Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, pictured prior to the Covid-19 outbreak. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, pictured prior to the Covid-19 outbreak. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, pictured prior to the Covid-19 outbreak. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, pictured prior to the Covid-19

Government

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid writes poem in honour of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed

The poem likens Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed to a lion

The National

November 01, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, has written a poem dedicated to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

He shared the poem, titled The Lion, on Twitter on Sunday. Layered with multiple meanings, the language of the poem combined classical Arabic and elements of the local dialect, making it difficult to translate completely.

In the ode, he likened Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed's strength to that of a lion. He said Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed commanded respect and was well protected by his family and loved ones, should anyone try to attack him.

He said the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi would feel no fear when he bled and "if he dies, he will die in the highest place [with the highest honour]".

He said one hit from Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed "could turn stone into rubble".

Describing Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed as his friend through times of peace and war, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid ended his poem by wishing "Bu Khaled" a long and prosperous life.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid is an avid poet and frequently shares his work online.

He published a collection of 18 poems, called For the Love of Horses, last year.

In 2015, a collection of his Nabati poems were turned into a musical theatrical production.

Al Faris (The Knight) was inspired by poems on loyalty, love, humanity, courage and leadership.

Nabati poetry stems from the Gulf and is written using local dialect, rather than classical Arabic. Also known as "the people's poetry" or "Bedouin poetry", Nabati poetry is very popular in the UAE.

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The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

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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

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

UAE