• A woman receives a dose of the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine at the Sikh temple in Jebel Ali. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National
    A woman receives a dose of the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine at the Sikh temple in Jebel Ali. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National
  • Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara in Jebel Ali teamed up with Tamouh Healthcare to provide on-site Sinopharm vaccination for all UAE residents free of charge.
    Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara in Jebel Ali teamed up with Tamouh Healthcare to provide on-site Sinopharm vaccination for all UAE residents free of charge.
  • Guru Nanak Darbar hosted an event at the Sikh temple in Dubai to vaccinate 4,500 adults of various nationalities and religions in February.
    Guru Nanak Darbar hosted an event at the Sikh temple in Dubai to vaccinate 4,500 adults of various nationalities and religions in February.
  • A medic administers a shot of Sinopharm vaccine at the temple in Jebel Ali.
    A medic administers a shot of Sinopharm vaccine at the temple in Jebel Ali.
  • People wait to receive a shot of the Sinopharm vaccine at the temple.
    People wait to receive a shot of the Sinopharm vaccine at the temple.

Coronavirus: UAE reports 322 new cases and one death


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The UAE reported 322 new coronavirus cases and 399 recoveries on Tuesday.

One person died in the 24-hour period from complications, officials said.

The Emirates has recorded 733,325 infections and 2,078 deaths since the first Covid-19 case was detected on January 29 last year.

Recoveries have reached 725,254.

There are currently 5,993 active cases in the UAE.

Testing and tracing, stringent safety measures and a nationwide vaccination campaign have been credited with bringing down daily infections.

Cases have dropped since reaching about 4,000 a day in January.

An additional 340,996 tests were conducted over the 24 hours, bringing to 81,216,403 the total carried out since the beginning of the pandemic.

92.34 per cent of the population has received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine, with 81.55 per cent now fully inoculated.

Meanwhile, authorities are encouraging everyone, and especially people in vulnerable groups, to take the flu vaccine in what could be a busy winter for hospitals.

Millions of people are expected to arrive in the UAE this winter as tourism gets back on track and Expo 2020 Dubai gets under way, increasing the likelihood of a new flu virus circulating.

UAE officials have stressed that there is no danger in taking both the Covid-19 and flu vaccine, as long as there is sufficient time between doses for the body to recuperate.

A two-week gap is recommended between taking a Covid-19 vaccine and a flu vaccine.

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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

Asia Cup Qualifier

Final
UAE v Hong Kong

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Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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Updated: September 21, 2021, 2:43 PM