Authorities are trying to encourage more people to use public transport by upgrading services on Yas Island. The Integrated Transport Centre
Authorities are trying to encourage more people to use public transport by upgrading services on Yas Island. The Integrated Transport Centre
Authorities are trying to encourage more people to use public transport by upgrading services on Yas Island. The Integrated Transport Centre
Authorities are trying to encourage more people to use public transport by upgrading services on Yas Island. The Integrated Transport Centre

UAE

Abu Dhabi aims to improve public transport on Yas Island

On-demand bus services could be introduced to serve residents and tourists

Ruba Haza
Ras Al Khaimah

October 22, 2020

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  • Arabic

Transport chiefs are aiming to upgrade public transport on Yas Island.

Under a plan signed on Wednesday, on-demand bus services could be introduced to serve residents and tourists.

Efforts will also be made to encourage people to use existing buses on the island, which is home to the Ferrari World and Warner Bros theme parks.

The move came in a deal signed between Abu Dhabi's Integrated Transport Centre and Miral, which is developing major projects on Yas.

One area being explored is the launch of the on-demand Abu Dhabi Link bus service that is also being trialled in the Abu Dhabi suburbs.

The pilot project starts on October 25 in Shahama, Rahba, Bahyah, Samha and parts of Al Sader.

People can book the free bus service every day from 6am to 10pm using a smartphone app. Users identify their location and select a time to be picked up or dropped off.

The project on Yas, meanwhile, is part of Miral’s vision to position it as a top global destination for leisure, entertainment and business. Authorities are also trying to encourage people to use public transport.

Yas is rapidly developing and expanding, particularly on Yas Bay, a huge new development close to the marina. It is home to Etihad Arena, which was scheduled to open this year.

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Inside Yas Bay, Abu Dhabi's latest megaproject

  • South of Yas Island Master Plan. Courtesy Miral
    South of Yas Island Master Plan. Courtesy Miral
  • A rendered view over Yas Bay. Courtesy Miral
    A rendered view over Yas Bay. Courtesy Miral
  • The waterfront Etihad Arena. Courtesy Miral
    The waterfront Etihad Arena. Courtesy Miral
  • Hilton Family Resort and Beach Club will be one of two hotels located in Yas Bay. Courtesy Miral
    Hilton Family Resort and Beach Club will be one of two hotels located in Yas Bay. Courtesy Miral
  • A rendering of the Yas Bay Pier. Courtesy Miral
    A rendering of the Yas Bay Pier. Courtesy Miral
  • What the Yas Bay Promenade is expected to look like. Courtesy Miral
    What the Yas Bay Promenade is expected to look like. Courtesy Miral
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Also on December 7 to 9, the third edition of the Gulf Car Festival (www.gulfcarfestival.com) will take over Dubai Festival City Mall, a new venue for the event. Last year's festival brought together about 900 cars worth more than Dh300 million from across the Emirates and wider Gulf region – and that first figure is set to swell by several hundred this time around, with between 1,000 and 1,200 cars expected. The first day is themed around American muscle; the second centres on supercars, exotics, European cars and classics; and the final day will major in JDM (Japanese domestic market) cars, tuned vehicles and trucks. Individuals and car clubs can register their vehicles, although the festival isn’t all static displays, with stunt drifting, a rev battle, car pulls and a burnout competition.

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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