DUBAI // Egypt's revolutionaries will have to adjust to solving problems in a political arena rather than on the streets, a conference on the Arab Spring has heard.
Raghada Mohamed, the Egypt youth ambassador for the Arab Thought Foundation, said at a debate in Dubai that the transition away from violence would be the country's next big challenge.
"Things have to cool down and we have to learn how to do this politically," she told the conference, entitled: "Arab Spring: What's Next?".
"We are in a phase of transition. The time of action is past, but the time when we need to be politically smart has not started yet. It's not enough to only push on the street, we have to play the game too.
"We're good at the first one, but we need to be excellent in the last one."
The debate also included discussion on the causes of the Arab Spring, as well as what the situation might be in five years.
Ahmad Obaid Al Mansoori, a Federal National Council member for Dubai, said the conference was unique in its focus on a dynamic, fast-changing subject.
"Normally at these conferences we just look at things that have already happened or that will happen in the future," he said. "However, this is something which is happening now, and we were trying to analyse the changes around us and how best to prepare for them."
He said the UAE had been shielded from the unrest in the region because of steps the Government had already taken to get closer to its people.
"We opened elections in 2006, which was before this [unrest]started happening," he said. "It's going in steps and that's very important. There will be a gradual development across all sectors.
"We call [the FNC] the majlis," he added. "It should be a strong bridge between the ambitions of the people and the vision of the Government."
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Date: Sunday, November 25
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A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
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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.
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3. More tax audits
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4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
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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
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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.
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Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
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Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
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Women’s Coach of the Year
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Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
