Related: Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed at 60: rare images shed light on Crown Prince's early life in Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, is celebrating a milestone birthday on Thursday as he turns 60.
Birthday wishes poured in on social media under the hashtags #HappyBirthdayMbZ and #ميلاد_اسد_الامارات (meaning "birth of the lion of the Emirates").
Chief among the well-wishers was Sheikh Mohamed's teacher Ahmed Mandi Al Tamimi, who shared memories of the Crown Prince as a school pupil.
Mr Al Tamimi taught Sheikh Mohamed at Al Kindi Primary School from 1971 to 1975.
A video posted to Wam showed Mr Al Tamimi looking at archive photographs of himself with Sheikh Mohamed and his brothers Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, now the Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region and Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, now Vice Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council.
“He was in Grade 5 or 6, [Sheikh] Hamdan was in Grade 2 and [Sheikh] Hazza was in Grade 1, and they were like every other pupil,” said Mr Al Mandi, scrolling through the photographs.
The images of Sheikh Mohamed show him writing on a blackboard, focusing on his studies and practising public speaking.
Looking back on those days, Mr Al Tamimi spoke of Sheikh Mohamed’s hard work and discipline in school.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed visits his old teacher
“Sheikh Mohamed was very enthusiastic about attending the morning assembly. He even had a page he would read out in the morning from a magazine."
The teacher shared a voice recording of Sheikh Mohamed as he read out “words of wisdom” from the third issue of the morning magazine.
“Those who work hard will gain and those who plant seeds will reap a harvest, and those who walk the path, arrive at where they intend to be. Everyone must be diligent in their work,” Sheikh Mohamed read out to his fellow pupils.
His teacher said this early work paid off because Sheikh Mohamed became an accomplished public speaker.
"[He] is very logical and very objective."
The teacher also recalled how Sheikh Mohamed came to visit him at home in in 2017 long after his retirement. "He even brought his kids. It was like family visit," Mr Al Tamini said.
“We were overjoyed and shared memories. It was as if the past had never left,” he said.
In another tribute, UAE political analyst Dr Salem Al Ketbi wished Sheikh Mohamed a happy birthday and a long journey as a leader.
“Happy birthday Your Highness, happy birthday to you.”
Scores of other tweets paid tribute to Sheikh Mohamed as a brother, father and an inspiration to the entire country.
And Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, gave Sheikh Mohamed a special birthday present.
A tribute, based on Sheikh Mansour's poetry, was suing by Emirati singer Eida Al Menhali. The video detailed the Crown Prince's devotion to the UAE, love of its people and commitment to ensuring a better future for all. The song was set against a montage of images of Sheikh Mohamed attending events and meeting the country's citizens, along with archive footage of him with the Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed.
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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