disclaimer))
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
From Conquest to Deportation
Jeronim Perovic, Hurst
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
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Day 3 stumps
New Zealand 153 & 249
Pakistan 227 & 37-0 (target 176)
Pakistan require another 139 runs with 10 wickets remaining
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
