Illustration of the Meraas biodome project in Dubai. Courtesy Meraas
Illustration of the Meraas biodome project in Dubai. Courtesy Meraas
Illustration of the Meraas biodome project in Dubai. Courtesy Meraas
Illustration of the Meraas biodome project in Dubai. Courtesy Meraas

Education

Dubai ‘bio-dome’ will be home to 3,000 plants and animals

Set to open in the next six months, The Green Planet — in the City Walk retail area in Jumeirah — will include a bio-dome to recreate a tropical forest in an enclosed ecosystem.

The National staff

January 18, 2016

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  • Arabic

DUBAI // A Dubai company is planning to build a tropical rainforest in the city.

Scheduled to open in the next six months, The Green Planet – in the City Walk retail area in Jumeirah – will include a bio-dome to recreate a tropical forest in an enclosed ecosystem.

Meraas, the Dubai holding company behind the project, said it “recreates the enchanting world of a tropical forest with its rich biodiversity of over 3,000 plants and animals”.

“It is built around the desire to contribute to environmental consciousness in the region,” the company said.

“As part of this priority, The Green Planet will aim to not only impress visitors with a novel green oasis in the city, but at the same time ensure that they enjoy an up-close educational and fun experience.”

The company behind The Green Planet said it has been designed with sustainability in mind, having received the Leed (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification and is fully compliant with the Dubai Municipality green building regulations and specifications.

“The Green Planet is set to inspire people of all ages and nationalities to learn about and care more for every single plant and animal that inhabits the Earth.”

Also included under the roof of the bio-dome will be exhibitions and displays encouraging visitors to learn about tropical ecosystems.

“The highly personalised encounters with plants and animals will motivate children to learn fascinating facts, while at the same time instilling respect for the intricacy and fragility of the environment,” the company said.

Meraas is also behind Dubai’s Boxpark, Splash Pad and Reel Cinemas.

newsdesk@thenational.ae

The specs

Price, base / as tested Dh1,470,000 (est)
Engine 6.9-litre twin-turbo W12
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 626bhp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 900Nm @ 1,350rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.0L / 100km

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Closing the loophole on sugary drinks

As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.

The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.

Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.

Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
 

Not taxed:

Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.

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On Women's Day
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

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

Profile

Company name: Marefa Digital

Based: Dubai Multi Commodities Centre

Number of employees: seven

Sector: e-learning

Funding stage: Pre-seed funding of Dh1.5m in 2017 and an initial seed round of Dh2m in 2019

Investors: Friends and family 

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