Visitor numbers to Expo 2020 Dubai climbed to more than 5.6 million after a busy UAE National Day weekend packed with shows, fireworks and parades.
Officials said the world’s fair recorded 5,663,960 visits since its doors opened to the public on October 1.
Residents and tourists have taken advantage of a number of ticket offers over the past two months, including free entry for all on December 2 and a half-price weekday ticket throughout November.
During October and November, the sprawling event site in Dubai welcomed 5,383 world leaders, including ministers, presidents, prime ministers and heads of state. It has also hosted 10,461 events.
Proving that a one-day visit is not enough, Sconaid McGeachin, senior vice president of communications for Expo 2020 Dubai, said six out of 10 visitors now hold an Expo season pass and the number of repeat visits has reached 1.2 million.
“Throughout the month of November, 28 per cent of visits came from outside country,” she said.
“Many visited from countries including India, France Germany, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UK.”
“In line with the normal tourism rush during the festive season, we expect this number to increase significantly as we move forward.”
Revealing more in terms of numbers, Ms McGeachin said virtual-visit numbers had reached 25 million and more than 600,000 trips to the world’s fair were made using the free Expo bus ride service.
In addition, 2.2 million trips to Expo have been made on the Dubai Metro.
In terms of pupil visits to the world’s fair, the Expo school programme has attracted close to 250,000 schoolchildren over the past two months.
Last month, Expo launched a December Festive Pass for Dh95 that includes access to a concert by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys.
The concert will take place in Al Wasl Plaza on Friday, and the US singer will also introduce songs from her new double album, Keys.
On Friday, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, received French President Emmanuel Macron at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Mr Macron congratulated Expo 2020 for “organising this exhibition and making it a success”.
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The biog
Name: Salem Alkarbi
Age: 32
Favourite Al Wasl player: Alexandre Oliveira
First started supporting Al Wasl: 7
Biggest rival: Al Nasr
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
How Beautiful this world is!
The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast
Mina Cup winners
Under 12 – Minerva Academy
Under 14 – Unam Pumas
Under 16 – Fursan Hispania
Under 18 – Madenat
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 biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
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