Breaking: Abu Dhabi blasts a 'sinful' attack by Houthi militia says senior UAE official
Three petroleum tankers exploded in Abu Dhabi after a fire broke out near Adnoc storage tanks on Monday, leaving three people dead and six injured.
The explosions happened in ICAD 3, Mussaffah, near Mohamed bin Zayed City at around 10am.
Abu Dhabi Police said it resulted in the death of one Pakistani and two Indians and the injury of six others. Their injuries were mild to moderate.
A smaller fire was also reported in the new construction area of Abu Dhabi International Airport.
Emergency services personnel rushed to the scenes. Police later confirmed the fires were brought under control.
Preliminary investigations suggest small flying objects, "possibly related to drones", fell into the areas and started the fires, state news agency Wam reported. Authorities have launched an investigation.
At this time, the entire Adnoc family extends its deepest sympathy to the family and friends of our colleagues who died this morning
Adnoc statement
Adnoc said in a statement: "At approximately 10.00am this morning, an incident occurred at our Mussaffah Fuel Depot in Abu Dhabi which resulted in the outbreak of a fire.
"Emergency response teams, including civil defence, fire and ambulance responders as well as an Adnoc emergency response team quickly attended the scene, and the fire was brought under control and extinguished.
"Adnoc is deeply saddened to confirm that three colleagues have died. A further six colleagues were injured and received immediate specialist medical care.
"Professional support teams are supporting the families of all those who have been impacted.
"At this time, the entire Adnoc family extends its deepest sympathy to the family and friends of our colleagues who died this morning.
"We are working closely with the relevant authorities to determine the exact cause and a detailed investigation has commenced."
At the airport, a small fire in an under-construction extension was reported.
Etihad Airways said there was limited disruption to flights. Services soon resumed as normal.
Houthis blamed for deliberate blast
Speaking on Monday night, a top Emirati official said the explosions were a deliberate and "sinful attack on civilian facilities" by Yemen's Houthi militia,
Dr Anwar Gargash, an special adviser to the UAE president, described the group as "terrorist militia" after two blasts in the capital.
Dr Gargash said: "Authorities in the UAE are dealing transparently and responsibly with the sinful Houthi attack on some civilian facilities in Abu Dhabi’."
He went on to say that "the tampering of terrorist militias with the stability of the region is too weak to affect the journey of security and safety that we live in, and the fate of this reckless and absurdity will be demise and defeat".
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: SimpliFi
Started: August 2021
Founder: Ali Sattar
Based: UAE
Industry: Finance, technology
Investors: 4DX, Rally Cap, Raed, Global Founders, Sukna and individuals
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
TOUCH RULES
Touch is derived from rugby league. Teams consist of up to 14 players with a maximum of six on the field at any time.
Teams can make as many substitutions as they want during the 40 minute matches.
Similar to rugby league, the attacking team has six attempts - or touches - before possession changes over.
A touch is any contact between the player with the ball and a defender, and must be with minimum force.
After a touch the player performs a “roll-ball” - similar to the play-the-ball in league - stepping over or rolling the ball between the feet.
At the roll-ball, the defenders have to retreat a minimum of five metres.
A touchdown is scored when an attacking player places the ball on or over the score-line.
