The average resident in the UAE spent seven hours and 24 minutes online per day in 2020, it was revealed in a global report.
Data from the World Digital Report 2021 shed light on the digital lifestyle of 43 countries last year when the Covid-19 pandemic hit and caused a switch to remote working and learning.
The report measured average time spent online by people aged between 16 to 64.
It showed that Filipinos spent the most time online with 11 hours of consumption daily. The Japanese reported spending the least amount of time online, at less than 4.5 hours per day. In the UK, it was six hours and 26 minutes.
Globally, an average person spent seven hours online across all devices – equivalent to two full days of a week.
“If these rates continue throughout 2021, the world’s internet users will spend almost 12 trillion hours online this year, which translates to more than 1.3 billion years of combined human time,” the report said.
The findings showed that an individual in the Emirates spends 40 hours per week browsing the net on their smartphone. Eighty-six per cent of the population plays online games using their device.
“The emergency faced by the world last year has made 2020 a digital year of excellence, as websites, social media pages, portals and smart sites thrived. They were the only means for the world's population to pursue their lives, work and education,” said Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, head of the UAE Digital Government department.
“The communications and information technology sector's overall infrastructure has been a decisive factor in enabling many sectors of society to maintain the continuity of various aspects of everyday life like work, education, and shopping.”
He also said that digital transformation is an “urgent necessity and not a technical luxury”.
UAE residents spent 320 million hours on smartphone apps last year.
According to the report, 99 per cent of the UAE community are active on social media, with 97.6 per cent of the population who own smartphones.
Globally, there are 4.20 billion social media users.
“Despite significant changes in digital behaviours due to Covid-19, people say that they’re spending roughly the same amount of time each day on social media today as they did this time last year,” the report said.
"However, GWI data does show that the daily average has increased by more than half an hour over the past 5 years. The typical user now spends two hours and 25 minutes on social media each day, equating to roughly one full waking day of their life each week."
In UAE, the average internet speed on smartphones was 177.52 megabytes per second, an increase of 104.6 per cent from 2019.
Top five countries that spent most time online across all devices:
Philippines: 10.56 hours
Brazil: 10.08 hours
Colombia: 10.07 hours
South Africa: 10.06 hours
Argentina: 9.39 hours
Top five countries that spent least time online across all devices:
Japan: 4.25 hours
Denmark: 5.16 hours
China: 5.22 hours
Germany: 5.26 hours
Netherlands: 5.28 hours
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
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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HEADLINE HERE
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
