Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said the Dubai government would continue to help all sectors recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. Twitter
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said the Dubai government would continue to help all sectors recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. Twitter
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said the Dubai government would continue to help all sectors recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. Twitter
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said the Dubai government would continue to help all sectors recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. Twitter

Government

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid: best and worst government agencies to be revealed in September

Providers of digital and smart services will be assessed over summer

The National

June 03, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister of the UAE, said on Wednesday that the five best and worst federal government agencies would be revealed in September.

Writing on Twitter, Sheikh Mohammed said more than 1,300 services provided by ministries and federal government agencies would be evaluated.

Tests will assess how easy it is for the public to pay fees, the accuracy of procedures and speed of service.

Sheikh Mohammed said the assessments would show that providing the best services in the world is a top priority for the UAE.

Rewarding the hard-working is a message to the government team that we will not allow inaction or negligence, he said.

"[We will] conduct a comprehensive evaluation of digital and smart services provided to the public across all federal government institutions and ministries," Sheikh Mohammed said.

"Next September 4 ... we will announce the best and worst five government agencies."

Sheikh Mohammed said the tests would determine the success of government agencies in reaching customers wherever they are and enable them to complete their transactions easily and efficiently.

It will highlight how the ease of accessing services can improve the quality of life for all.

He said continuous evaluation was not an administrative or routine procedure, but critical to the work of the UAE.

Sheikh Mohammed has sought to achieve top levels of service and dedication among public servants.

In 2016 he paid a surprise visit to government offices in Dubai and found desks empty.

Several officials were retired afterwards.

Ministers, managers and other officials are also routinely evaluated, while "secret shoppers" pay visits to service providers.

Sheikh Mohammed said in 2019 that standards at a government service centre were not at an acceptable level, after sharing an image of long queues at a branch of Emirates Post.

The assessment announced on Wednesday follows the launch in March of the UAE government's digital customer policy.

This encompasses 28 initiatives to be implemented by 2023 to enhance the competitiveness of the UAE at the global level.

Sheikh Mohammed launched the Dubai 2040 plan - in pictures

  • Beaches will be extended by 400 per cent and 60 per cent of Dubai will be nature reserves under the 2040 plan. Courtesy: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Twitter
    Beaches will be extended by 400 per cent and 60 per cent of Dubai will be nature reserves under the 2040 plan. Courtesy: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Twitter
  • Beaches will be extended by 400 per cent and 60 per cent of Dubai will be nature reserves under the 2040 plan. Courtesy: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Twitter
    Beaches will be extended by 400 per cent and 60 per cent of Dubai will be nature reserves under the 2040 plan. Courtesy: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Twitter
  • Historical images of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Rashid, former Ruler of Dubai, at the presentation of the Dubai 2040 plan. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
    Historical images of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Rashid, former Ruler of Dubai, at the presentation of the Dubai 2040 plan. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
  • The Dubai Urban Master Plan 2040, signed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
    The Dubai Urban Master Plan 2040, signed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, at an exhibition of the Dubai 2040 plan. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, at an exhibition of the Dubai 2040 plan. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, signs the Dubai Urban Master Plan 2040. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, signs the Dubai Urban Master Plan 2040. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, launches the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. Wam
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, launches the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. Wam
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, at an exhibition of the Dubai 2040 plan. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, at an exhibition of the Dubai 2040 plan. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
  • Sixty per cent of Dubai will be covered in nature reserves, under the 2040 plan unveiled by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. Courtesy: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Twitter
    Sixty per cent of Dubai will be covered in nature reserves, under the 2040 plan unveiled by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. Courtesy: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Twitter
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, launch the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. Wam
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, launch the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. Wam
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, launches the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. Wam
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, launches the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. Wam
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, launch the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. Wam
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, launch the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. Wam
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, launched the Dubai 2040 plan with a move to overhaul the emirate's landscape. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, launched the Dubai 2040 plan with a move to overhaul the emirate's landscape. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
  • The Dubai Urban Master Plan 2040, signed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
    The Dubai Urban Master Plan 2040, signed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
  • Since 1960, Dubai has implemented seven urban plans to keep up with the emirate's growing population. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
    Since 1960, Dubai has implemented seven urban plans to keep up with the emirate's growing population. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, unveils the 2040 plan to overhaul the city's urban landscape. Courtesy: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Twitter
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, unveils the 2040 plan to overhaul the city's urban landscape. Courtesy: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Twitter
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, unveils the 2040 plan to overhaul the city's urban landscape. Courtesy: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Twitter
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, unveils the 2040 plan to overhaul the city's urban landscape. Courtesy: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Twitter
  • Since 1960, Dubai has brought in eight urban plans to keep up with the emirate's growing population. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
    Since 1960, Dubai has brought in eight urban plans to keep up with the emirate's growing population. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
GULF MEN'S LEAGUE

Pool A Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Exiles, Dubai Tigers 2

Pool B Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jebel Ali Dragons, Dubai Knights Eagles, Dubai Tigers

 

Opening fixtures

Thursday, December 5

6.40pm, Pitch 8, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Dubai Knights Eagles

7pm, Pitch 2, Jebel Ali Dragons v Dubai Tigers

7pm, Pitch 4, Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Exiles

7pm, Pitch 5, Bahrain v Dubai Eagles 2

 

Recent winners

2018 Dubai Hurricanes

2017 Dubai Exiles

2016 Abu Dhabi Harlequins

2015 Abu Dhabi Harlequins

2014 Abu Dhabi Harlequins

Juventus v Napoli, Sunday, 10.45pm (UAE)

Match on Bein Sports

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Lamsa

Founder: Badr Ward

Launched: 2014

Employees: 60

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: EdTech

Funding to date: $15 million

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
While you're here
Reading List

Practitioners of mindful eating recommend the following books to get you started:

Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life by Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr Lilian Cheung

How to Eat by Thich Nhat Hanh

The Mindful Diet by Dr Ruth Wolever

Mindful Eating by Dr Jan Bays

How to Raise a Mindful Eaterby Maryann Jacobsen

While you're here

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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

Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Analysis

Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more

Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

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Sheikh Mohammed bin RashidUAE