Governments must strike a balance between winning public trust while tapping into technology and innovation to protect society from future pandemics, global policy experts have said.
The state of governance around the world, in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, was discussed in an online forum hosted by the Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation on Wednesday.
Experts cited New Zealand as a good example of modern governance with its Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, winning public confidence while being strong, yet compassionate.
The country has no active Covid-19 cases after health authorities released the final patient from isolation on Monday.
It is so powerful when data is linked together, governments need to reassure the public it will not be misused
"This crisis has been an extraordinary test of governments to maintain public trust," said Geoff Mulgan , professor of collective intelligence, public policy and social innovation at University College London.
“Using mobile phone data and credit card data to get a real time picture of what is happening has seen a big advance since a year ago.
“It is so powerful when data is linked together, governments need to reassure the public it will not be misused.
“Governments can be strong and compassionate like we have seen in New Zealand, and that builds public trust.”
A greater connection between government and society was noted as a breakthrough in shaping future governance during the pandemic.
In the UK, tens of thousands of people volunteered to help the under pressure National Health Service, while others gave up time to help the elderly or develop protective equipment for frontline health staff.
In the UAE, early projects to test remote working by government employees in 2017 gave officials a head start when staff were told to vacate offices under stay-home safety measures.
"Remote working in the UAE government is not a new thing but Covid-19 has accelerated the process," said Dr Abdulrahman Al Awar, director general of the UAE's Federal Authority for Government Human Resources.
“We have seen a focused opportunity and approach across all sectors since the start of the crisis.
“Continuity of business was very important with automation an important element and a focus of the government.”
Dr Al Awar said more attention had been directed to e-learning and remote training workshops within government departments. One session was so successful, it was attended by 18,000 people, he said.
Meanwhile, policy leaders said the UAE was well placed to deal with enforced changes in a post-pandemic world.
"No futurist can claim to have predicted this crisis and no one knows what l come next," said Huda Al Hashimi, assistant director of general strategy and innovation at the UAE Prime Minister's Office.
“Many scenarios have been put in place for recovery.
“We are on a long journey with lots of ups and downs but how do we learn from this.
“People are awaiting answers and direction for clarity, so the expectation on governments has increased."
She said the role of governments post Covid-19 will become more challenging with increased expectations from the public.
“This virus has pushed many governments to the edge.”
A fast tracking of government policies and regulations to support bold decisions like lockdowns, business closures and social distancing were also a positive step that could be replicated in future.
“This was not the time for normal timelines for procedures,” said Ms Al Hashimi.
“We are now going back to a slow reopening of the economy.
“We postponed some taxes, built temporary hospitals and enacted distance learning very quickly in an emergency response to the virus.
“These decisions were not debated on, they moved quickly.”
How it works
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Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test Thursday-Monday at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
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Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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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
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
The specs
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