President Sheikh Mohamed performed Eid Al Adha prayers on Wednesday morning alongside fellow worshippers at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
During the sermon, Dr Omar Al Darei, director general of the Fatwa Council, emphasised the importance of family bonds.
Sheikh Mohamed shared images on social media and wished the rulers of the emirates and leaders around the world a happy and blessed Eid Al Adha.
“To the rulers of the emirates, citizens and residents of the UAE, and Muslims around the world, I wish you a blessed Eid Al Adha and pray that God grants continued peace and happiness to our nation and to the people of the world,” Sheikh Mohamed said on Twitter.
Among those alongside Sheikh Mohamed were Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President and Minister of the Presidential Court; Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi; Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior; Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad, Advisor for Special Affairs at the Ministry of the Presidential Court; Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence: Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, as well several sheikhs, high-ranking officials and worshippers.
Following the prayers, Sheikh Mohamed exchanged greetings with worshippers.
He then visited the tomb of UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
In Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, performed Eid Al Adha prayers at Zabeel Grand Mosque.
In Sharjah, Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi performed Eid Al Adha prayers at Sharjah Mosque. He was joined by Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, along with several sheikhs, senior officials, citizens and residents.
Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, performed Eid Al Adha prayers at Sheikh Zayed Mosque. He was joined by Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah.
Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, performed Eid Al Adha prayers at the Grand Eid Musalla in Khuzam. He wished good health, progress and prosperity to the people of the UAE and all Arab and Islamic nations.
Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, performed Eid Al Adha prayers at the Ahmed bin Rashid Al Mualla Mosque in the emirate. He was joined by Sheikh Rashid bin Saud Al Mualla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Quwain and several sheikhs and senior officials.
Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi. Ruler of Ajman, performed Eid Al Adha prayers at Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi Mosque in Ajman. He was joined by Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman.
On Tuesday, Sheikh Mohamed sent messages of congratulations to kings, emirs and presidents across the Arab world on the eve of Eid Al Adha.
Sheikh Mohamed called for the continued progress, prosperity and stability of their nations and people.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, sent similar messages to leaders across the region.
Thousands of worshippers gathered at mosques across the Emirates on Wednesday to perform prayers on the first morning of the festival.
Eid Al Adha – the festival of the sacrifice – is marked during Dhu Al Hijjah, the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar. It is also the time the annual Hajj pilgrimage is performed.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Results:
CSIL 2-star 145cm One Round with Jump-Off
1. Alice Debany Clero (USA) on Amareusa S 38.83 seconds
2. Anikka Sande (NOR) For Cash 2 39.09
3. Georgia Tame (GBR) Cash Up 39.42
4. Nadia Taryam (UAE) Askaria 3 39.63
5. Miriam Schneider (GER) Fidelius G 47.74
Results
2pm: Serve U – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Violent Justice, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
2.30pm: Al Shafar Investment – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,400m; Winner: Desert Wisdom, Bernardo Pinheiro, Ahmed Al Shemaili
3pm: Commercial Bank of Dubai – Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Fawaareq, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson
3.30pm: Shadwell – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer
4pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Rakeez, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar
4.30pm: Al Redha Insurance Brokers – Handicap (TB) Dh78,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Capla Crusader, Bernardo Pinheiro, Rashed Bouresly
UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
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The years Ramadan fell in May
What is Genes in Space?
Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.
It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration.
The biog
Age: 46
Number of Children: Four
Hobby: Reading history books
Loves: Sports
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company profile
Name: Infinite8
Based: Dubai
Launch year: 2017
Number of employees: 90
Sector: Online gaming industry
Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor
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
