Chris Martin and his band Coldplay will play Al Wasl Plaza on February 15. AP
Chris Martin and his band Coldplay will play Al Wasl Plaza on February 15. AP
Chris Martin and his band Coldplay will play Al Wasl Plaza on February 15. AP
Chris Martin and his band Coldplay will play Al Wasl Plaza on February 15. AP

UAE

Expo 2020 Dubai warning over fraudsters selling free Coldplay tickets for Dh600

Organisers says people who buy them face the risk of being turned away

Sarwat Nasir
Sarwat Nasir

February 13, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Expo 2020 Dubai has warned visitors against buying tickets for the Coldplay concert from fraudsters who are taking advantage of the free event.

Coldplay play Al Wasl Plaza on February 15. Limited tickets were available for the free event, which is fully booked.

Con men are now selling the tickets for Dh400 to Dh600 ($108-163) and have posted ads on Dubizzle, the online classifieds platform.

“We are aware that some free tickets for Coldplay's concert on 15 February are being re-sold for money online,” Expo 2020 Dubai organisers tweeted on Sunday.

“We caution visitors against paying money to an untrusted source.

“The original purchaser may distribute more than one copy of the same ticket, thus leading to fraudulent sales.”

Each ticket has a unique QR code that can be used only once. Organisers said that anyone who tried to enter the venue with a code that had already been used would be turned away.

An advert on online classifieds platform Dubizzle, where a scam artist is trying to sell a Coldplay concert ticket for Dh450. The concert is a free event by Expo 2020 Dubai. Photo: Dubizzle screenshot
An advert on online classifieds platform Dubizzle, where a scam artist is trying to sell a Coldplay concert ticket for Dh450. The concert is a free event by Expo 2020 Dubai. Photo: Dubizzle screenshot

Visitors also have the option to watch the British band on the big screens at Jubilee Park, Festival Garden and Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre, where access is granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Fans can also watch the concert online on Virtual Expo and Expo 2020's YouTube and Expo TV channel.

Ultramarathon at Expo 2020 lake: in pictures

  • Participants competing in the Al Marmoom Ultramarathon at Expo 2020 Dubai Lake. All photos: Ruel Pableo for The National
    Participants competing in the Al Marmoom Ultramarathon at Expo 2020 Dubai Lake. All photos: Ruel Pableo for The National
  • People took part in the 50km desert ultra-race or the 5km dune run.
    People took part in the 50km desert ultra-race or the 5km dune run.
  • Saeed Hareb, secretary general of Dubai Sports Council, and Mustafa Al Khalfawi, head of global banking UAE at FAB, plant a ghaf tree at the Expo 2020 Dubai Lake.
    Saeed Hareb, secretary general of Dubai Sports Council, and Mustafa Al Khalfawi, head of global banking UAE at FAB, plant a ghaf tree at the Expo 2020 Dubai Lake.
  • And they're off: the 50km marathon gets under way.
    And they're off: the 50km marathon gets under way.
  • Al Khalfawi with the winners (men) of the 5km race - Paul Komo in first place; Mohammed Al Hassani, second, and Ebrahim Al Shamsi, third.
    Al Khalfawi with the winners (men) of the 5km race - Paul Komo in first place; Mohammed Al Hassani, second, and Ebrahim Al Shamsi, third.
  • Participants prepare for the marathon.
    Participants prepare for the marathon.
  • Hareb with the female winners of the 5km race - Ari Bekker, first; Akemi Hoshi-i-Maikranz, second, and Greta Treeby, third.
    Hareb with the female winners of the 5km race - Ari Bekker, first; Akemi Hoshi-i-Maikranz, second, and Greta Treeby, third.
  • Runners warm up before the race.
    Runners warm up before the race.
  • The sun was out on race day.
    The sun was out on race day.
  • Proud participants pose with their medals after completing the race.
    Proud participants pose with their medals after completing the race.
  • Selfies and smiles at the finish line.
    Selfies and smiles at the finish line.
  • Runners brave the desert heat.
    Runners brave the desert heat.
  • Proud participants pose with their medals.
    Proud participants pose with their medals.
  • Two women pose with their medals after completing the 5km race.
    Two women pose with their medals after completing the 5km race.
  • Participants had their physical endurance, courage, and determination put to the test.
    Participants had their physical endurance, courage, and determination put to the test.
  • The course went through various types of desert landscapes.
    The course went through various types of desert landscapes.
  • The Ultramarathon was organised following demand from runners looking for challenging competitions.
    The Ultramarathon was organised following demand from runners looking for challenging competitions.
  • The 5km race is perfect for people who are new to running.
    The 5km race is perfect for people who are new to running.
  • The 50km race attracted some of the best runners from across the region and from among the international ultra-running elite.
    The 50km race attracted some of the best runners from across the region and from among the international ultra-running elite.
  • A finisher of the 50km race is given a medal at Al Marmoom Ultramarathon at Expo 2020 Park.
    A finisher of the 50km race is given a medal at Al Marmoom Ultramarathon at Expo 2020 Park.
  • A 50km finisher shows off his medal at Al Marmoom Ultramarathon.
    A 50km finisher shows off his medal at Al Marmoom Ultramarathon.
  • The 50km female race winner Ivan Kolavic stands with third-place finisher Carla Andre on the victory stand, (second-place winner Zoe Cresswell is not in the picture) at Al Marmoom Ultramarathon at Expo 2020 Park.
    The 50km female race winner Ivan Kolavic stands with third-place finisher Carla Andre on the victory stand, (second-place winner Zoe Cresswell is not in the picture) at Al Marmoom Ultramarathon at Expo 2020 Park.
  • Participants of the 50km race at the end line at Al Marmoom Ultramarathon.
    Participants of the 50km race at the end line at Al Marmoom Ultramarathon.
  • Participants of the 50km race arriving at the finish line.
    Participants of the 50km race arriving at the finish line.
  • Winners of the 50km men's race: Rachid El Morabity in first place, Salameh Al Aqra in second, and Gareth Gallagher in third, with Mustafa Al Khalfawi, head of global banking UAE at FAB.
    Winners of the 50km men's race: Rachid El Morabity in first place, Salameh Al Aqra in second, and Gareth Gallagher in third, with Mustafa Al Khalfawi, head of global banking UAE at FAB.
  • A participant in the 50km race gestures as he arrives at the finish line at Al Marmoom Ultramarathon.
    A participant in the 50km race gestures as he arrives at the finish line at Al Marmoom Ultramarathon.
  • A participant reaches the finish line at Al Marmoom Ultramarathon.
    A participant reaches the finish line at Al Marmoom Ultramarathon.
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

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

'Laal Kaptaan'

Director: Navdeep Singh

Stars: Saif Ali Khan, Manav Vij, Deepak Dobriyal, Zoya Hussain

Rating: 2/5

The Voice of Hind Rajab

Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

Walls

Louis Tomlinson

3 out of 5 stars

(Syco Music/Arista Records)

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

Updated: February 13, 2022, 7:32 AM
Expo 2020 DubaiDubaiMusic