Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority will resume its ferry service to Sharjah on Friday, August 4, more than three years after it was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The service, which was first launched in 2019, before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, will operate seven days a week.
The ferry will run shuttles between Al Ghubaiba Marine Station in Dubai and Aquarium Marine Station in Sharjah,
The journey between the two stations will take approximately 35 minutes, the RTA said.
From Monday to Thursday, there will be two morning journeys from Sharjah at 7am and 8.30am along with one morning journey from Dubai at 7.45am.
In the evening, there will be two journeys from Sharjah at 4.45pm and 6.15pm and three journeys from Dubai at 4pm, 5.30pm and 7pm.
From Friday to Sunday, there will be three journeys from each side starting from noon. Additional departure times from Sharjah will be at 2pm, 4pm and 6pm and the journeys from Dubai will start at 3pm, 5pm and 8pm.
Ticket fares for a single journey are Dh15 for the Silver Class and Dh25 for the Gold Class but will be free of charge to disabled passengers and children aged under five.
Public transport services across the Emirates - including Dubai Metro, ferry and tram links - were temporarily halted in 2020 as part of measures aimed at limiting the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Most services resumed within weeks with safety protocols in place as part of the country's recovery strategy.
The Dubai-Sharjah ferry first hit the waters in July, 2019 with the aim to serve up to 1.3 million passengers per year.
The scheme supported efforts to ease heavy congestion on roads between the two emirates.
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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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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if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
