Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, met with South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, on Monday during his tour of pavilions at Expo 2020 Dubai.
During the meeting at the South Africa pavilion, the leaders discussed prospects for cooperation between the two countries, Dubai Media Office said.
South Africa celebrated its country day at Expo on Monday.
Following the ceremony, Mr Ramaphosa described Expo 2020 as "a seminal and not-to-be-missed event".
"Its importance is now greater than ever, as we strive to recover and rebuild in the wake of the pandemic," he said.
"Our country's founding father, Nelson Mandela, once said: ‘When people are determined to do anything, they will be able to achieve anything.’ As South Africa, we are determined to recover from Covid-19 to grow our economy and to build our country.”
The South Africa pavilion, located in the Opportunity District, is a showcase for the country’s rich heritage, creativity and innovative thinking.
Visitors can learn more about tourism and business opportunities.
Sheikh Mohammed also met Liberian President George Weah at his country's pavilion.
Liberia marked its country day at Expo on Saturday.
“Liberia's pavilion… embraces the idea that investment is an essential ingredient for sustainable national economic growth and development," Mr Weah said following the official ceremony.
"Liberia seeks to expand its potential in many areas, including the financial sector, in addition to sectors like tourism, agriculture and fisheries, which are yet to be exploited."
The pavilion is filled with beautiful woven fabric patterns and allows visitors to find out more about Liberia’s history and what the future looks like for the West African nation.
Sheikh Mohammed was given a tour of the Tunisia pavilion, which tells the story of the African nation, highlighting the creativity of its youth, opportunities for their empowerment and sends a message of hope for future development.
He was briefed on the most important goals of the pavilion, foremost of which is to highlight the great interest that Tunisia attaches to the entrepreneurship sector and emerging institutions.
The Tunisia pavilion, under the theme ‘Inspiring Youth, Promising Future’, highlights the innovations and creativity of its youth.
Visitors can explore historical and cultural sites in Tunisia through promotional films and wear traditional clothing.
During a visit to Iraq's pavilion, located in the Opportunity District, Sheikh Mohammed was briefed on the distinctive, open design of the pavilion, which also shows glimpses of life in Iraq on screens throughout the building.
The pavilion, which has a distinctive canopy that's shaped to look like a net cast from a boat into the water, brings visitors on a journey through Iraqi culture, arts, science, literature and folklore, as the nation celebrates its past while also looking forward to creating a brighter tomorrow.
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
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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
All%20The%20Light%20We%20Cannot%20See%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESteven%20Knight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EMark%20Ruffalo%2C%20Hugh%20Laurie%2C%20Aria%20Mia%20Loberti%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2F5%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
