FUJAIRAH // Commuters are contending daily with roadworks, diversions and traffic jams as the emirate proceeds with upgrading its road infrastructure.
As part of the Fujairah 2040 Plan, busy streets and motorways are being refurbished, uneven surfaces relaid, and lanes and traffic signals added to cope with the population growth and the increase in the number of vehicles that accompanies it.
Although the work meant short trips through the city can become long ones, most residents welcomed the upgrades as a sign of improvement in their emirate.
“Wherever you go you find road construction. It’s a good thing, as this will minimise traffic in most parts of the emirate and make life easier,” said Jasim Al Ali, 33, an Emirati resident of Al Mereshed.
“I suggest they start working on Airport Road because it’s very old and bumpy and often used by residents living in Al Mereshed and Al Gurfa.”
Construction work was recently completed on Al Faseel Road to add traffic signals, lanes and junctions to ease congestion. The work crews later moved on to Al Nakheel Street and Al Gurfa Street.
Mohammed Al Mazroui, a 28-year-old Emirati resident of Madhab, welcomed development in his home town.
“Fujairah is taking big steps in becoming a more developed and advanced emirate, which is something I’m proud of,” he said, adding that he preferred to have more traffic lights on busy roads than roundabouts.
“Roundabouts cause traffic congestion more than anything and having a traffic light is much better and more convenient.”
Fujairah is upgrading its road infrastructure because its population is expected to exceed half a million people by 2040, up from 152,000 today.
The emirate’s recent major development projects include the Sheikh Khalifa motorway that links Fujairah with Dubai. It was completed in 2011 at a cost of Dh1.7 billion.
Fujairah also invested Dh55 million on upgrading 27 kilometres of the Dibba-Masafi Road, with the addition of an eight-kilometre road between Al Bidya and Sharm.
The 8.5km Maktoum bin Rashid Road, which connects Fujairah with Masafi, was redeveloped at a cost of Dh48m, and Dh160m was spent on reconstructing the 20km road from Kalba to Khor Fakkan.
Last year, the Dh166 million ring road project connecting Dibba and Khor Fakkan was completed.
It also serves Al Aqah, Sharm, Rul Dadna, Rul Dibba and Al Bidya.
The Dibba-Khor Fakkan Ring Road and tunnel serves 15,000 cars on weekdays and as many as 20,000 cars at the weekends.
“The upgrade is needed because the population is growing and the number of cars is increasing rapidly, so adding more lanes and enhancing the roads are required,” said Salem Al Mukasah, manager of the Fujairah Public Works Department.
“After we completed the road construction at Al Faseel Road, we started upgrading Al Nakheel Road by adding one lane on both sides, a traffic signal and a junction.
“We expect to finalise phase one of the project next month, as we are also working on upgrading Al Gurfa road by adding more lanes.”
rhaza@thenational.ae
Tips for taking the metro
- set out well ahead of time
- make sure you have at least Dh15 on you Nol card, as there could be big queues for top-up machines
- enter the right cabin. The train may be too busy to move between carriages once you're on
- don't carry too much luggage and tuck it under a seat to make room for fellow passengers
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
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Who are the Soroptimists?
The first Soroptimists club was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. The name comes from the Latin word soror which means sister, combined with optima, meaning the best.
The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.
Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.
