• A Tadweer sanitary worker sprays a play area at the Family Park on the Corniche with disinfectants to counter the spread of the coronavirus. Victor Besa / The National
    A Tadweer sanitary worker sprays a play area at the Family Park on the Corniche with disinfectants to counter the spread of the coronavirus. Victor Besa / The National
  • A municipal worker walks in a closed park in Jumeirah with his face covered. Antonie Robertson / The National
    A municipal worker walks in a closed park in Jumeirah with his face covered. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • A park is closed off with red and white tape in Town Square, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A park is closed off with red and white tape in Town Square, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A sign at Al Barsha Park shows the new rules for the Covid-19 pandemic. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A sign at Al Barsha Park shows the new rules for the Covid-19 pandemic. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A Tadweer sanitary worker sprays the Family Park at the Corniche with disinfectants to counter the spread of the coronavirus. Victor Besa / The National
    A Tadweer sanitary worker sprays the Family Park at the Corniche with disinfectants to counter the spread of the coronavirus. Victor Besa / The National
  • A sign at Al Quoz Pond Park displays new rules. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A sign at Al Quoz Pond Park displays new rules. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A cordoned off park to keep residents safe from the Coronavirus at Al Falah Street, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    A cordoned off park to keep residents safe from the Coronavirus at Al Falah Street, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • Town Square park in Dubai is closed. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Town Square park in Dubai is closed. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A man walks past a closed park on the corniche in Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A man walks past a closed park on the corniche in Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A man wearing a facemask runs past a closed park in Al Ain. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A man wearing a facemask runs past a closed park in Al Ain. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Coronavirus: more parks to reopen in Dubai on Monday


Gillian Duncan
  • English
  • Arabic

Dozens of parks will reopen in Dubai on Monday.

The emirate closed all public open spaces in the middle of March to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Last week, officials from the Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management announced public parks would welcome visitors again.

But only a handful reopened in the following days, alongside walking, running and cycling tracks across the city.

Authorities have now said that the emirate will restore full park services in “gradual and successive phases”.

Seventy neighbourhood parks will welcome visitors from Monday, followed by Mushrif, Al Mamzar, Al Khor, Zabeel and Al Safa parks in the last phase on May 25. Here, The National breaks down the phases.

First phase, from May 12-18. 

Tracks will open at:

- Zabeel

- Al Safa

- Al Barsha South

- Al Sufouh

- Al Mankhool

- Al Liseily

Parks will open at:

- Nad Al Sheba-2 parks

- Al Worood in Nad Al Sheba-4

- Al Twar 2 and 3 parks

- Mosque Park

- Al Mizhar-1, 2 and 4

- Al Qusais 2 and 3

- Nadd Al Hamr Park

- Al Warqaa-2 Park

Second phase, from May 18.

70 parks will open, including:

- neighborhood parks

- Miracle Cave

- Glasshouse in Quranic Park

Third and final phase.

Larger parks will open, including:

- Mushrif Park

- Al Mamzar Park

- Al Khor Park

- Zabeel Park

- Al Safa Park

Dawoud Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality, said parks would only reopen after authorities were able to study the latest data on the spread of Covid-19.

He said the benefits of reopening gradually included the ability to continuously measure and assess the situation, ensuring any risk of a spike in infections was minimised.

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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

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