America's new climate champion, John Kerry, has vowed to work with the UAE to build a greener future for the planet and make up for his nation's "lost years" in the fight to protect the environment.
Mr Kerry, who was appointed as special presidential envoy for climate by President Joe Biden, held talks with Emirati minister Dr Sultan Al Jaber on joint efforts to deliver global action on key environmental issues.
The call to Dr Al Jaber, who was appointed the UAE's special envoy for climate change last year, was Mr Kerry's first official outreach to the region.
Mr Kerry, a former US secretary of state who ran for the presidency against George W Bush in 2004, has moved quickly to bolster ties with those making the green agenda a global priority.
Mr Kerry has discussed environmental concerns with ministers from countries including Australia, Chile, New Zealand and South Korea in recent days.
"Excellent conversation today with our long-term partner, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, the UAE Special Envoy for Climate," wrote Mr Kerry on Twitter.
"I look forward to strong and productive collaboration on tech, investment, and regional leadership as we work together to ensure global action on deep decarbonisation."
Dr Al Jaber, who is Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and chairman of Abu Dhabi renewable energy company Masdar, said the UAE "welcomes the new US administration’s sharpened focus on climate change and we look forward to exploring the many potential areas of synergy with the United States, one of the UAE’s most longstanding and trusted allies".
"Over the past 15 years, the UAE has emerged as a regional champion in renewables, with investments in major projects in thirty countries around the world, including three of the largest and lowest cost solar plants here in the UAE," Dr Al Jaber said.
"We have also established regional leadership in many other clean technologies, including carbon capture utilisation and storage, and we are more than willing to share our experience and expertise with the global community. These investments will not only accelerate efforts to reach climate goals, but will also enhance economic opportunity and diversification, while creating knowledge, skills and jobs."
One of Joe Biden's first acts in office was to announce America would rejoin the Paris climate accord.
His predecessor Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the agreement last year, arguing it came at too high a cost for the US economy.
Mr Kerry discussed America's return to the agreement with Patricia Espinosa, executive secretary of climate change at the United Nations.
"We'll make up for lost years - with humility and ambition both," said Mr Kerry on Twitter in regards to the conversation.
The UAE aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions to about 240 million tonnes by 2030, down 22.5 per cent compared to the business as usual figure of 310 million tonnes, as part of its own commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Helped by better technology and tougher regulations, initiatives will promote sustainable agriculture, energy efficiency and clean energy, and cut food waste and transport emissions.
The Emirates also wants to increase capacity for carbon capture, use and storage, for which the country set up the region’s first commercial-scale network to speed up technology introduction.
Last August, The UAE's environment minister urged international leaders not to neglect the threat posed by climate change as they seek to revive economies hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Abdullah Al Nuaimi stressed the importance of safeguarding natural resources during challenging times.
"Countries around the world are currently shaping their recovery plans, and we urge them to align their post-Covid-19 economic activities with the environmental protection priority, because climate change still is the most important existential threat to humanity," he said.
"Any plans of economic recovery must factor in the green economy as its cornerstone."
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Brief scores
Toss India, chose to bat
India 281-7 in 50 ov (Pandya 83, Dhoni 79; Coulter-Nile 3-44)
Australia 137-9 in 21 ov (Maxwell 39, Warner 25; Chahal 3-30)
India won by 26 runs on Duckworth-Lewis Method
The specs: Hyundai Ionic Hybrid
Price, base: Dh117,000 (estimate)
Engine: 1.6L four-cylinder, with 1.56kWh battery
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 105hp (engine), plus 43.5hp (battery)
Torque: 147Nm (engine), plus 170Nm (battery)
Fuel economy, combined: 3.4L / 100km
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
RESULTS
Men – semi-finals
57kg – Tak Chuen Suen (MAC) beat Phuong Xuan Nguyen (VIE) 29-28; Almaz Sarsembekov (KAZ) beat Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) by points 30-27.
67kg – Mohammed Mardi (UAE) beat Huong The Nguyen (VIE) by points 30-27; Narin Wonglakhon (THA) v Mojtaba Taravati Aram (IRI) by points 29-28.
60kg – Yerkanat Ospan (KAZ) beat Amir Hosein Kaviani (IRI) 30-27; Long Doan Nguyen (VIE) beat Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) 29-28
63.5kg – Abil Galiyev (KAZ) beat Truong Cao Phat (VIE) 30-27; Nouredine Samir (UAE) beat Norapat Khundam (THA) RSC round 3.
71kg – Shaker Al Tekreeti (IRQ) beat Fawzi Baltagi (LBN) 30-27; Amine El Moatassime (UAE) beat Man Kongsib (THA) 29-28
81kg – Ilyass Hbibali (UAE) beat Alexandr Tsarikov (KAZ) 29-28; Khaled Tarraf (LBN) beat Mustafa Al Tekreeti (IRQ) 30-27
86kg – Ali Takaloo (IRI) beat Mohammed Al Qahtani (KSA) RSC round 1; Emil Umayev (KAZ) beat Ahmad Bahman (UAE) TKO round
Destroyer
Director: Karyn Kusama
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Toby Kebbell, Sebastian Stan
Rating: 3/5
UAE release: January 31
Defined benefit and defined contribution schemes explained
Defined Benefit Plan (DB)
A defined benefit plan is where the benefit is defined by a formula, typically length of service to and salary at date of leaving.
Defined Contribution Plan (DC)
A defined contribution plan is where the benefit depends on the amount of money put into the plan for an employee, and how much investment return is earned on those contributions.
