NYU Abu Dhabi will host a three-day education summit ahead of Cop28.
The THE Mena Universities Summit will focus on universities’ contribution to sustainability, the impact of artificial intelligence on teaching and higher education’s efforts to fulfil the climate summit's long-term agenda
Organisers said 300 delegates from 30 universities from around the world are expected to attend the event, from November 13-15, which is held in partnership with Times Higher Education (THE).
The university's vice chancellor, Mariet Westermann, said the event's theme, Innovation in Times of Change, reflects its aim to “educate and empower youth, conduct research to help tackle the world’s challenges and drive innovation that improves our societies and the environment”.
“Ahead of Cop28, this conference will underline the value of collaboration to achieve innovative and sustainable problem-solving in higher education and discuss how universities today can best equip future generations to have the greatest positive impact,” she said.
The summit will also see the THE Awards Mena 2023 winners announced. The inaugural awards, which have 10 categories, received around 300 entries from 17 countries or territories. The entries have been whittled down to 75 finalists.
Last year Abu Dhabi University was ranked among the top 250, according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
This is the highest position achieved by a UAE-based university. NYU Abu Dhabi's parent university in New York was ranked 25 in the world, a major leap from its 62 ranking in 2010.
Youth energy summit
The world’s largest youth-led conference on energy transition, the Student Energy Summit (SES), will also take place at NYU Abu Dhabi, from November 29 to December 1.
Following a successful bid by NYUAD students to host the event, the summit will bring more than 650 young leaders from over 120 countries together with decision-makers and experts to explore innovative energy solutions before Cop28.
The summit, under the theme Reimagining the Future, seeks to encourage discussion and debate about making energy better and fairer for everyone in the future.
“In February 2022, 10 passionate NYUAD students collectively worked on a bid to host the summit,” said SES 2023 co-chair Mira Aljallaf.
“A few months later, we were selected and tasked with curating a programme that showcases the importance and impact of youth in the energy sector.
“The summit uniquely coincides with Cop28, providing us with a platform to reach a wider audience and make a bigger impact.”
The summit's line-up of speakers includes the Permanent Representative of the UAE to the International Renewable Energy Agency, Dr Nawal Al-Hosany; Mexico's Ambassador to the UAE and the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the 2019 Climate Action Summit, Luis Alfonso de Alba, as well as Nicole Iseppi, managing director for Global Energy Innovation of Bezos Earth Fund.
With more than 4,700 applicants from 161 countries, SES 2023 is expected to attract the world’s leading young entrepreneurs, researchers and policymakers aged under 30.
Bundesliga fixtures
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
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
Company%20profile
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Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
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Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers
1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company Profile
Founder: Omar Onsi
Launched: 2018
Employees: 35
Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)
Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
