ABU DHABI // The agency that oversees maritime safety is developing its own strategy for handling a nuclear power disaster, supplementing efforts by the country's nuclear regulator.
In the event of an emergency at a nuclear facility, the Critical National Infrastructure Authority (CNIA) should have a plan to protect the capital's waters, officials said at a stakeholder forum yesterday that outlined the authority's strategic plans until 2015.
The CNIA signed a memorandum of understanding with the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) last month for co-operation in areas related to nuclear security.
The first two of the UAE's nuclear reactors are scheduled to come online by 2017.
Prevention and mitigation of nuclear accidents has been at the top of officials' minds amid the crisis surrounding Japan's Fukushima plant, crippled by an earthquake and tsunami last month. Poisonous water from the damaged reactors has since leaked into the sea.
Mohammed al Hamili, the UAE Minister of Energy, is attending the Summit on Safe and Innovative Use of Nuclear Power in Ukraine today, while FANR this month has asked Enec to explain what lessons it has learnt from Japan's disaster.
While FANR will act as a watchdog for the nuclear facilities and work to prevent a disaster from occurring, it is the CNIA's responsibility to address the possibility of an emergency and how to contain it, said Amna al Yammahi, the head of strategic planning and organisational development for the CNIA.
"This is a new issue to the country, and we want to develop a strategy to make sure that security personnel will be able to respond to incidents that could affect critical infrastructure," she said.
Academics and professionals have said the UAE was ill-prepared for man-made or natural disasters. To address this need, Khalifa University in the capital has recently launched a master's programme in disaster recovery, the first of its kind in the country.
The CNIA's move to assess large areas around the plants as well as the potential impact of a disaster on the community "would be a big step in greater resilience for the nation", said Greg Moser, the director of continuing education at Khalifa University's Institute for International and Civil Security, who spoke at yesterday's forum.
"If anything does occur, those mitigation and disaster plans and procedures could be vital in the recovery of the area and restoration to normal," he said.
The CNIA also revealed figures for the use of its emergency number, 996, which responds to marine emergencies. There were 1,845 emergency calls last year, of which 373 were for search and rescue.
econroy@thenational.ae
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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