The Apple Store in the Mall of the Emirates was temporarily closed due to an outbreak of Covid-19 among staff. Reuters. AFP
The Apple Store in the Mall of the Emirates was temporarily closed due to an outbreak of Covid-19 among staff. Reuters. AFP
The Apple Store in the Mall of the Emirates was temporarily closed due to an outbreak of Covid-19 among staff. Reuters. AFP
The Apple Store in the Mall of the Emirates was temporarily closed due to an outbreak of Covid-19 among staff. Reuters. AFP

Apple store at Dubai's Mall of the Emirates closes after Covid-19 cases detected


Nick Webster
  • English
  • Arabic

The Apple Store at Dubai's Mall of the Emirates was temporarily closed after an outbreak of Covid-19 among staff.

The company said it was shut as a precaution to prevent further risk of infection.

"We always put the health and well-being of our customers and teams above everything else," an Apple representative told The National.

“Our stores are only open when we’re confident we can serve customers in a safe and healthy environment.

"Out of an abundance of caution we're temporarily closing our Mall of the Emirates store after Covid-19 affected some team members," the representative said.

“We look forward to reopening the store soon.”

While there was no indication if the Apple store in Dubai Mall would also close over the weekend, its doors shut at 5pm on Thursday.

Winter tourism in Dubai - in pictures

  • Tourists walk along the bridge from Jumeirah Beach Residence to Bluewaters Island on a cool January day. The city is one of the global hubs fully open to tourists, who have flocked there for a break from lockdown at home. AP
    Tourists walk along the bridge from Jumeirah Beach Residence to Bluewaters Island on a cool January day. The city is one of the global hubs fully open to tourists, who have flocked there for a break from lockdown at home. AP
  • Tourists and residents enjoy the sunset at Jumeirah Beach Residence, with the Dubai Eye on Bluewaters Island in the background
    Tourists and residents enjoy the sunset at Jumeirah Beach Residence, with the Dubai Eye on Bluewaters Island in the background
  • Mask-clad Israeli tourists walk towards their bus after a visit to the historic Al Fahidi neighbourhood near Dubai Creek. AFP
    Mask-clad Israeli tourists walk towards their bus after a visit to the historic Al Fahidi neighbourhood near Dubai Creek. AFP
  • A mask-clad tourist pictured with the windtowers of Al Fahidi in the background. AFP
    A mask-clad tourist pictured with the windtowers of Al Fahidi in the background. AFP
  • A tourist sandboards down a dune in the Dubai desert
    A tourist sandboards down a dune in the Dubai desert
  • A man slides along a zip line over the Marina
    A man slides along a zip line over the Marina
  • Tourists look at the skyline at sunset. AP
    Tourists look at the skyline at sunset. AP
  • Dubai’s main souq, alongside the Creek. AFP
    Dubai’s main souq, alongside the Creek. AFP
  • People ride an abra on the Creek between Deira and Bur Dubai. AFP
    People ride an abra on the Creek between Deira and Bur Dubai. AFP

The store had admitted shoppers by appointment only as a precaution against the virus, and after a surge in interest in the launch of the iPhone 12 and the AirPods Max headphones.

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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

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The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo

Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000

Engine: 5.6-litre V8

Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm

Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km

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Produced by: Clean Slate Films (Anushka Sharma, Karnesh Sharma) & KriArj Entertainment

Director: Prosit Roy

Starring: Anushka Sharma, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Ritabhari Chakraborty, Rajat Kapoor, Mansi Multani

Three stars

'Worse than a prison sentence'

Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.

“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.

“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.

“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.

“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.

“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”

The Vines - In Miracle Land
Two stars

Abu Dhabi race card

5pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) | ​​​​​​​Dh80,000 | 1,400m
6pm: Liwa Oasis (PA) Group 2 |​​​​​​​ Dh300,000 | 1,400m
6.30pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-2 (PA) Group 3 | Dh300,000 | 2,200m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap | Dh70,000 | 1,600m
7.30pm: Maiden (TB) |​​​​​​​ Dh80,000 | 2,200m