As a V8 Mercedes-Benz SLS rolled out of the plane and onto the streets of Milan, heads turned as onlookers asked why a Dubai Police car had arrived in Italy.
The 315kph sports car joined the famous thousand-mile race from Brescia to Rome, known as the Mille Miglia, on June 16 to mark the UAE’s hosting of a similar vintage car Emirates tour in December.
The AMG supercar is part of a growing fleet of luxury vehicles used by Dubai's traffic officers to break down barriers and connect with the public.
Supercars in the white and green of Dubai Police are often seen at national events such as Dubai Marathon, the UAE cycle tour or other parades and celebrations.
Public engagement is the reason Dubai Police want to expand their garage of luxury cars. Here is a top ten list of the most eye-catching.
Mercedes-AMG GT63 S
When this V8 twin-turbocharged beast thunders into life, it certainly makes its presence known. It can hit 100kph in just 3 seconds thanks to its nine-speed automatic gearbox and AMG-tuned all-wheel-drive system. It will set you back a cool $161,000. (Dh592,000).
Maserati GranTurismo
This Italian classic allows traffic police to cruise the streets of Dubai in style, as well as comfort.
The four-door coupé set a record for the most quickly developed car entering vehicle production. Just nine months after designers pencilled their plans, the first GranTurismos were rolling off the production line in northern Italy. As one of just 28,805 vehicles produced, the Dubai Police model is sure to remain a classic.
Toyota 2021 GR Supra
Launched this year, the GR Supra is the most recent addition to the Dubai Police fleet. Described by Toyota as delivering a “powerful but pure” driving experience, the car can hit 100kph in just 4.3 seconds and has a top speed of 250kph.
At just $43,000 (Dh158,000) this Japanese-made thoroughbred is one of the more affordable police cars.
Bugatti Veyron
Described by some as the jewel in the crown of the Dubai Police stable, this supercar was designed in Germany but made in France.
It has an eye-watering top speed of 407kph, making it the fastest vehicle in the fleet, and it was named car of the decade by BBC driving programme Top Gear.
Bugatti’s Super Sport version of the Veyron is one of the fastest street-legal production cars in the world, with a top speed of 431kph.
This snarling hulk of a sports car is also one of the most valuable at around $2 million (Dh7.3milion).
Mercedes-Benz G 63
The “G Wagon” has become a familiar sight on the streets of the emirate and Dubai Police kept up with the trend, launching several of the twin turbo-charged vehicles in 2020.
The 4 litre V8 mean machine looks ready for action, both on and off the road, and despite its $200,000 (Dh735,000) price tag, is one of the most desirable sports utility vehicles on the market.
Aston Martin One-77
Another design classic, this limited edition model is at the higher end of the Dubai Police budget.
This British-made car - from the brand synonymous with James Bond - is certain to become a modern-day classic as just 77 have been produced.
Aston Martin created a special factory staffed by 27 of the firm’s finest engineers to produce the exclusive One-77. The 7.3 litre V12 supercar will set you back a cool $1.8 million (Dh6.6 million).
Lamborghini Aventador
Named after a Spanish fighting bull, the Aventador was initially limited to just 4,000 vehicles, with Dubai Police quick to snap up one of the V12 cars and coat it in green and white.
Each of the eight carbon-fibre moulds used to create the sleek bodywork was limited to just 500 units each. A 2021 coupe model sells in Dubai for around Dh1.9 million.
Bentley Continental GT
Another cruiser in the Dubai Police fleet is the Bentley Continental. The GT has been in production since 2003 and carries a sense of class with it. It was the first Bentley to employ mass production techniques when the company released the factory process to Volkswagen in 1998.
A huge six-litre engine and a top speed of 318kph ensure police can get where they need to be in style, and on time.
BMW i8
Another nod to the future is the BMW i8, a plug-in hybrid sports car that has become part of Dubai Police’s growing electric fleet.
It was first released in Germany in 2014, and production of the roadster used in Dubai ceased in 2020.
Top speed is electronically limited to 250kph, although range is restricted with a single electric charge to just 37km leaving it heavily reliant on traditional fuel.
McLaren MP4-12C
The carbon fibre car was the first road vehicle made by the British manufacturer since 1992 and has been at the disposal of Dubai Police since 2013. Not as fast as others in the authority’s garage, but it still packs a punch on the open road with a top speed of around 200kph thanks to its twin-turbo charged V8 engine.
And one more still to come:
Tesla Cybertruck
This all-electric monster will be one of the more unusual vehicles operated by Dubai Police, if the electric pick-up joins its fleet.
As a battery-powered light duty truck the environmentally friendly car has a range of up to 800km on a single charge and is no slouch, with the fastest model hitting 100kph in about 3 seconds.
Tesla developed the truck with an eye on reducing the number of fossil-fuel powered delivery trucks on the road.
Although it is scheduled for production by the end of 2021, Dubai Police tweeted a photo of one of the trucks in its green and white colours to hint it will be added to the fleet of operational vehicles.
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Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
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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
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
The specs: 2019 Cadillac XT4
Price, base: Dh145,000
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged in-line four-cylinder engine
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 237hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 350Nm @ 1,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km
Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
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RESULTS
6pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $40,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: AF Alajaj, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
6.35pm: Race of Future – Handicap (TB) $80,000 (Turf) 2,410m
Winner: Global Storm, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
7.10pm: UAE 2000 Guineas – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Azure Coast, Antonio Fresu, Pavel Vashchenko
7.45pm: Business Bay Challenge – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Storm Damage, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor
20.20pm: Curlin Stakes – Listed (TB) $100,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Appreciated, Fernando Jara, Doug O’Neill
8.55pm: Singspiel Stakes – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Lord Glitters, Daniel Tudhope, David O'Meara
9.30pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Meraas, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
The Specs:
The Specs:
Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 444bhp
Torque: 600Nm
Price: AED 356,580 incl VAT
On sale: now.
SPIDER-MAN%3A%20ACROSS%20THE%20SPIDER-VERSE
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The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The bio
Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home
EA Sports FC 24
BAD%20BOYS%3A%20RIDE%20OR%20DIE
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The biog
Favourite food: Fish and seafood
Favourite hobby: Socialising with friends
Favourite quote: You only get out what you put in!
Favourite country to visit: Italy
Favourite film: Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
Family: We all have one!
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000
On sale: now
