Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi was among the leaders that denounced the attacks. Reuters
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi was among the leaders that denounced the attacks. Reuters
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi was among the leaders that denounced the attacks. Reuters
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi was among the leaders that denounced the attacks. Reuters

Countries across the world join in condemnation of Houthi attacks on Abu Dhabi


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Countries, leaders and ministers from across the world have condemned the Houthi attacks on Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, on Tuesday received a call from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, who denounced the Houthi attacks, state news agency Wam reported.

He affirmed Egypt's support for the UAE and its rejection of any threat to its security or stability.

Sheikh Mohamed also spoke with Israeli President, Isaac Herzog, who also expressed his strong condemnation of the attacks.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan rejected any threats made against the UAE. Farooq Naeem / AFP
Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan rejected any threats made against the UAE. Farooq Naeem / AFP

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan, also held a call with Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Khan said he rejected any threat to the security and sovereignty of the UAE.

He offered his condolences for the victims of these attacks, wishing a speedy recovery for those injured. Sheikh Mohamed thanked Mr Khan for the sentiments.

Iraqi President Barham Salih also condemned the attacks in a call to Sheikh Mohamed. He emphasised Iraq's support for the UAE and rejection of any threat to its security and sovereignty.

Sheikh Mohamed also spoke to Sheikh Meshal Al Sabah, the Crown Prince of Kuwait, who expressed his country's denunciation of the attacks and Felix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and African Union Chair, who expressed his strong condemnation.

Earlier, India and Pakistan's foreign ministers also condemned the Houthi attack on Abu Dhabi that killed three of their citizens.

Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi condemned the attacks. Photo: EPA / AFP
Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi condemned the attacks. Photo: EPA / AFP

India's Subrahmanyam Jaishankar spoke to Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, by phone to offer his support.

“Dr Jaishankar expressed India's strong condemnation and denunciation of the terrorist attack by the terrorist Houthi militia on civil areas and facilities in the UAE,” the state news agency Wam reported.

“He also reiterated India's full solidarity with the leadership, government and people of the UAE, highlighting the strong ties that their countries share.”

Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Pakistan's Foreign Minister, denounced the incident as a terrorist act that left one of his countrymen dead.

Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it would support the family of its citizen who died.

Two Indians and a Pakistani citizen died and six others were injured in an explosion at Adnoc's fuel storage depot in Mussaffah, Abu Dhabi, at about 10am on Monday.

A second incident led to a fire in a part of Abu Dhabi airport where construction is being carried out. No casualties were reported there.

Officials said an investigation was continuing and have not publicly confirmed that the strikes were by aerial drones.

Macron offers solidarity

France's President Emmanuel Macron offered his support to the UAE.

A statement from the Elysee Palace said he “strongly condemns the attacks on Abu Dhabi yesterday, and offers his support" to the UAE.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian had expressed France's strong condemnation of “these attacks that threaten the security of the UAE's territory and the region's stability".

In Moscow, Russia's foreign ministry said the strike against civilian targets was unacceptable, while the German foreign office said the attack was a grave threat that seeks to destabilise the region.

Japan and Singapore also condemned the attacks and expressed condolences to those who lost their lives.

Sheikh Mohamed also took similar calls from the President of Mauritania; the chairman of Sudan's Sovereign Transitional Council; while the Comoros government also expressed its condolences.

  • World leaders have condemned the attack and offered their support to the Emirates. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called his Emirati counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed to express his condolences. Reuters
    World leaders have condemned the attack and offered their support to the Emirates. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called his Emirati counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed to express his condolences. Reuters
  • A mass funeral for pro-Houthi rebels. In oil-rich Shabwa province, 40 rebels were killed 10 days ago when the Southern Transitional Council seized a military base, while as many as 280 died in air strikes on Marib and Al Bayda at the weekend. EPA
    A mass funeral for pro-Houthi rebels. In oil-rich Shabwa province, 40 rebels were killed 10 days ago when the Southern Transitional Council seized a military base, while as many as 280 died in air strikes on Marib and Al Bayda at the weekend. EPA
  • Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to President Sheikh Khalifa, said the attack on Abu Dhabi airport and an Adnoc oil storage unit in Mussaffah was a 'heinous crime' by a terrorist group. Navin Khianey for The National
    Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to President Sheikh Khalifa, said the attack on Abu Dhabi airport and an Adnoc oil storage unit in Mussaffah was a 'heinous crime' by a terrorist group. Navin Khianey for The National
  • Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, on Monday night to offer his support. Riyadh and other cities have been struck by dozens of Houthi drones in recent months. AFP
    Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, on Monday night to offer his support. Riyadh and other cities have been struck by dozens of Houthi drones in recent months. AFP
  • Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed received calls from leaders across the globe on Monday night. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed received calls from leaders across the globe on Monday night. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
War and the virus
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

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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

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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.

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Updated: January 19, 2022, 5:22 AM