Final preparations for Eid Al Adha have been completed at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi as thousands of worshippers prepare to visit for prayers on Saturday.
Eid Al Adha prayer will take place at 7am on Saturday, state news agency Wam said.
People planning to attend prayers in Abu Dhabi, and also at the Sheikh Khalifa Grand Mosque in Al Ain at 7am, have been reminded that Covid-19 measures remain in place to protect visitors.
Precautionary measures include compulsory masks that cover the mouth and nose at all times and prayer mats that are at least a metre apart.
Visitors have also been reminded they must bring their own mats to either service, while gatherings and handshakes before and after prayers remain prohibited to limit the risk of spreading the Covid-19 virus.
Health authorities encouraged those planning to visit the mosques during the Eid Al Adha weekend to take a PCR test beforehand.
In order to protect the health of friends and family, in particular, the elderly, the public has been advised to be tested no more than 72 hours before attending any major gatherings or family events.
Muslims prepare for Eid Al Adha — in pictures
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People aboard ferries wait for the departure as they travel back home ahead of Eid Al Adha in Dhaka. AFP -

A Kashmiri Muslim girl decorates her hands with henna at a market in Srinagar. EPA -

Palestinians prepare ma'moul and kahk in the West Bank city of Nablus. EPA -

A Muslim cloth seller arranges his wares on a pedestrian pavement in Bengaluru, India. Getty Images -

Shopper stock up at Abu Dhabi Fruit and Vegetable Market at Zayed Port, ahead of Eid Al Adha. Victor Besa / The National -

A woman sells traditional plaited coconut leaf pouches for ketupat rice cakes, ahead of Eid Al Adha in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. EPA -

A vendor offers sweets to shoppers at his stall at Al Hamidiyah Souq in Damascus, Syria. AFP -

Camels in enclosures at the market in the Erhaiya desert area of Kuwait. AFP -

People crowd on to a train to return home for Eid Al Adha, at a railway station in Lahore, Pakistan. AFP -

A vendor sells garlands for sacrificial animals near a livestock market in Dhaka, Bangladesh. EPA -

Eid Al Adha decorations illuminate the Corniche in central Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National -

A stallholder sells soft toys ahead of Eid Al Adha, at a market in the West Bank city of Hebron. EPA -

Ornaments for sacrificial animals on sale at a roadside stall in Peshawar, Pakistan, before the Muslim festival of Eid Al Adha. EPA -

Knifesmiths in Gaza City sharpen blades to be used to slaughter animals for Eid Al Adha. AFP -

A boy plays with goats at a livestock market in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen. AFP -

A Palestinian stall-holder arranges sweets in the old city in Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Reuters -

Goats being fed at a livestock market before Eid Al Adha in New Delhi, India. AP -

A Palestinian girl selects a stuffed toy from a shop at a market in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP -

People queue to buy train tickets at a railway station in Dhaka, Bangladesh, before the start of Eid Al Adha. AFP -

A livestock vendor feeds a goat by the roadside while waiting for customers in New Delhi. AFP -

Palestinians shop for toys before Eid Al Adha at a market in the West Bank city of Hebron. EPA -

Pilgrims pray on Mount Al Noor, where Muslims believe the Prophet Mohammed received the first words of the Quran, in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Reuters -

A man tends to his goats before the start of Eid Al Adha in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. AFP -

Muslim pilgrims relax in Makkah. Saudi Arabia hosted about one million people, including 850,000 from abroad, during this year's Hajj. AFP -

A vendor waits for customers at a livestock market on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan. AP -

Pilgrims relax on Mount Al Noor in Makkah. Reuters -

A child stands next to goats at a livestock market on the outskirts of the rebel-held town of Dana in Syria. AFP -

An aerial view of the livestock market on the outskirts of Dana, Syria. AFP -

Camels are transported in a lorry at a livestock market in Lahore. AFP -

An ox reared on a fourth-storey rooftop in Karachi, Pakistan, is lowered by crane to be slaughtered during Eid Al Adha. AFP -

Children play at a livestock market in Quetta, the capital and largest city of the Pakistani province of Balochistan. AFP -

A camel is led to market before Eid Al Adha in Lahore, Pakistan. AP -

A Pakistani livestock merchant displays camels for sale in Lahore. AP -

Customers lead away camels bought at a market in Lahore. AFP -

Camels for sale in Lahore before the Eid Al Adha festival. AFP -

A farmer takes cattle to market as preparations begin for Eid Al Adha in Quetta, Pakistan. EPA -

A Pakistani ironsmith sharpens knives for Eid Al Adha in Lahore. AP -

A goat at Al Quoz Abattoir in Dubai. Reuters -

A sacrificial cow at a cattle market in Peshawar, Pakistan. Reuters -

A sacrificial goat in Peshawar. Reuters -

A farmer sells sheep for Eid Al Adha at a market near the town of Maaret Misrin in northern Syria. AFP -

An aerial view of the livestock market in Maaret Misrin. AFP -

A cow goes to market in Gaza. EPA -

Sacrificial animals for sale before Eid Al Adha in Peshawar. EPA -

A crowded market in Giza, Egypt, as Muslims buy sacrificial animals for Eid Al Adha. EPA -

Thousands of people flock to the market in Giza to buy an animal. EPA -

Potential buyers examine some of the animals for sale. EPA -

A Yemeni buys a sacrificial sheep at a market in Sanaa. EPA -

A goat at a market in Sanaa, Yemen. EPA
Tottenham's 10 biggest transfers (according to transfermarkt.com):
1). Moussa Sissokho - Newcastle United - £30 million (Dh143m): Flop
2). Roberto Soldado - Valencia - £25m: Flop
3). Erik Lamela - Roma - £25m: Jury still out
4). Son Heung-min - Bayer Leverkusen - £25m: Success
5). Darren Bent - Charlton Athletic - £21m: Flop
6). Vincent Janssen - AZ Alkmaar - £18m: Flop
7). David Bentley - Blackburn Rovers - £18m: Flop
8). Luka Modric - Dynamo Zagreb - £17m: Success
9). Paulinho - Corinthians - £16m: Flop
10). Mousa Dembele - Fulham - £16m: Success
If%20you%20go
Trolls World Tour
Directed by: Walt Dohrn, David Smith
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake
Rating: 4 stars
Our commentary on Brexit
- Con Coughlin: Choice of the British people will be vindicated
- Sam Williams: Departure is influenced by its sense of place
Napoleon
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
Crazy Rich Asians
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeon, Gemma Chan
Four stars
Switching%20sides
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.
Biography
Favourite Meal: Chicken Caesar salad
Hobbies: Travelling, going to the gym
Inspiration: Father, who was a captain in the UAE army
Favourite read: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter
Favourite film: The Founder, about the establishment of McDonald's
UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
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Sukuk explained
Sukuk are Sharia-compliant financial certificates issued by governments, corporates and other entities. While as an asset class they resemble conventional bonds, there are some significant differences. As interest is prohibited under Sharia, sukuk must contain an underlying transaction, for example a leaseback agreement, and the income that is paid to investors is generated by the underlying asset. Investors must also be prepared to share in both the profits and losses of an enterprise. Nevertheless, sukuk are similar to conventional bonds in that they provide regular payments, and are considered less risky than equities. Most investors would not buy sukuk directly due to high minimum subscriptions, but invest via funds.
more from sholto byrnes
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.
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
More on Quran memorisation:
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
World Cup League Two
Results
Oman beat Nepal by 18 runs
Oman beat United States by six wickets
Nepal beat United States by 35 runs
Oman beat Nepal by eight wickets
Fixtures
Tuesday, Oman v United States
Wednesday, Nepal v United States
MATCH INFO
Crawley Town 3 (Tsaroulla 50', Nadesan 53', Tunnicliffe 70')
Leeds United 0
Company Profile
Founders: Tamara Hachem and Yazid Erman
Based: Dubai
Launched: September 2019
Sector: health technology
Stage: seed
Investors: Oman Technology Fund, angel investor and grants from Sharjah's Sheraa and Ma'an Abu Dhabi
Graduated from the American University of Sharjah
She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters
Has helped solve 15 cases of electric shocks
Enjoys travelling, reading and horse riding
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Normal People
Sally Rooney, Faber & Faber
Fifa%20World%20Cup%20Qatar%202022%20
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
The specs
Engine: Turbocharged four-cylinder 2.7-litre
Power: 325hp
Torque: 500Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh189,700
On sale: now
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
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EU Russia
The EU imports 90 per cent of the natural gas used to generate electricity, heat homes and supply industry, with Russia supplying almost 40 per cent of EU gas and a quarter of its oil.
if you go
Getting there
Etihad (Etihad.com), Emirates (emirates.com) and Air France (www.airfrance.com) fly to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, from Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively. Return flights cost from around Dh3,785. It takes about 40 minutes to get from Paris to Compiègne by train, with return tickets costing €19. The Glade of the Armistice is 6.6km east of the railway station.
Staying there
On a handsome, tree-lined street near the Chateau’s park, La Parenthèse du Rond Royal (laparenthesedurondroyal.com) offers spacious b&b accommodation with thoughtful design touches. Lots of natural woods, old fashioned travelling trunks as decoration and multi-nozzle showers are part of the look, while there are free bikes for those who want to cycle to the glade. Prices start at €120 a night.
More information: musee-armistice-14-18.fr ; compiegne-tourisme.fr; uk.france.fr
While you're here
Ed Husain: The far left is trying to hijack Muslim minds in the West
Sulaiman Hakemy: Why it is very important to lose elections
Rashmee Roshan Lall: US race relations in three words
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
|
1. |
United States |
|
2. |
China |
|
3. |
UAE |
|
4. |
Japan |
|
5 |
Norway |
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6. |
Canada |
|
7. |
Singapore |
|
8. |
Australia |
|
9. |
Saudi Arabia |
|
10. |
South Korea |
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last 16, second leg
Liverpool (0) v Atletico Madrid (1)
Venue: Anfield
Kick-off: Thursday, March 12, midnight
Live: On beIN Sports HD
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Reputation
Taylor Swift
(Big Machine Records)
SQUAD
Ali Khaseif, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Adel Al Hosani, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Bandar Al Ahbabi, Mohammed Barghash, Salem Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Hassan Al Mahrami, Walid Abbas, Mahmoud Khamis, Yousef Jaber, Saeed Ahmed, Majed Sorour, Majed Hassan, Ali Salmeen, Abdullah Ramadan, Khalil Al Hammadi, Fabio De Lima, Khalfan Mubarak, Tahnoun Al Zaabi, Ali Saleh, Caio Canedo, Muhammed Jumah, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue, Zayed Al Ameri

