DUBAI // A plan to brighten up the drab footpaths of the Al Quoz industrial area with street art has attracted support from 30 artists so far.
A proposal for an open-air "night art festival" in Al Serkal Avenue, which has become home to independent art galleries in converted warehouses and industrial space over the past few years, will be submitted to authorities next month.
It is the first step in what organisers behind the Al Quoz Beautification Project hoped would be a proliferation of street art around the area's maze of factories, warehouses and labour camps.
"We want to give some colour to Al Quoz, to the people who live there and work there," said Maria Urrutia, the project's organiser.
"We want to take the art out of the galleries and make it available for everyone, so all the public can see."
Among the talent to have signed up for the project are the British artist Sya One and the Argentine street artist Ruben Sanchez.
In Dubai - as in most cities - graffiti is considered vandalism and offenders can be punished with fines or even jail time and deportation. Street art works require permission from building owners and the municipality.
But there are a handful of artists who get around those rules by painting only on temporary structures, such as construction boards.
If the planned night art festival is successful, the next project would be a month-long sculpture exhibition across Al Quoz.
The life-size sculptures would include positive words such as "smile", which artists hoped would improve the community's mood.
"We want to have them on the sidewalk," said Ms Urrutia. "Then after a month, we would auction the sculptures and with that money hopefully have art workshops for labourers.
"They want a good life but they don't have the money to take art classes. They could sell their work and get some money."
The night art festival is planned to take place in November but Ms Urrutia said she would have to wait for approval from the municipality and the Roads and Transport Authority, as the street would be blocked for the night.
"Everything depends on them now," she said.
mcroucher@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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