The UAE Cabinet has approved a plan to tackle the importing and distribution of drugs by announcing the formation of a new committee.
The plan includes the National Council Against Drugs, which will be headed by Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.
It will also enhance international co-operation in drug enforcement, strengthen collaboration between federal ministries and local authorities, provide means of early detection and improve treatment for addicts.
The council will also review existing legislation and propose necessary amendments to the Cabinet.
"Drugs are the scourge of this age, the cancer of societies and an epidemic targeting our dearest possessions, targeting young people, and combating it is a national duty for every parent and every government and security official," said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.
Drugs are the scourge of this age, the cancer of societies and an epidemic targeting our dearest possessions
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
"The solidarity of government and educational agencies, security institutions and families together is the impregnable barrier to those who want evil to us and our children."
The UAE’s new drug law, introduced in January last year, treats drug addicts as victims and not suspects.
The law aims to provide leniency for first-time offenders and put a sharper focus on rehabilitation over punishment.
People convicted of drug use and possession will now serve time in secure detention offering treatment and education programmes rather than in prison with other convicts.
Deportation for expatriates in drug use and possession cases is no longer mandatory, with judges able to decide if someone convicted is allowed to stay.
The UAE actively co-operates with other countries to help tackle the distribution of drugs.
Lt Gen Dhahi Khalfan, Deputy Chief of Police and Public Security in Dubai, said last year that the UAE has helped to arrest more than 500 drug dealers around the globe over the previous four years.
He said the UAE is now working with more than 55 countries to dismantle the networks of criminal gangs.
The Cabinet also reviewed a range of initiatives to encourage companies and people to use clean energy and green technology and support the improvement of air quality.
"A working group has been assigned to complete the study of regulating carbon emissions in the country before it is practically approved by the Cabinet," Sheikh Mohammed said.
"Preserving the environment is everyone's responsibility. We want economic development that preserves our environment for future generations."
In June, the UAE announced a nationwide campaign to boost public awareness about the nation's sustainability programmes.
The goal is to promote community involvement and motivate more people to adopt environmentally friendly habits.
The campaign's official website, sustainableuae.ae, showcases various national initiatives and success stories, demonstrating the UAE's dedication to environmental conservation and collective action for a sustainable future.
The campaign comes in the Year of Sustainability, as the UAE prepares to host Cop28 in November in Dubai, further strengthening its commitment to climate action.
National Sports Strategy
The Cabinet also adopted the National Sports Strategy 2031, which aims to increase levels participation in sports in society, to reach more than 70 per cent of the population.
The strategy will implement 17 initiatives in the coming years and focus on encouraging more community members to exercise.
The strategy will also develop elite sports professionals, discover talented athletes in schools, update the methodology of school physical education, develop sports federations and develop the sports law.
It aims to have more than 30 UAE athletes competing in the Olympic Games.
"Sport is the best alternative for our youth, it is the strong shield for the health of our society, and it is the way to raise the flag of our country in many international forums," Sheikh Mohammed said.
A senior health official in Abu Dhabi in October said only one-third of the emirate's residents are regularly active despite continuous government efforts to promote and encourage a healthy lifestyle.
Dr Omniyat Al Hajeri, executive director of Community Health at the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, said that encouraging the public to be more active was a “universal challenge”.
"We've realised that this is an issue and many countries are facing it, especially after Covid and particularly with the younger generation," Dr Al Hajeri said.
“However, it's also important that we realise that despite all the available infrastructure that is expected to enable people to be active, we still have approximately only 30 per cent of the Abu Dhabi society considered to be regularly active, so it's clear that there's still a lot that needs to be done.”
Previous research also found that only about 19 per cent of people in Dubai do the recommended amount of exercise.
A study in July last year found that about one third of university students in the UAE are overweight or obese, with scientists warning that the rate is likely to increase as this generation grows older.
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
THE DETAILS
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Director: Ron Howard
2/5
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
Crazy Rich Asians
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeon, Gemma Chan
Four stars
States of Passion by Nihad Sirees,
Pushkin Press
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
