Most people who decide to take up a challenge in the new year resolve to give up a bad habit such as smoking or decide to join a gym.
A Dubai climber went a step further than that though when she spent January climbing the highest volcanic peak in Antarctica.
Australian Caroline Leon, 37, endured freezing cold temperatures and treacherous conditions on her way to climbing Mount Sidley.
Along the way, she had to contend with the dangers of frostbite and her hair and limbs freezing.
“It was challenging because it was so cold and was minus 30ºC on a good day,” said Ms Leon.
“If you exposed any part of your body to the air there was a real risk of frostbite and there was a risk of your eyes getting snow blindness.
“Each member of the team had to pull a 25kg sledge all the way up the mountain, which was another challenge.”
Mount Sidley is the highest volcanic summit in Antarctica, standing at about 4,300m high.
Only 77 people have climbed it, with Ms Leon being the 18th woman to do so.
“The scariest thing that happened to me on the climb was I ended up freezing my hands solid and our guide made me swing my arm around to get the blood flowing again,” she said.
“I burst into tears because it was so painful. I was really mindful to make sure that didn’t happen again.
“Some of us had our hair frozen in parts and the guys had their beards frozen too at times.”
Ms Leon was undertaking the climb as part of a challenge to complete all seven of the volcanic summits in the world.
The other peaks are Mount Giluwe (4,367m) in Papua New Guinea, Mount Damavand (5,671m) in Iran, Picos de Orizaba (5,636m) in Mexico, Elbrus (5,642m) in Russia, Kilimanjaro (5,895m) in Tanzania and Ojos del Salado (6,893m) on the Argentina-Chile border.
She is not resting on her laurels as she plans to travel to Mexico in the coming days, then to Papua New Guinea and Tanzania.
“I’ve already done some of the seven summits but I want to set a speed record by climbing them all within a six-month period,” said Ms Leon.
“I don’t believe there are any records of it being done in that time so far.”
The journey to the highest summit in Antarctica was not all about endurance and overcoming the odds, she said.
“When you get to the summit and look to the opposite side, you see it’s all blue ice and snow and it’s just beautiful,” said Ms Leon.
“You can see baby volcanoes too and it’s all so pristine and breathtaking.”
Ms Leon’s achievements are all the more impressive given that she broke her back in a horrific fall in 2015.
Doctors told her she was unlikely to walk again after she fell while climbing a wall in Dubai.
Despite being confined to a wheelchair for six months, as well as undergoing 14 operations and 23 blood transfusions, she was able to slowly regain her ability to walk.
“The accident gave me the courage to put the best of me forward as I felt like I owed that to all the people who helped me recover,” she said.
“It has driven how I act and given me the purpose to move forward.
“It provided me with an understanding of who I am, which has helped in so many facets of my life.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
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
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
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
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
