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President Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, Emir of Qatar, emphasised the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during talks on Thursday in Abu Dhabi focused on the worsening humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
The two leaders called for an end to the violence and efforts to allow more aid to reach those in need.
Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Tamim emphasised "our nations' calls for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, unimpeded humanitarian access and the protection of all civilians", the President said on X.
During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on developments in the Middle East and efforts to de-escalate tensions, state news agency Wam reported.
They also spoke about the need to prioritise the protection of civilian lives in accordance with the rules of international humanitarian law to ensure their safety.
They stressed the importance of working to avoid the spread of violence and escalation, avoid further humanitarian crises in the region and find a clear path to reach a lasting, just and comprehensive peace in the region.
They also explored bilateral relations, various avenues of co-operation and joint work across all fields. They reviewed ways to enhance joint Gulf action to achieve the interest of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries and their aspirations for development and continued progress.
During the meeting, Sheikh Mohamed conferred the Order of the Union upon Sheikh Saud bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, head of the Emiri Diwan, in recognition of his efforts in strengthening relations between the UAE and Qatar.
Sheikh Mohamed hosted a banquet in honour of Sheikh Tamim and the accompanying delegation.
Following the dinner, Sheikh Tamim departed the UAE and was bid farewell at the Presidential Airport by Sheikh Mohamed.
In attendance were Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court; Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed, National Security Adviser and Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi; Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed; Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad, Special Affairs adviser at the Ministry of the Presidential Court, and Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa, UAE ambassador to Qatar.
Sheikh Tamim was accompanied by Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister; Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatari Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force; Sheikh Saud bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, head of the Emiri Diwan, Sultan Al Mansouri, Qatar's ambassador to the UAE and several senior officials.
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: BorrowMe (BorrowMe.com)
Date started: August 2021
Founder: Nour Sabri
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce / Marketplace
Size: Two employees
Funding stage: Seed investment
Initial investment: $200,000
Investors: Amr Manaa (director, PwC Middle East)
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The%20Specs
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Results:
Men's 100m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 15 sec; 2. Rheed McCracken (AUS) 15.40; 3. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 15.75. Men's 400m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 50.56; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 50.94; 3. Henry Manni (FIN) 52.24.
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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
Infobox
Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the next stage of qualifying, in Malaysia in August
Results
UAE beat Iran by 10 wickets
Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by eight wickets
Oman beat Bahrain by nine wickets
Qatar beat Maldives by 106 runs
Monday fixtures
UAE v Kuwait, Iran v Saudi Arabia, Oman v Qatar, Maldives v Bahrain
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