• Many residents lost appliances and cars in the floods that hit Fujairah in July. All photos: Aster
    Many residents lost appliances and cars in the floods that hit Fujairah in July. All photos: Aster
  • Homes across Fujairah and Sharjah were damaged due to floodwaters.
    Homes across Fujairah and Sharjah were damaged due to floodwaters.
  • Mud left behind by floodwater has been a challenge for volunteers helping families in Fujairah with the clean up.
    Mud left behind by floodwater has been a challenge for volunteers helping families in Fujairah with the clean up.
  • Aster Volunteers arrived from Dubai to help with the clean-up in Fujairah.
    Aster Volunteers arrived from Dubai to help with the clean-up in Fujairah.
  • Many residents were without insurance so are facing huge repair bills.
    Many residents were without insurance so are facing huge repair bills.
  • Work from 15 young people from the Youth India Fujairah group, operated by Aster healthcare, helped families get back into their homes.
    Work from 15 young people from the Youth India Fujairah group, operated by Aster healthcare, helped families get back into their homes.
  • Floodwaters posed a potential health hazard to families hoping to move back home.
    Floodwaters posed a potential health hazard to families hoping to move back home.
  • Aster Volunteers helped with the clean up to allow families like the Kumars move back in.
    Aster Volunteers helped with the clean up to allow families like the Kumars move back in.

UAE floods: volunteers help families in eastern region return to homes


Nick Webster
  • English
  • Arabic

In more than 30 years of living in Kalba, Sharjah, Uday Kumar had never seen the kind of rain before that decimated his family home.

But only two weeks later, thanks to hours of voluntary work from disaster recovery teams, he is ready to move back into his house and begin months of painstaking repairs.

Floodwater from a nearby dam, following torrential rain and thunderstorms, left behind debris and mud that forced the family to flee their home as they helplessly watched their possessions be washed away.

Normally, thunderstorms and heavy rain make us feel serene, but now it scares us
Uday Kumar

Like many of his neighbours, when the rains ceased and floodwaters sank, Mr Kumar was facing a huge clean-up operation.

It was the voluntary work of 15 young people from the Aster DM Healthcare group, in association with Youth India Fujairah, that has helped families to return to their homes.

“I got a call early on the Wednesday at about 4am from my friend asking me if there was water inside my house,” said Mr Kumar, an electrician who lives with his wife and two children.

“It was raining heavily. I checked and, at that time, there was no water and I decided to go back to bed.

“When I woke up at 8am, there was water everywhere.

“Nobody knew how this could have happened; people were saying the water came from a nearby dam.”

Aster Volunteers clean up floodwaters in Fujairah.
Aster Volunteers clean up floodwaters in Fujairah.

Mr Kumar’s house in Kalba, a small coastal city south of Fujairah, was completely flooded.

With the waters still rising, he was forced to grab important valuables and documents and evacuate his family to a cousin’s house.

He has lost all his furniture, home appliances and most personal belongings, along with one of his two cars which was completely destroyed by floodwater.

“I have got so much to do to fix all the damage to the house. It’s going to be a major expense,” said Mr Kumar, who is from Kerala, India.

“We hope we can figure out a way to repair it. We also need to paint the entire house, which is going to be a huge expense, but for now, I have decided to paint the interiors first.

“We also need to have a lot of carpentry done and the doors need to be fixed as well."

Mr Kumar praised Aster Volunteers for their help in the clean-up operation.

“They cleaned up all the debris from the flood inside all the rooms and were gracious enough to go the extra mile and disinfect everything as well," he said.

Before and after the work done by volunteers at the home of Uday Kumar in Kalba. Credit: Aster
Before and after the work done by volunteers at the home of Uday Kumar in Kalba. Credit: Aster

Like many affected by the flash floods, Mr Kumar was without insurance and is facing huge repair bills to the home he has lived in for 18 years.

The costs have forced him and his wife, a receptionist, to abandon plans for a trip to India to see their daughters' admission into university.

Aster Volunteers was established in 2016 as the corporate social responsibility arm of Aster DM Healthcare. It was founded to serve as a catalyst for social impact and a platform for those who wish to contribute to humanitarian efforts.

The group's disaster management team provides immediate healthcare support to victims of natural disasters and emergencies.

A team of volunteers from Dubai were sent to Kalba to provide much-needed support for those coping with the devastating impact of the abnormal storms that swept across the region. The storms led to seven deaths and the rescue of more than 870 people.

Despite the traumatic events of July 27 and the risk of more potential storms in the years ahead, Mr Kumar is determined to stay living in Kalba, albeit with a different outlook on life.

“The floods have delayed a lot of my plans,” he said.

“This is the first time I have experienced such an incident in my 33 years of living in the UAE. We have no experience in dealing with such a situation.

“I consider myself fortunate to be able to collect my valuables before leaving the house."

My Kumar said he had no plans to move and intends "to fix everything that was ruined and replace everything we lost".

However, the terrible events of last month have left a lasting impact on him and his family.

“Normally, thunderstorms and heavy rain make us feel serene, but now they scare us," he said.

“My kids find it hard to sleep these days.”

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

The Brutalist

Director: Brady Corbet

Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn

Rating: 3.5/5

Race card

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Singham Again

Director: Rohit Shetty

Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone

Rating: 3/5

Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants

Korean Film Festival 2019 line-up

Innocent Witness, June 26 at 7pm

On Your Wedding Day, June 27 at 7pm

The Great Battle, June 27 at 9pm

The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion, June 28 at 4pm

Romang, June 28 at 6pm

Mal Mo E: The Secret Mission, June 28 at 8pm

Underdog, June 29 at 2pm

Nearby Sky, June 29 at 4pm

A Resistance, June 29 at 6pm 

 

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg

Tottenham 0-1 Ajax, Tuesday

Second leg

Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm

Game is on BeIN Sports

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%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Tabby%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%20August%202019%3B%20platform%20went%20live%20in%20February%202020%3Cbr%3EFounder%2FCEO%3A%20Hosam%20Arab%2C%20co-founder%3A%20Daniil%20Barkalov%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Payments%3Cbr%3ESize%3A%2040-50%20employees%3Cbr%3EStage%3A%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Arbor%20Ventures%2C%20Mubadala%20Capital%2C%20Wamda%20Capital%2C%20STV%2C%20Raed%20Ventures%2C%20Global%20Founders%20Capital%2C%20JIMCO%2C%20Global%20Ventures%2C%20Venture%20Souq%2C%20Outliers%20VC%2C%20MSA%20Capital%2C%20HOF%20and%20AB%20Accelerator.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Remaining Fixtures

Wednesday: West Indies v Scotland
Thursday: UAE v Zimbabwe
Friday: Afghanistan v Ireland
Sunday: Final

German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013 

Profile of Tarabut Gateway

Founder: Abdulla Almoayed

Based: UAE

Founded: 2017

Number of employees: 35

Sector: FinTech

Raised: $13 million

Backers: Berlin-based venture capital company Target Global, Kingsway, CE Ventures, Entrée Capital, Zamil Investment Group, Global Ventures, Almoayed Technologies and Mad’a Investment.

Leap of Faith

Michael J Mazarr

Public Affairs

Dh67
 

TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

Zidane's managerial achievements

La Liga: 2016/17
Spanish Super Cup: 2017
Uefa Champions League: 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18
Uefa Super Cup: 2016, 2017
Fifa Club World Cup: 2016, 2017

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

South and West: From a Notebook
Joan Didion
Fourth Estate 

THE BIO

Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren

Favourite travel destination: Switzerland

Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers

Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum

The specs

Engine: 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6

Power: 540hp at 6,500rpm

Torque: 600Nm at 2,500rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed auto

Kerb weight: 1580kg

Price: From Dh750k

On sale: via special order

UAE%20athletes%20heading%20to%20Paris%202024
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEquestrian%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EAbdullah%20Humaid%20Al%20Muhairi%2C%20Abdullah%20Al%20Marri%2C%20Omar%20Al%20Marzooqi%2C%20Salem%20Al%20Suwaidi%2C%20and%20Ali%20Al%20Karbi%20(four%20to%20be%20selected).%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EJudo%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMen%3A%20Narmandakh%20Bayanmunkh%20(66kg)%2C%20Nugzari%20Tatalashvili%20(81kg)%2C%20Aram%20Grigorian%20(90kg)%2C%20Dzhafar%20Kostoev%20(100kg)%2C%20Magomedomar%20Magomedomarov%20(%2B100kg)%3B%20women's%20Khorloodoi%20Bishrelt%20(52kg).%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECycling%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ESafia%20Al%20Sayegh%20(women's%20road%20race).%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESwimming%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMen%3A%20Yousef%20Rashid%20Al%20Matroushi%20(100m%20freestyle)%3B%20women%3A%20Maha%20Abdullah%20Al%20Shehi%20(200m%20freestyle).%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EAthletics%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMaryam%20Mohammed%20Al%20Farsi%20(women's%20100%20metres).%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
SPECS

Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now

ASHES FIXTURES

1st Test: Brisbane, Nov 23-27 
2nd Test: Adelaide, Dec 2-6
3rd Test: Perth, Dec 14-18
4th Test: Melbourne, Dec 26-30
5th Test: Sydney, Jan 4-8

Company profile

Name: Tratok Portal

Founded: 2017

Based: UAE

Sector: Travel & tourism

Size: 36 employees

Funding: Privately funded

WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

Updated: August 10, 2022, 6:44 AM