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If you’ve ventured to Expo 2020 Dubai, there is a good chance you’ve worked up a sweat by clocking up thousands of steps.
Visitors can make their way through its three pavilion districts as well as parks and avenues full of restaurants and seating.
Vast areas of the 438-hectare site are shaded to offer a break from heat and humidity, but moving around can be taxing when the sun is out.
With visitors in mind, the Expo team has ensured there are plenty of ways to stay cool when touring the site.
Brazil pavilion in the Sustainability district
It’s hard to miss the main feature on show at the Brazil pavilion. As soon as you walk through the entrance, you will see the large pool of water in the centre. Visitors are invited to wade through, so kick off your shoes and get your feet wet.
The interactive water feature is intended to represent the Rio Negro, one of the Amazon River’s tributaries. The floor beneath the water is black and made of stones known as pedra portuguesa, produced in southern Brazil.
At night, the four walls surrounding the pool of water light up as images, such as waterfalls, synonymous with the country are projected on to huge screens.
Switzerland pavilion in the Opportunity district
The Swiss pavilion is another great spot in which to keep cool. Like Brazil’s pavilion, the building has an interactive water feature.
Visitors can go on a hike through a sea of fog that gives way to a sound and light show, reproducing the passage from day to night over the Swiss Alps. The feature was inspired by a common phenomenon that occurs in Switzerland in the autumn
When visitors first approach the pavilion, they will see a large mirror facade and a red carpet before walking into the fog. Although those with longer locks may leave with a hint of frizz, it’s the perfect way to chill during your visit to the world’s fair.
Aquafina Drop in the Sustainability district
This building is hard to miss. Sited in the Sustainability district, its facade is coated with 41,000 recyclable cans. Though humble in size, the Aquafina Drop is well worth knowing about. If you enter the building with your own water bottle, you can refill it free of charge. If straight-up H20 doesn’t take your fancy, four flavoured waters are also on offer: strawberry, lime, peach and raspberry-lime.
The air conditioning adds to the chill-out experience.
Expo 2020 water feature and free refill stations
Sited between Al Wasl Plaza and Jubilee Park, the Expo 2020 Water Feature combines the elements of earth, water, air and fire in a way that will surprise and delight the senses.
During the day, sheets of water cascade down the 13-metre walls of the feature, which loosely resembles a giant bowl with the bottom cut out.
Visitors can test their might by running vertically against the stream, and by night, the water defies gravity by flowing up the brightly lit walls. This area is not to be missed.
Water stations are dotted about the site, so visitors can stay hydrated by refilling their bottles free of charge.
Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?
Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.
They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.
“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.
He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.
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
How to help
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Rock in a Hard Place: Music and Mayhem in the Middle East
Orlando Crowcroft
Zed Books
How to donate
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
FIGHT CARD
Sara El Bakkali v Anisha Kadka (Lightweight, female)
Mohammed Adil Al Debi v Moaz Abdelgawad (Bantamweight)
Amir Boureslan v Mahmoud Zanouny (Welterweight)
Abrorbek Madaminbekov v Mohammed Al Katheeri (Featherweight)
Ibrahem Bilal v Emad Arafa (Super featherweight)
Ahmed Abdolaziz v Imad Essassi (Middleweight)
Milena Martinou v Ilham Bourakkadi (Bantamweight, female)
Noureddine El Agouti v Mohamed Mardi (Welterweight)
Nabil Ouach v Ymad Atrous (Middleweight)
Nouredin Samir v Zainalabid Dadachev (Lightweight)
Marlon Ribeiro v Mehdi Oubahammou (Welterweight)
Brad Stanton v Mohamed El Boukhari (Super welterweight
