Two Dubai streets leading to Kite Beach have been merged and named after the popular leisure spot.
Al Saffar and Mazmala streets - together a 1.5km stretch in Jumeirah - will now be known as Kite Beach Street.
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority has begun to replace 13 signs along the route.
The streets were renamed under the directives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.
Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, director general of the RTA, said the move will raise the profile of the now-unified street.
“The Kite Beach Street, which stretches 1,500 metres, has 370 parking slots, and can handle up to 1,000 vehicles per hour," said Mr Al Tayer.
“Kite Beach is one of the key recreational spots on Jumeirah Street. It features a high-quality infrastructure for sports and entertainment activities.
"The area hosts an extensive range of restaurants and cafes making it one of the most popular beaches in the city. It is served by a wide network of roads with multiple entry and exit points at Jumeirah Street. The facility has jogging and walking tracks, cycling lanes, and services for shared bikes.
“The renaming of this street raises its profile among the public. It will also help promote its superb tourist and recreational spots, apart from supporting the Government’s drive to make Dubai a bike-friendly city by encouraging outdoor cycling.
"The initiative will contribute to realising Dubai Vision 2021 to make the city the preferred destination lifestyle and business destination.”
Mr Al Tayer said the transport authority is stepping up efforts to enhance the beach and its surrounding area and make it more cycling-friendly.
"RTA is continuing to implement its strategy for improving personal mobility means along the beaches to integrate with the existing roads and transport infrastructure," he said.
"Next year, RTA will start design and construction of cycling tracks extending 16 km along the Jumeirah Beach, including Kite Beach, which will make the site more attractive to visitors.”
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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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
The five new places of worship
Church of South Indian Parish
St Andrew's Church Mussaffah branch
St Andrew's Church Al Ain branch
St John's Baptist Church, Ruwais
Church of the Virgin Mary and St Paul the Apostle, Ruwais
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
