ABU DHABI // Thousands of voters turned out in Abu Dhabi on Thursday night to pick 15 board members for the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“I praise Allah and the Rulers of this country who have given us the opportunity to serve the country and take it to new heights,” said winner Dalal Al Qubaisi, chief executive of Interactive Business Solutions Abu Dhabi.
“I am delighted today to win this prestigious election.”
Ms Al Qubaisi, who scored the highest number of votes at 4,202, took her place among 12 other Emiratis and two expatriates on the business consultative body.
The elections for the ADCCI board had to be held again on Thursday at booths in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Gharbia after an insufficient number of voters turned out on June 12.
The two expatriate winners were Indian M A Yousuf Ali, chairman of Emke Group, who won a spot for the third consecutive year, and first-time winner from Pakistan, Khan Zaman Suroor Khan.
“It feels great to win this election for the first time in the history that any Pakistani won this election,” Mr Suroor Khan said. “I promise to deliver my best to further expand the trade and commerce between both countries, as well as the world.”
He thanked supporters from the community as well as Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
“This is because of you all that I won this election and I would promote trade among all these countries as well as the world,” Mr Suroor Khan said.
“This is not my win – this victory is for all Pakistanis who live here and our country. All thanks to the leadership of this country who gave us a peaceful living here.”
A total of 14,557 votes were cast across the emirate’s three polling stations.
The quorum for voting is 25 per cent of the members of the General Assembly, which was not fulfilled on June 12, so the second election would have been deemed valid regardless of the number of votes cast.
The supervising committee of the elections is led by consultant Sultan Al Niyadi, a judge, assigned by the judicial department, who last night announced the results at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition and Conference Centre.
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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
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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Four-day collections of TOH
Day Indian Rs (Dh)
Thursday 500.75 million (25.23m)
Friday 280.25m (14.12m)
Saturday 220.75m (11.21m)
Sunday 170.25m (8.58m)
Total 1.19bn (59.15m)
(Figures in millions, approximate)
