Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Foreign Minister of Kuwait Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah have reviewed the longstanding fraternal relations between the two nations. Wam
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Foreign Minister of Kuwait Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah have reviewed the longstanding fraternal relations between the two nations. Wam
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Foreign Minister of Kuwait Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah have reviewed the longstanding fraternal relations between the two nations. Wam
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Foreign Minister of Kuwait Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah have reviewed the longstanding frate

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed meets Kuwaiti foreign minister on country's 60th National Day


Georgia Tolley
  • English
  • Arabic

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, met his Kuwaiti counterpart on Wednesday ahead of the country’s 60th National Day.

Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al Sabah travelled to Abu Dhabi for high-level talks to reaffirm Kuwait's longstanding partnership with the Emirates.

The pair discussed ways in which the two countries could continue to co-operate, and Sheikh Abdullah praised Kuwait’s efforts in consolidating joint Gulf action.

He commended the significant achievements made by Kuwait, describing the country as a nation that has become a "role model for development across all fields".

Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation, also attended the meeting.

A dinner was held in honour of Dr Al Sabah and his accompanying delegation.

In celebration of Kuwait's National Day, Sheikh Abdullah said he wished for the country's "sustained development and prosperity under the wise leadership of emir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al Sabah."
The UAE also hosted a series of activities to celebrate the annual event. The country's key landmarks lit up with the Kuwaiti flag, and shopping malls in all Emirates were decorated with congratulatory flags and messages.

Before the pandemic, approximately half a million Kuwaiti tourists visited the UAE each year, and there were nearly 180 to 200 weekly flights between the two countries.

Kuwait celebrates 60th National Day

  • A girl waves the Kuwaiti flag at Kuwait City's Souk Al Mubarakiya. Events to mark National Day and Liberation Day on February 25 and 26 have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. EPA
    A girl waves the Kuwaiti flag at Kuwait City's Souk Al Mubarakiya. Events to mark National Day and Liberation Day on February 25 and 26 have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. EPA
  • Shoppers throng Kuwait City's Souk Al Mubarakiya. Kuwaiti authorities have announced the indefinite closure of land and sea borders from 24 February, to curb Covid-19 infections. EPA
    Shoppers throng Kuwait City's Souk Al Mubarakiya. Kuwaiti authorities have announced the indefinite closure of land and sea borders from 24 February, to curb Covid-19 infections. EPA
  • Customers sit in a coffee shop at Souk Al Mubarakiya traditional market, Kuwait City, Kuwait. EPA
    Customers sit in a coffee shop at Souk Al Mubarakiya traditional market, Kuwait City, Kuwait. EPA
  • Customers shop at fruit stalls at Souk Al Mubarakiya in Kuwait City. Kuwait's government has cancelled National Day and Liberation Day celebrations on February 25 and 26, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. EPA
    Customers shop at fruit stalls at Souk Al Mubarakiya in Kuwait City. Kuwait's government has cancelled National Day and Liberation Day celebrations on February 25 and 26, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. EPA
  • A vendor arranges fruit on display at Kuwait City's Souk Al Mubarakiya. EPA
    A vendor arranges fruit on display at Kuwait City's Souk Al Mubarakiya. EPA
  • A vendor selling traditional baskets sorts his stock at Kuwait City's Souk Al Mubarakiya. EPA
    A vendor selling traditional baskets sorts his stock at Kuwait City's Souk Al Mubarakiya. EPA
  • A date vendor stands among his wares at Kuwait City's Souk Al Mubarakiya. EPA
    A date vendor stands among his wares at Kuwait City's Souk Al Mubarakiya. EPA
  • Shoppers at Kuwait City's Souk Al Mubarakiya. Under coronavirus restrictions, Kuwait's beauty salons and gymnasiums are closing, and restaurants are being limited to takeaway services. EPA
    Shoppers at Kuwait City's Souk Al Mubarakiya. Under coronavirus restrictions, Kuwait's beauty salons and gymnasiums are closing, and restaurants are being limited to takeaway services. EPA
  • The Kuwaiti flag flying in Kuwait City. The government has cancelled events to mark National Day and Liberation Day, on February 25 and 26, to curb the spread of Covid-19. EPA
    The Kuwaiti flag flying in Kuwait City. The government has cancelled events to mark National Day and Liberation Day, on February 25 and 26, to curb the spread of Covid-19. EPA
  • Staff and customers at the fish market in Kuwait City's Souk Al Mubarakiya. EPA
    Staff and customers at the fish market in Kuwait City's Souk Al Mubarakiya. EPA
  • Customers sit at a traditional open-air coffee shop at Kuwait City's Souk Al Mubarakiya. From 24 February, eateries will only be able to offer takeaway services, due to Covid-19 restrictions. EPA
    Customers sit at a traditional open-air coffee shop at Kuwait City's Souk Al Mubarakiya. From 24 February, eateries will only be able to offer takeaway services, due to Covid-19 restrictions. EPA
  • Customers relax at a coffee shop at Kuwait City's Souk Al-Mubarakiya. EPA
    Customers relax at a coffee shop at Kuwait City's Souk Al-Mubarakiya. EPA
Company Fact Box

Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019

Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO

Based: Amman, Jordan

Sector: Education Technology

Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed

Stage: early-stage startup 

Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.

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Results

2-15pm: Commercial Bank Of Dubai – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Al Habash, Patrick Cosgrave (jockey), Bhupat Seemar (trainer)

2.45pm: Al Shafar Investment – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Day Approach, Ray Dawson, Ahmad bin Harmash

3.15pm: Dubai Real estate Centre – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Celtic Prince, Richard Mullen, Rashed Bouresly

3.45pm: Jebel Ali Sprint by ARM Holding – Listed (TB) Dh500,000 (D) 1,000m; Winner: Khuzaam, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson

4.15pm: Shadwell – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Tenbury Wells, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer

4.45pm: Jebel Ali Stakes by ARM Holding – Listed (TB) Dh500,000 (D) 1,950m; Winner: Lost Eden, Andrea Atzeni, Doug Watson

5.15pm: Jebel Ali Racecourse – Handicap (TB) Dh76,000 (D) 1,950m; Winner: Rougher, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson

Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

Teachers' pay - what you need to know

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

 

 

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

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In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter

Price: From Dh2,099

Key developments

All times UTC 4

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

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Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin

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MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:

Ajax 2-3 Tottenham

Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate

Final: June 1, Madrid

Like a Fading Shadow

Antonio Muñoz Molina

Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez

Tuskar Rock Press (pp. 310)

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U19 WORLD CUP, WEST INDIES

UAE group fixtures (all in St Kitts)

  • Saturday 15 January: UAE beat Canada by 49 runs 
  • Thursday 20 January: v England 
  • Saturday 22 January: v Bangladesh 

UAE squad:

Alishan Sharafu (captain), Shival Bawa, Jash Giyanani, Sailles
Jaishankar, Nilansh Keswani, Aayan Khan, Punya Mehra, Ali Naseer, Ronak Panoly,
Dhruv Parashar, Vinayak Raghavan, Soorya Sathish, Aryansh Sharma, Adithya
Shetty, Kai Smith  

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What drives subscription retailing?

Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.

The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.

The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.

The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.

UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.

That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.

Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Origin
Dan Brown
Doubleday

Cinco in numbers

Dh3.7 million

The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown

46

The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.

1,000

The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]

50

How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday

3,000

The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.

1.1 million

The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.