ABU DHABI // Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, the President, opened the 15th legislative chapter of the FNC yesterday with a reminder to new members of their responsibility to the nation.
He urged the men and women who will sit on the council to fulfil the aspirations of the people who selected them and to pledge themselves to the interests of the country.
Earlier the area around the FNC building was aflutter with UAE flags, and there was an impressive military array of tanks while troops lined the red carpet from 11am, awaiting the President’s arrival.
The opening followed the election of 20 members on September 24, and the appointment of a further 20 this weekend.
New members waited nervously inside the council chamber watching a screen showing what was going on outside, as officials and sheikhs arrived.
At 11.42am Sheikh Khalifa arrived outside and the chamber fell silent, all 39 members present – Ghareeb Al Suraidi, an elected member from Fujairah, was absent because of illness – fixing their eyes on the screen.
The President stood on the red carpet as troops saluted to the strains of the national anthem. As he entered the building he was greeted by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
At exactly noon, Sheikh Khalifa entered the chamber, followed by the rulers of the other six emirates.
After a recitation from the Quran, he opened the 15th legislative chapter, praying that the FNC would work for what is best for the country and its people.
“We congratulate you as you received the confidence of the people and support of the leadership and remind you that membership of the National Council is not a privilege or societal relevance but it is an arduous responsibility of those who have put confidence in you and nominated you. They have high hopes and expectations of you,” he said.
“Come up to this confidence and commit yourselves to the interest of the nation and the interests of citizens and you will have our full support in this endeavour.”
Abdullah Hamad Al Shamsi, an elected member from Ajman, concluded the ceremony by responding on behalf of the FNC members, reaffirming that they would work towards what was best for the country.
Sheikh Khalifa then left, followed by the other rulers, crown princes, officials and FNC members for a group photograph.
An hour later the members returned to the chamber. Led by Mr Al Shamsi, as temporary speaker, they took their oaths. First was an elected Ras Al Khaimah member, Ahmed Abdullah Al Amash.
"I swear in Allah's name, I will be loyal to the United Arab Emirates, and respect the federal constitution and its laws, and work in the council and in the committees in all honest and integrity," he said.
His fellow members were called one by one to stand and take the same oath. Several showed their nerves, stuttering as they repeating the oath.
Dr Amal Al Qubaisi, an elected member in the last chapter, and this time appointed, was eighth to take the oath - and the first woman.
"It has a big meaning to the new members," she said. "To meet the highnesses and renew their trust."
She said the new members would never forget taking the oath so publicly. "They have all already taken the oath in their hearts when they were born, but now can show their loyalty to the country. This leaves a big mark on members."
The members then set about electing the speaker and first and second deputy speakers of the council, as well as its eight committees. The session ended at 3.30pm.
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Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
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
