Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, walks with the Prince of Wales at the Presidential Airport in 2014. Courtesy: Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, walks with the Prince of Wales at the Presidential Airport in 2014. Courtesy: Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, walks with the Prince of Wales at the Presidential Airport in 2014. Courtesy: Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, walks with the Prince of Wales at the Presidential Airport in 2014. Courtesy: Crown Prince Court -

Government

Sheikh Mohamed calls UK's Prince Charles to offer condolences on the death of Prince Philip

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces wishes Queen Elizabeth II good health

The National

April 17, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, spoke with Britain's UK's Prince Charles on Friday to offer condolences on the death of his father, Prince Philip.

During the phone call, Sheikh Mohamed wished Queen Elizabeth II good health.

The Prince of Wales expressed his appreciation and thanked Sheikh Mohamed for his wishes.

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, died on April 9 at the age of 99 and is to be buried on Saturday.

He was in hospital for a month after being admitted as a precautionary measure on February 16.

Prince Philip was discharged on March 16 after treatment for an infection and surgery for a heart condition.

Philip, a Greek prince, married Elizabeth in 1947 and played a key role in modernising the British monarchy in the post-Second World War period.

They married five years before she became queen, and Philip was the longest-serving royal consort in British history.

The couple had four children, eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

"He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years," the queen said in a rare personal tribute to Philip, in a speech marking their 50th wedding anniversary in 1997.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip with UAE leaders – in pictures

  • Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip greet UAE President Sheikh Khalifa, at Windsor Castle in 2013. Getty Images
    Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip greet UAE President Sheikh Khalifa, at Windsor Castle in 2013. Getty Images
  • Sheikh Zayed, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip seated before lunch at the Hilton Hotel in Abu Dhabi, in 1979. Getty Images
    Sheikh Zayed, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip seated before lunch at the Hilton Hotel in Abu Dhabi, in 1979. Getty Images
  • UAE President Sheikh Khalifa speaks to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip during their visit to Abu Dhabi in 2010. Getty Images
    UAE President Sheikh Khalifa speaks to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip during their visit to Abu Dhabi in 2010. Getty Images
  • Prince Philip attends a military air display in Abu Dhabi in 2010. Getty Images
    Prince Philip attends a military air display in Abu Dhabi in 2010. Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip together during a visit to Abu Dhabi in 1979, which was part of their tour of the Gulf. Getty Images
    Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip together during a visit to Abu Dhabi in 1979, which was part of their tour of the Gulf. Getty Images
  • Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, speaks to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip during a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in 2010. Getty Images
    Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, speaks to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip during a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in 2010. Getty Images
  • Prince Philip visits a souq in Muscat during a state visit to Oman in 1979. Getty Images
    Prince Philip visits a souq in Muscat during a state visit to Oman in 1979. Getty Images
  • Prince Philip looks at a hawk during a visit to Manama, Bahrain, in 1979. Getty Images
    Prince Philip looks at a hawk during a visit to Manama, Bahrain, in 1979. Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip disembark the Royal Yacht Britannia in Kuwait, in 1979. Getty Images
    Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip disembark the Royal Yacht Britannia in Kuwait, in 1979. Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip are presented with a gift by the then-Sultan of Oman, Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, before a state banquet in Muscat, Oman, in 2010. Getty Images
    Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip are presented with a gift by the then-Sultan of Oman, Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, before a state banquet in Muscat, Oman, in 2010. Getty Images
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Who are the Soroptimists?

The first Soroptimists club was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. The name comes from the Latin word soror which means sister, combined with optima, meaning the best.

The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.

Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.

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BULKWHIZ PROFILE

Date started: February 2017

Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: E-commerce 

Size: 50 employees

Funding: approximately $6m

Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait

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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

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

UK's plans to cut net migration

Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.

Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.

But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.

Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.

Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.

The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.

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Leap of Faith

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Dh67
 

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The Pope's itinerary

Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport


Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial


Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport

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Company: Justmop.com

Date started: December 2015

Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan

Sector: Technology and home services

Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai

Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month

Funding:  The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups. 

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Evacuations to France hit by controversy
  • Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
  • Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
  • The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
  • Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
  • It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
  • Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
  • Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
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