Heavy rain in Al Quoz, Dubai, earlier this month. The UAE has experienced wet weather in recent weeks. Chris Whiteoak/ The National
Heavy rain in Al Quoz, Dubai, earlier this month. The UAE has experienced wet weather in recent weeks. Chris Whiteoak/ The National
Heavy rain in Al Quoz, Dubai, earlier this month. The UAE has experienced wet weather in recent weeks. Chris Whiteoak/ The National
Heavy rain in Al Quoz, Dubai, earlier this month. The UAE has experienced wet weather in recent weeks. Chris Whiteoak/ The National

Heavy rain in Dubai and Sharjah as UAE weather alert issued


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Latest: Low cloud and high humidity with rain on horizon

Heavy rain lashed parts of Dubai and Sharjah on Friday afternoon as an alert was issued over the prospect of “hazardous weather” stretching into the evening.

The National Centre of Meteorology shared footage of motorists driving through stormy conditions amid downpours in Sharjah.

More video clips from the forecaster from across the Emirates showed dark skies as rain poured down and gusts of wind swept in.

The NCM said heavy rain was recorded in the Nazwa area of Sharjah shortly before 2pm.

It said there was further heavy rainfall on Emirates Road in Dubai at 2.26pm and more wet weather in Expo City Dubai.

There was more rain in Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain earlier in the afternoon.

The forecast issued a notice calling for people in parts of Dubai and Sharjah to be on alert over the wet weather.

The NCM said the unsettled weather could continue until 7pm. Members of the public were asked to follow safety advice issued by authorities.

The UAE has experienced a number of rainy days during an unusual start to the summer months.

Last week, thunder was heard rumbling in Abu Dhabi and rain fell in the suburbs as the unsettled summer weather continued. Low clouds hung over the capital, Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

In Baniyas, a suburb of the capital to the south, there was heavy rain which followed a downpour in Al Ain on Tuesday. In Ghantoot, there were reports of heavy flooding.

Wet weekend in store

The UAE is braced for more rainfall at the weekend. In its five-day weather bulletin, the NCM said there was a chance of further rainfall on Saturday on Sunday in eastern and southern parts of the Emirates.

Windy conditions could lead to dust and sandstorms on both days.

The unsettled weather could extend to Monday, with a drop in temperatures expected to be accompanied by more spells of rain and possible dust and sandstorms.

Rain in the UAE — in pictures

  • A man rides his bicycle during a brief downpour in the Mussaffah industrial area in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    A man rides his bicycle during a brief downpour in the Mussaffah industrial area in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • Rain fell in Abu Dhabi as unsettled summer weather continued across the country. Victor Besa / The National
    Rain fell in Abu Dhabi as unsettled summer weather continued across the country. Victor Besa / The National
  • The National Centre of Meteorology issued a forecast for rain in the morning, accompanied by strong winds that could reach 45 kilometres per hour. Victor Besa / The National
    The National Centre of Meteorology issued a forecast for rain in the morning, accompanied by strong winds that could reach 45 kilometres per hour. Victor Besa / The National
  • Abu Dhabi is expected to have a maximum temperature of 42°C in the next few days. Victor Besa / The National
    Abu Dhabi is expected to have a maximum temperature of 42°C in the next few days. Victor Besa / The National
  • Low clouds hung over Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Pawan Singh / The National
    Low clouds hung over Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Temperatures hovered at around 36ºC in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Temperatures hovered at around 36ºC in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

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Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants

Remaining fixtures
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Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

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

Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants

Brief scores:

England: 290 & 346

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The Africa Institute 101

Housed on the same site as the original Africa Hall, which first hosted an Arab-African Symposium in 1976, the newly renovated building will be home to a think tank and postgraduate studies hub (it will offer master’s and PhD programmes). The centre will focus on both the historical and contemporary links between Africa and the Gulf, and will serve as a meeting place for conferences, symposia, lectures, film screenings, plays, musical performances and more. In fact, today it is hosting a symposium – 5-plus-1: Rethinking Abstraction that will look at the six decades of Frank Bowling’s career, as well as those of his contemporaries that invested social, cultural and personal meaning into abstraction. 

Updated: July 17, 2022, 4:46 AM