A little more than a week after setting off on an environmental expedition to Antarctica, a group of Emiratis have already sailed through five-metre-high waves, spotted penguins and camped on the frozen land.
The team, which includes executives from Dubai International Airport and Etihad Airways, is being led by Robert Swan, a veteran adventurer of both the north and south poles.
The purpose of the visit is to raise awareness about the effects pollution is having on Antarctica. One of the participants, Taryam al Subaihi, said the trip had already been eye-opening.
"Being surrounded which such foreign perfection has changed something in us, which we hope to discover more about in our journey," Mr al Subaihi, who is a corporate communications adviser for Etihad, wrote on his blog.
Five Emiratis are taking part in the expedition, down from an original 12. They are among 68 people from various countries, including China, India, the UK and Egypt, who are making the trip.
The team set sail from Ushuaia, Argentina on March 6, crossing the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula. The passage is notorious and although the team experienced tall waves, they were told it was one of the easiest recent crossings.
After sighting land, the team took a small inflatable boat through the calm waters of Lemaire Channel. In a blog entry, Mr al Subaihi likened the sparse beauty of the glaciers to the "purity of the dunes" in Al Ain.
Last week the team landed on Peterman Island, which is populated by seals and Gentoo penguins, as well as Neko Harbour, an old Norwegian fishing base.
During their stay they have been writing letters to their families and notes to themselves.
"The objective is to remind our future selves of the great respect we have to come to have for this white paradise," Mr al Subaihi said.
This weekend, the team camped on the ice at Leith Cove, near Paradise Harbour.
Mr al Subaihi led the call to prayer for the small Emirati and Egyptian delegations.
"It was an unbelievably rewarding experience," he said.
The team is expected to visit King George Island tomorrow, where they will visit Mr Swan's e-Base, a facility run entirely on renewable energy.
They will set sail for Ushuaia again on Wednesday, and are scheduled to land in Argentina on Thursday and fly back the following day.
mcroucher@thenational.ae
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Sunday's games
All times UAE:
Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace, 4pm
Manchester City v Arsenal, 6.15pm
Everton v Watford, 8.30pm
Chelsea v Manchester United, 8.30pm
Mobile phone packages comparison
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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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Company profile
Name: The Concept
Founders: Yadhushan Mahendran, Maria Sobh and Muhammad Rijal
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: 2017
Number of employees: 7
Sector: Aviation and space industry
Funding: $250,000
Future plans: Looking to raise $1 million investment to boost expansion and develop new products
THE SPECS
Range Rover Sport Autobiography Dynamic
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 518bhp
Torque: 625Nm
Speed: 0-100kmh 5.3 seconds
Price: Dh633,435
On sale: now
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