ABU DHABI // A new rehabilitation centre has opened in the capital to meet a growing demand for the treatment of substance addiction.
The Khalifa Rehabilitation Clinic (KRC), which is operated by the National Rehabilitation Centre, is an inpatient facility with 48 beds and specialised services for various addictions.
The NRC's old facility in the city, which has 28 beds, will continue to operate but will deal mainly with criminally-charged addicts and serve as an outpatient clinic.
The KRC is based in Khalifa City A and will be used temporarily until the centre moves to its new 200-bed unit in Mafraq City in 2014.
"We have opened this facility until then because we had to start providing services to cater for different types of patients," said Dr Hamad Al Ghafri, director general of NRC. "This centre will serve only voluntary patients."
The new clinic is spread out across three villas and incorporates an adolescent unit and a halfway house for the reintegration of recovering addicts into community.
"There will be separate programmes for adults and one tailored for adolescents as well," said Dr Al Ghafri.
Dr Ahmed Yousef Ali, the head of psychiatry for the NRC, said they had seen the number of cases increase by 20 to 30 per cent every year over the past four years.
"There is so much demand that we had to temporarily open this facility before we move to a bigger one," said Dr Ali. "We couldn't operate with just 20 to 30 beds."
The biggest challenge for the centre is recruiting qualified medical staff.
Dr Al Ghafri said they were looking to employ Emirati psychiatrists with specific training in addiction, as well as psychologists and social workers.
NRC has partnered with Kings College in London and UAE University to offer certified training in addiction treatment.
It is also sending a team of three Emiratis to the US to train in the Matrix outpatient model for four weeks, which NRC plans to implement as well.
NRC officials said they are planning at least two more outpatient facilities outside the city, in Al Ain and the eastern area.
aahmed@thenational.ae
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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
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Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
