AL AIN // High school pupils from across the country have been checking out their prospects for further learning.
About 20 universities promoted the programmes they have on offer at the first UAE Education Interface on Monday.
Ayesha Abdullah, 18, an Emirati pupil, did not know which university she wanted to join until she attended the event.
“There are universities that I just learnt about now. But I learnt a lot,” said Ayesha.
After looking over the courses at the Fatima College of Health Sciences in Ajman, she said she decided to study radiology or pharmacy there.
Another Emirati student, Kholoud Mohammed, 18, said she visited each university stall and wanted to study science.
Kholoud said that while she had not settled on which area of science she would focus, it was good to see all of the options.
Her opinion was shared by Noor Ahmed, 17, from Palestine.
“There isn’t a specific university but I want to study either medicine or engineering,” Noor said.
“This might help us choose what we want to study in the future.”
But not all pupils had a clear idea about what they wanted to study.
Mazoon Alneydai, an 18-year-old Emirati student, said she intended to wait before picking an area of focus.
“I came to see all the universities and their majors. I’ll choose later,” Mazoon said. “I took a brochure from each university to see their majors, then I will think and choose.”
University students were on hand to offer advice.
Shamma Al Darei, 18, a student at Fatima College, was eager to introduce herself to others and educate them on the programmes at her institution, where she is studying to become a pharmacist.
Shamma said she was there to meet the pupils and help them to choose the university or college at which they wanted to study.
Despite the wide variety of courses on offer, most of the pupils were interested in medicine and engineering.
“We are noticing that the students are focusing on medicine, dentistry, pharmacy or engineering,” said Mariam Matloob, who works in the marketing department of the American University in the Emirates, in Dubai.
“A minority of the students are focusing on business, law, media. That’s the feedback we’re getting.”
Some universities, such as the Abu Dhabi Polytechnic, awards students a degree as well as a licence in their field of study, said Nasser Al Memari, manager of student and support services at the college.
The polytechnic offers a wide variety of programmes in engineering and aviation, so it is easier to integrate pupils into the workforce, Mr Al Memari said.
He said the university followed Abu Dhabi’s 2030 Vision.
“Right now, Abu Dhabi’s direction is towards three main industries,” Mr Al Memari said.
These include aviation, nuclear energy and semiconductor manufacturing, he said.
“Abu Dhabi Polytechnic is the educational branch of the manufacturing industry,” he said.
Institutions taking part in the event also included the University of Sharjah, the American University of Sharjah, Al Ghurair University, the Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and the Canadian University of Dubai.
The exhibition is being hosted under the patronage of Sheikha Shamma bint Mohammed Al Nahyan, head of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan Cultural Centre.
Sheikha Shamma was present on the first day of the three-day event at the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club.
The first two days are for female pupils, while the third day is for boys.
nbakhsh@thenational.ae
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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
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
The UN General Assembly President in quotes:
YEMEN: “The developments we have seen are promising. We really hope that the parties are going to respect the agreed ceasefire. I think that the sense of really having the political will to have a peace process is vital. There is a little bit of hope and the role that the UN has played is very important.”
PALESTINE: “There is no easy fix. We need to find the political will and comply with the resolutions that we have agreed upon.”
OMAN: “It is a very important country in our system. They have a very important role to play in terms of the balance and peace process of that particular part of the world, in that their position is neutral. That is why it is very important to have a dialogue with the Omani authorities.”
REFORM OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL: “This is complicated and it requires time. It is dependent on the effort that members want to put into the process. It is a process that has been going on for 25 years. That process is slow but the issue is huge. I really hope we will see some progress during my tenure.”
British Grand Prix free practice times in the third and final session at Silverstone on Saturday (top five):
1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:28.063 (18 laps)
2. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 1:28.095 (14)
3. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1:28.137 (20)
4. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) 1:28.732 (15)
5. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Renault) 1:29.480 (14)
