Dubai's Burj Khalifa lit up in honour of the 94th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II. The National
Dubai's Burj Khalifa lit up in honour of the 94th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II. The National
Dubai's Burj Khalifa lit up in honour of the 94th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II. The National
Dubai's Burj Khalifa lit up in honour of the 94th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II. The National

Government

Dubai's Burj Khalifa transformed into giant Union Jack for the queen's birthday

The world's tallest building was lit up in red, white and blue to honour the British monarch

The National

April 22, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Dubai delivered the world's biggest birthday message to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II as Burj Khalifa was lit up in the colours of the Union Jack.

The world's tallest building was turned red, white and blue to commemorate the monarch turning 94.

It was a show of pomp on ceremony on what has been an unusually quiet occasion for the head of Britain's royal family following the coronavirus pandemic.

There was to no gun salutes in her honour and the bells of Westminster Abbey did not ring out.

But the UAE ensured the big day was never going to go unnoticed.

April 21 marks the queen's actual date of birth. However, her birthday is officially also celebrated each June.

The unpredictable British weather prompted this tradition in 1748.

King George II, who was born in November, decided to hold a celebratory birthday celebration in June because of concerns it would rain on his parade.

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    The Duke and Duchess of York with their baby daughter in 1926 after her christening in the private chapel at Buckingham Palace, where she received the names Elizabeth Alexandra Mary. Getty Images
  • Queen consort Elizabeth holds Princess Margaret's hand as Princess Elizabeth follows, as they attend the wedding of Jean Elphinstone and John Lycett Will in July 1936. Getty Images
    Queen consort Elizabeth holds Princess Margaret's hand as Princess Elizabeth follows, as they attend the wedding of Jean Elphinstone and John Lycett Will in July 1936. Getty Images
  • Commemorative stamps featuring Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose are released to mark King George VI's Coronation on May 12, 1937. Getty Images
    Commemorative stamps featuring Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose are released to mark King George VI's Coronation on May 12, 1937. Getty Images
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    Queen Elizabeth II, as Princess Elizabeth, and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, at their November 20, 1947, wedding. Getty Images
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    Princess Elizabeth greeting Winston Churchill at London's Guildhall on March 23, 1950. Getty Images
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    The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II took place on June 2, 1953 at Westminster Abbey, London. Getty Images
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    HM Queen Elizabeth II with her maids of honour in the Green Drawing Room, Buckingham Palace, at her coronation on June 2, 1953. In selecting six maids, instead of pages, to bear her velvet train throughout the coronation ceremony, the Queen followed the precedent of Queen Victoria. Getty Images
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    Queen Elizabeth II at the Waldorf Astoria in 1957, during her first official state visit to the United States. Getty Images
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    Queen Elizabeth II on board the 'Royal Yacht Britannia' in New York, 1976. Shutterstock
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    Queen Elizabeth II greets well-wishers in north London during celebrations of her Silver Jubilee, 1977. Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth II meets with Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, during a state visit to the Emirates more than 40 years ago in February 1979. Courtesy Al Ittihad
    Queen Elizabeth II meets with Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, during a state visit to the Emirates more than 40 years ago in February 1979. Courtesy Al Ittihad
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    Queen Elizabeth II appoints Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, as part of her tour of the Gulf States on February 25, 1979. Getty Images
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    Queen Elizabeth II and Sultan Qaboos at Muscat Palace in Oman during the British monarch’s three-week Gulf tour on February 28, 1979. Getty Images
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    Queen Elizabeth II waves from the balcony of Buckingham Palace with the Prince and Princess of Wales on their wedding day on July 29, 1981. Getty Images
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    Queen Elizabeth II at the the Windsor Horse Show in 1984. Getty Images
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    Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother arrive at Westminster Abbey in London to attend the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales on September 6, 1997. Getty Images
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    Queen Elizabeth II stands alongside Prime Minister Tony Blair inside the Millennium Dome at Greenwich, London during the New Year's Eve celebrations on December 31, 1999. Getty Images
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    Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia (now King Salman bin Abdulaziz), before lunch at Buckingham Palace in London on June 28, 2000. Getty Images
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    Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip ride in the Golden State Carriage at the head of a parade from Buckingham Palace to St Paul's Cathedral celebrating the Queen's Golden Jubilee on June 4, 2002. Getty Images
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    Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, chat while seated during a musical performance in the Abbey Gardens during her Golden Jubilee visit to Suffolk in July 2002. AFP
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    Queen Elizabeth II with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, viewing a replica of Burj Khalifa during a state visit to the UAE on November 25, 2010. Getty Images
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    Queen Elizabeth II walks with Sultan Qaboos, after arriving from the UAE on November 25, 2010 in Muscat, Oman. Getty Images
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    Queen Elizabeth II speaks during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images
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    Britain's Queen Elizabeth II meets with President Sheikh Khalifa at Windsor Castle in April 2013. AFP
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    Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip greet President Sheikh Khalifa at Windsor Castle in England on April 30, 2013. Getty Images
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    President Donald Trump joins the Queen and members of the British royal family for a state banquet to mark his three-day visit to the UK on June 3, 2019. Getty Images
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    Queen Elizabeth II leaves the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in London on March 9, 2020. Reuters
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    Queen Elizabeth II during her address to the nation and the Commonwealth in relation to the coronavirus epidemic, recorded at Windsor Castle on April 5, 2020. Reuters
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    A message from Queen Elizabeth II is displayed on a screen in Piccadilly Circus, as the spread of the coronavirus disease continues, London on April 19, 2020. Reuters
While you're here
RESULT

Bayern Munich 3 Chelsea 2
Bayern: Rafinha (6'), Muller (12', 27')
Chelsea: Alonso (45' 3), Batshuayi (85')

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

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed 

On Women's Day
While you're here
On Women's Day
Greatest Royal Rumble match listing

50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias

Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match

WWE World Heavyweight ChampionshipAJ Styles (champion) v Shinsuke Nakamura

Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe

United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal

SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos

Raw Tag Team Championship (currently vacant) Cesaro and Sheamus v Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt

Casket match The Undertaker v Rusev

Singles match John Cena v Triple H

Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v Kalisto

While you're here
PROFILE

Name: Enhance Fitness 

Year started: 2018 

Based: UAE 

Employees: 200 

Amount raised: $3m 

Investors: Global Ventures and angel investors 

10 tips for entry-level job seekers
  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
  • Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
  • Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
  • For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
  • Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
  • Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
  • Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
  • Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
  • Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
  • Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.

Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

'Top Gun: Maverick'

Rating: 4/5

 

Directed by: Joseph Kosinski

 

Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris

 
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Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km

KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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'Unrivaled: Why America Will Remain the World’s Sole Superpower'
Michael Beckley, Cornell Press

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

UAE