The solar system’s two largest planets, Jupiter and Saturn, came together on Monday night to form a ‘Christmas Star’ seen from the UAE and around the world.
Sky gazers in Dubai visited Al Thuraya Astronomy Centre in Mushrif Park to view the rare celestial event through telescopes. The phenomenon will not occur again until 2080.
It was the first time in 800 years that the two planets had come this close together after sunset. The last time they were in near alignment was 400 years ago, but it was during the day in most parts of the world.
Conjunctions happen every 20 years, but they rarely make such a close approach.
Maria Peshcherova, a Russian resident of Dubai, joined the crowd at the astronomy centre.
“The telescopes are so powerful, so we can see pretty clearly,” she said.
“[The planets] appeared as dots in the sky, but if you look at it through the telescopes, it’s amazing.”
Imran Babar, an astronomy enthusiast in Dubai, described the event as an opportunity that comes once in a lifetime.
"It also shows us how insignificant we are in this whole universe and, overall, it’s a great learning and observation opportunity,” he said.
The planets could be spotted with the naked eye after sunset and at their closest alignment appeared just a 10th of a degree apart.
Hasan Al Hariri, chief executive of Dubai Astronomy Group, said Jupiter and Saturn could be seen together through a single lens of a telescope.
“This is one of those events people are interested in because it doesn’t happen very frequently,” he said.
The planets' near alignment inspired many astronomers to call the celestial event the "Christmas Star", as two of the largest planets shone bright together and appeared to form a single entity.
In the nativity story, the Christmas Star, also known as the Star of Bethlehem, led three wise men to the baby Jesus.
US space agency Nasa described the visibility of the planetary conjunction as “merely a coincidence” based on the planets’ orbits and tilt of the Earth.
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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.
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Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
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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.
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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.
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2003 Beat Mark Philippoussis
2004 Beat Andy Roddick
2005 Beat Andy Roddick
2006 Beat Rafael Nadal
2007 Beat Rafael Nadal
2008 Lost to Rafael Nadal
2009 Beat Andy Roddick
2012 Beat Andy Murray
2014 Lost to Novak Djokovic
2015 Lost to Novak Djokovic
2017 Beat Marin Cilic