Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, is also the chairman of Abu Dhabi Judicial Department. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, is also the chairman of Abu Dhabi Judicial Department. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, is also the chairman of Abu Dhabi Judicial Department. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, is also the chairman of Abu Dhabi Judicial Department. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Abu Dhabi establishes dedicated court to tackle money laundering and tax evasion


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Abu Dhabi has a court to tackle money laundering and tax evasion.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, established the court on Tuesday, Wam reported.

The new court is tasked with helping to improve the litigation process and reinforce the country's competitiveness.

Youssef Al Abri, Under Secretary at the ADJD, said the new court will also support the development of the emirate's judicial system, ensure timely adjudication on cases and add to the expertise of judges.

The ADJD will now organise training for the judges and prosecutors who specialise in these cases.

The UAE has strict laws to deal with money laundering and financial crimes.

Earlier this year, the Central Bank said the UAE had made significant progress with a plan to combat money laundering and interrupt terrorist finances.

The Emirates is coordinating in areas such as governance and supervision with countries that share its commitment to fight financial crime, the National Committee for Combating Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism and Illegal Organisations said in August.

In June last year, the UAE become the first GCC country to launch goAML, a platform developed by the United Nations to thwart organised crime. More than 900 entities including, banks, insurance companies and money exchanges joined forces to help regulators clamp down on money laundering.

The establishment of the money laundering court follows sweeping changes announced at the weekend to the UAE's legal system with amendments to family law and other areas that affect daily lives.

This includes reforms to laws on divorce and separation, how wills and assets are divided, alcohol, suicide and the protection of women.

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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.
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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

Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
  • Drones
  • Animals
  • Fireworks/ flares
  • Radios or power banks
  • Laser pointers
  • Glass
  • Selfie sticks/ umbrellas
  • Sharp objects
  • Political flags or banners
  • Bikes, skateboards or scooters

Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai