Authorities in Dubai have shut down or issued warnings to dozens more shops for flouting Covid-19 safety measures.
Retail regulator Dubai Economy said on Monday that it had closed 26 stores, imposed penalties on 14 and warned a further 234.
Furniture shops, tailors, car rental companies and grocery stores were among those caught out.
Premises shut down included stores in Al Quoz, Al Nakheel, Al Warqa and Al Wasl.
Dubai announced an easing of the government's stay at home order over the weekend.
More businesses were allowed to open provided they adhered to strict public health protection measures.
These included shop staff using face masks and gloves, the enforcement of social distancing among customers, and keeping to specific trading hours.
On Monday, officials said most of the breaches which had occurred had involved staff not wearing face masks or gloves.
The store closures came after 21 shops were shut down and 65 were cautioned over the weekend. A further seven were fined.
Officials asked consumers to report retailers seen ignoring rules via the Dubai Consumer App, by calling 600545555, or by visiting the Consumerrights.ae website.
On Friday, Dubai eased movement restrictions put in place to stem the spread of Covid-19.
Residents are now allowed to move freely, without requiring prior permission, between 6am and 10pm for the first time since April 4.
The move, which coincided with the beginning of Ramadan, also allowed beauty salons and barber's in the city to reopen.
Taha Hussein, 34, co-owner of the Hair and Beard barber's in Jebel Ali, said he began to receive calls on Thursday night from customers who had gone weeks without having a haricut.
“Clients started calling me immediately and we made reservations [for the weekend],” he said.
"We will be able to serve up to 10 clients per day.”
Mr Hussein, an Egyptian resident, said the shop could operate daily from 10am to 9pm, with five barbers covering two shifts per day.
“We are taking all the precautionary and preventive measures as per the authorities’ requirements, such as disposable razors, towels and disinfecting tools,” he said.
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft Toronto
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Windows
Release Date: April 10
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
Past winners of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
2016 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
2014 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2013 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2012 Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)
2011 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2010 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2009 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
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Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
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War
Director: Siddharth Anand
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor
Rating: Two out of five stars
