• The UAE sent an aircraft carrying emergency food and medical aid to Afghanistan in September 2021. All photos: Wam
    The UAE sent an aircraft carrying emergency food and medical aid to Afghanistan in September 2021. All photos: Wam
  • The UAE plane carried urgent medical and food aid to Afghanistan as part of its contribution to provide the basic and necessary needs of thousands of Afghan families.
    The UAE plane carried urgent medical and food aid to Afghanistan as part of its contribution to provide the basic and necessary needs of thousands of Afghan families.
  • The aid will help meet the basic needs of thousands of Afghan families, especially the most vulnerable groups such as women, children and the elderly.
    The aid will help meet the basic needs of thousands of Afghan families, especially the most vulnerable groups such as women, children and the elderly.
  • The urgent assistance comes within the framework of the humanitarian role played by the UAE to provide full support to Afghan people in the current circumstances.
    The urgent assistance comes within the framework of the humanitarian role played by the UAE to provide full support to Afghan people in the current circumstances.
  • The aid was sent on September 3, 2021, to assist thousands of Afghan families, especially the most vulnerable, such as women, children and the elderly.
    The aid was sent on September 3, 2021, to assist thousands of Afghan families, especially the most vulnerable, such as women, children and the elderly.

UAE

UAE sends emergency food and medical aid to Afghanistan

UAE hosted up to 8,500 Afghans at Emirates Humanitarian City in Abu Dhabi last week

The National

September 03, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE has sent an aircraft carrying emergency food and medical aid to Afghanistan.

The aid was sent on Friday to assist thousands of Afghan families, especially the most vulnerable, such as women, children and the elderly.

Last week, the UAE hosted up to 8,500 Afghans at Emirates Humanitarian City in Abu Dhabi, where high-quality housing, sanitation, food and healthcare were being provided by teams from multiple UAE entities.

The evacuees were hosted in the UAE capital temporarily and were due to travel to other countries, chiefly the United States.

Upon arrival, American officials will arrange for them to settle in various parts of the country, in collaboration with a number of US government agencies, NGOs and community associations.

The UAE has become a crucial logistical hub for global evacuation efforts in Afghanistan over the past few weeks and has also helped with the evacuation of about 39,827 Afghans and foreign citizens since the crisis erupted in early August.

Britain's ambassador to the UAE thanked the Emirates for supporting international withdrawal efforts in Afghanistan. More than 15,000 people flown by Britain from Afghanistan had landed at the UAE airport in recent few weeks before travelling safely to the UK.

  • An Afghan boy is given food shortly after arriving at an accommodation centre in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Twitter/@AnwarGargash
    An Afghan boy is given food shortly after arriving at an accommodation centre in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Twitter/@AnwarGargash
  • An Emirati official welcomes Afghan evacuees to the UAE. Photo: Twitter/@AnwarGargash
    An Emirati official welcomes Afghan evacuees to the UAE. Photo: Twitter/@AnwarGargash
  • Thousands of Afghan evacuees are being brought to the UAE. Photo: Instagram/@AnwarGargash
    Thousands of Afghan evacuees are being brought to the UAE. Photo: Instagram/@AnwarGargash
  • An Afghan girl is greeted by an Emirati official after a flight from Kabul. Instagram/@AnwarGargash
    An Afghan girl is greeted by an Emirati official after a flight from Kabul. Instagram/@AnwarGargash





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Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm

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Transmission: 6-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km

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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

Expo details

Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia

The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.

It is expected to attract 25 million visits

Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.

More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020

The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area

It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South

Towering concerns
War 2

Director: Ayan Mukerji

Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana

Rating: 2/5

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Power: 190hp

Torque: 320Nm

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Updated: September 03, 2021, 11:30 AM