New Year's Eve: Dubai launches clean-up drive to ensure celebrations are Covid-safe

A major clean-up drive was launched in Dubai as thousands prepare to ring in 2021 at a spectacular New Year's Eve show.

The streets of Downtown Dubai were disinfected and sanitised to help ensure the festivities are held safely.

A stunning firework, laser and light show at Burj Khalifa will be the highlight of the eagerly-awaited event.

Officials joined forces to make sure Dubai can celebrate safely and in line with Covid-19 precautionary measures.

Lt Gen Abdullah Al Marri, commander-in-chief at Dubai Police, said patrols would be on duty across the emirate to ensure the safety of all revellers and to enforce Covid-19 measures.

Police said they would use artificial intelligence to monitor the body temperatures of people attending the celebrations.

Maj Gen Rashid Al Matroushi, director general of Dubai Civil Defence, said more than 585 civil defence officers would be on duty on New Year's Eve. "They represent an elite of specialised units," he said.

Maj Gen Al Matroushi said 21 civil defence stations would be set up near celebration sites with 71 fire and rescue vehicles on hand.

Developer Emaar, which is managing the celebrations, said access to Downtown Dubai will be limited to five gates erected around the area. All guests must show a QR code to access the viewing areas in Downtown Dubai.

There are five different colours of QR codes for different categories of people in Downtown Dubai on the night. For hotel guests and restaurant visitors, the QR codes are gold and blue, respectively.

For hotel restaurants, the QR colour is light blue while Dubai Opera can be accessed with a dark red QR code. For the public area – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard – the QR code is black.

People can register through the U By Emaar App.

The family viewing areas on Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard will provide spectacular views of Burj Khalifa. The boulevard will be divided into zones to ensure social distancing is maintained.

Guests are asked to adhere to the advice of the Emaar NYE 2021 safety stewards on duty, who will assist visitors in making the event as safe and enjoyable as possible. The zones will open at 3pm on New Year’s Eve.

Those who book to watch the free show will be assigned a particular zone and gate from where to enter.

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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

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4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

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5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

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6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

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7. Limited time periods for audits

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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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