PARIS // Princess Haya bint Al Hussein stole the show yesterday when she stepped on stage as the surprise presenter of a key speech supporting Dubai’s bid to host Expo 2020.
The wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, set out a vision of a World Expo built on the power of partnerships.
Speaking fluently in French and English, she charmed and impressed the large audience in Paris and delivered an eloquent case for Dubai’s plans.
Princess Haya was speaking at the general assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions, which oversees world fairs.
Dubai and the other three remaining candidate cities had only 30 minutes each to outline their plans.
Watching from the front row was Sheikh Mohammed, who is on a three-day official visit to the French capital.
“The World Expo organisation was born from the desire for partnership,” Princess Haya said. “And it is from this spirit of partnership that Expo draws its greatest strength.
“The true legacy of an Expo is not in its physical buildings or monuments but in the connections it makes and the people it inspires and the future it builds.
"World Expos have a remarkable ability to bring people together to discuss, engage and innovate. The theme of Dubai Expo 2020, 'Connecting minds, creating the future', is just such a pledge of partnership.
“It draws on the UAE’s past, our heritage and our successes. It highlights the fact that we are all united in destiny and outcome.”
Since the earliest days of the UAE, Princess Haya said, the country had invited the world to help to create its future.
“Together we have delivered some amazing and ground-breaking achievements, achievements that have brought opportunities and benefits for all who have joined us.
“In Dubai we have built a city that has become an incubator for new models and new ideas.”
A video gave the Dubai International Financial Centre as an example of an initiative that thrived on collaboration and partnerships. Delegates were told that the centre attracted businesses from around the world to interact with one another and added more than US$3 billion to Dubai’s economic value.
The day’s presentations were seen as vital because many of the delegates who will eventually choose the winner are likely to make up their minds based on what they heard yesterday.
Sheikh Mohammed was accompanied by a high-powered delegation including Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, the Crown Prince of Dubai.
Also present was the Higher Committee for Hosting the 2020 World Expo in Dubai, led by its chairman, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and chairman of Emirates.
Sheikh Ahmed said he was grateful to Sheikh Mohammed for attending. "This reflects the support there is for Expo," he said.
Princess Haya was introduced by Minister of State Reem Al Hashimy, the committee's managing director, who also emphasised the importance of partnerships.
She told delegates: “If you take this path with us these partnerships will be both the foundations and the legacy of Dubai Expo 2020.”
Princess Haya’s participation was a closely guarded secret until the moment she stood up. Afterwards, Vicente Gonzalez Loscertales, secretary general of the BIE, said he had been impressed.
“Princess Haya’s performance was outstanding,” he said. “We were first surprised and then delighted and very honoured to have her with us here.
“She has expressed very well the values and the culture of Dubai. She’s magnificent, she did a wonderful presentation.”
Bridget Gee, a delegate from New Zealand, said: “Princess Haya is very elegant and spoke very well, and it was impressive to see that she spoke both French and English. I thought her performance was very advantageous for the UAE.”
csimpson@thenational.ae
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham 0-1 Ajax, Tuesday
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
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Short-term let permits explained
Homeowners and tenants are allowed to list their properties for rental by registering through the Dubai Tourism website to obtain a permit.
Tenants also require a letter of no objection from their landlord before being allowed to list the property.
There is a cost of Dh1,590 before starting the process, with an additional licence fee of Dh300 per bedroom being rented in your home for the duration of the rental, which ranges from three months to a year.
Anyone hoping to list a property for rental must also provide a copy of their title deeds and Ejari, as well as their Emirates ID.
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GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
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
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
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Thor: Ragnarok
Dir: Taika Waititi
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum, Mark Ruffalo, Tessa Thompson
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LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The UAE's journey to space
if you go
The flights
Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return.
The trek
Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required.
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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