Live updates: follow the latest news on UAE National Day 2021
Today is the UAE's National Day, with the country putting on a special calendar of events to celebrate its Golden Jubilee.
Most people will have the day off as both the public and private sector have been granted a four-day holiday.
The National found out the best places to gather for the festivities.
1. Expo 2020 Dubai
The world's fair has announced an action-packed schedule of events taking place on National Day complete with fireworks, special performances and parades.
A seasonal festive pass for December costs Dh95, although children, students, people over 60 and disabled people are free. Nannies and drivers can also get season passes at no cost.
Gates to Expo 2020 will open at 9am and close at 2am throughout the National Day weekend.
Key events on Thursday
10.15am — As well as a flag-raising ceremony at Al Wasl Plaza, there will be high-level speeches, the National Anthem performed by a children’s choir, Al Azi poetry recitals and a traditional performance involving 60 Emirati men from all seven emirates.
12.45pm — Colours of the World Parade, featuring horses of Dubai Police and the UAE Ministry of Interior Marching Band.
1pm — Another performance of Al Azi will take place at Al Wasl Plaza. The show involves an Arabic poet leading a chorus that ‘answers’ his call.
Shortly afterwards, Dubai Police will perform a gravity-defying aerial show. This will be followed by a flyover display by the UAE Air Force aerobatics team Al Fursan.
3.15pm — Emirati singer Fatima Zahrat Alain will perform a Music in the Garden in Al Wasl Plaza.
4pm, 5pm and 6pm — Journey of a Thread live stage show at Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre in the Al Forsan Zone. This takes place every day during the National Day weekend.
5.30pm — The UAE's official 50th National Day celebrations from Hatta broadcast live at the Jubilee Stage and the Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre.
7.30pm and 10.15pm (Thursday to Saturday) — The Journey of the 50 stage show involving more than 200 people in Al Wasl Plaza. This also takes place at 7pm on Wednesday.
8pm — Fireworks over Al Wasl Avenue on all four days of the National Day weekend.
8.30pm — Emirati singer Eida Al Menhali will get the festivities under way with a rousing performance which includes Al Shallat — poetry without musical instruments, on the Jubilee Stage.
Visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai are required to have had at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, or a negative result from a test taken within 72 hours. PCR tests are free if you present your ticket at the DHA Expo 2020 Testing Facility.
2. Hatta
The UAE's official 50th National Day celebrations will take place in Hatta with a stage performance that will be broadcast live on Thursday at 5.30pm.
This event is not open to the public on National Day, but can be watched on the UAE's National Day website and all local TV channels, or on screens at Expo 2020 Dubai.
From December 4 to 12, the show will be performed again for the public. Tickets are already sold out for Saturday, but there are a limited number of tickets still available for the other days.
Proof of two vaccinations or a negative PCR test taken within the 72 hours before the event is required to attend.
3. Bluewaters Island — Dubai
There are dozens of events taking place in Dubai, at malls, hotels and restaurants.
The skies will light up as fireworks are launched from a range of locations, including the Burj Al Arab, The Pointe near Atlantis and The Palm on Palm Jumeirah.
One of the most dramatic locations to celebrate will be at Bluewaters Island, where there will be three light shows at the newly opened Ain Dubai from 6.30pm to 10pm from Wednesday to Friday.
Organisers have also planned shows by Al Ayala performers, traditional Emirati musicians and falconry experts from 3pm besides the telecast of the official Hatta celebration on big screens here.
To top it off, a three-minute firework show will take place at 8.30pm on Thursday.
If the evening is clear, visitors on both the wheel and the shore, should be able to see several simultaneous firework displays along the coast.
Extensive underground parking is available at Bluewaters Island, and it is also possible to walk over the pedestrian bridge from JBR The Beach.
Visitors are not required to show proof of vaccination, or evidence of a negative PCR test.
4. Yas Island — Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi will mark the occasion with fireworks on the Corniche and Yas Island at 9pm, with Al Maryah Island and Bawabat Al Sharq Mall also hosting events. Al Ain and Al Dhafra will launch fireworks at 9pm.
Yas Island is probably the best place to celebrate in the capital. Live entertainment will start at 5pm and run until 10pm, while a spectacular fireworks show is scheduled for 9pm.
The celebrations will mark the first in-person display since the beginning of the pandemic, although health and safety measures will still be in place.
In Abu Dhabi, for all those aged 16 and over, a green pass on your Al Hosn app is required to enter most malls, hotels, restaurants, attractions and events, including Yas Island.
This green pass appears if you are fully vaccinated, and have had a negative PCR test in the last 30 days. If you are not vaccinated, you need to take a PCR test every three days.
5. Global Village
This family-friendly venue is fantastic location to celebrate National Day, with cheap tickets and a wide range of festivities.
The vast space has a new look, a revamped floating market and a sweet Railway Market, plus look out for the fire-breathing dragon.
Special National Day events will start just before sunset at 5pm, when visitors will be treated to “a surprise daylight spectacular”, featuring the UAE colours “as you have never seen them before".
Live music concerts on the main stage on Thursday include the Luminous Years National Day operetta performed by the Ornina Theatrical Dance Company.
The show, featuring voice-overs by Emirati stars Habib Ghuloom and Fatma Alblooshi, will start at 6pm.
Afterwards, the National Youth Orchestra Dubai will play its unique rendition of the UAE national anthem as well as popular classical pieces during a 60-minute-long concert.
The group includes 60 young musicians, aged 5 to 17 years, from over 25 nationalities and led by conductor Munir Bakieh.
To cap off a night of celebrations, there will be a musical firework displays at 9pm on Thursday, and on Wednesday and Friday.
Global Village is open from 4pm to 1am every day, and tickets cost Dh15 online and Dh20 at the gate.
Guests are asked to wear a face mask at all times, and to respect social distancing, but PCR tests or proof of Covid-19 vaccination are not required for entry.
There is extensive parking available at Global Village, or there are four RTA bus routes via the park.
Dubai's skyscrapers light up for the UAE's 50th
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 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
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
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Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
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England v South Africa Test series:
First Test: at Lord's, England won by 211 runs
Second Test: at Trent Bridge, South Africa won by 340 runs
Third Test: at The Oval, July 27-31
Fourth Test: at Old Trafford, August 4-8
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company Profile
Company name: NutriCal
Started: 2019
Founder: Soniya Ashar
Based: Dubai
Industry: Food Technology
Initial investment: Self-funded undisclosed amount
Future plan: Looking to raise fresh capital and expand in Saudi Arabia
Total Clients: Over 50
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
The figures behind the event
1) More than 300 in-house cleaning crew
2) 165 staff assigned to sanitise public areas throughout the show
3) 1,000 social distancing stickers
4) 809 hand sanitiser dispensers placed throughout the venue
