The UAE has launched a National Multiple Sclerosis Society to help improve the quality of life for people affected by the disease.
It will deliver support programmes, improve healthcare services and provide a community for people in the Emirates affected by MS.
NMSS, established as an NGO under the Ministry of Community Development, wants to reduce the stigma surrounding the disease and support research to identify better treatments and ultimately find a cure.
Fatima Al Kaabi, vice chair of the NMSS and executive director of the Bone Marrow Transplant Programme at the Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre (ADSCC), announced research grants worth Dh2 million to support local and international researchers working to develop new treatments and to give a greater understanding into the characteristics of the disease that specifically affect those in the UAE.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological condition that can affect the brain and spinal cord.
It can cause a wide range of symptoms, including problems with vision, arm or leg movement, sensation or balance.
The severity of the disease varies greatly, with some patients showing very mild symptoms and others bedridden or in a wheelchair.
The disease causes the immune system to attack the protective layer that covers nerve fibres (the myelin sheath), preventing brain signals from properly reaching other parts of the body.
It is a lifelong condition with no known cure or cause, although there are treatments to manage symptoms.
Recently Abu Dhabi had its first autologous stem cell transplant for a Syrian girl in her twenties with progressive MS.
The young girl had difficulty walking and controlling her bladder. After the transplant, she was able to walk independently and had regained control over her bladder.
New registry
The NMSS said 2,000 people in the UAE have been given a positive diagnosis for the disease, although the actual number of people living with MS is thought to be more than double that.
In line with global trends, women in the UAE are three times more likely to develop MS than men. People with MS are typically given a diagnosis in young adulthood, between the ages of 20 and 40.
Worldwide there are an estimated 2.8 million people living with MS (35.9 per 100,000 population).
MS prevalence has increased in every world region since 2013.
Dr Al Kaabi announced a national MS registry to track the number of people with MS and the progression of the disease in the UAE, developed in partnership with Abu Dhabi Department of Health, Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre and G42.
“Every person with MS deserves to live an empowered and fulfilling life by having access to the best possible care," Dr Al Kaabi said.
"NMSS will be a critical partner in delivering this vision as we progress with building an ecosystem of support across the UAE. Everything we do will be informed by the experiences of those living with MS – we will listen to and learn from them.
“The society will also be a scientific and research partner for global organisations in the MS field. It will leverage the UAE’s unique expertise to drive innovation and partnerships to find better treatments for MS, and move towards the goal of an MS-free future.”
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
UAE SQUAD
Ahmed Raza (Captain), Rohan Mustafa, Jonathan Figy, CP Rizwan, Junaid Siddique, Mohammad Usman, Basil Hameed, Zawar Farid, Vriitya Aravind (WK), Waheed Ahmed, Karthik Meiyappan, Zahoor Khan, Darius D'Silva, Chirag Suri
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 years Ramadan fell in May
