More than 85 million journeys in Abu Dhabi were made using public transport during the first six months of the year – a 23 per cent increase on the same period in 2022.
Figures released on Thursday by Abu Dhabi's Department of Municipalities and Transport showed people made 43.7 million taxi trips, with 39.4 million public bus journeys recorded.
Shared transport, including rental vehicles, accounted for 2.4 million journeys, the department said.
About 69.5 million journeys were made on public transport in the first half of 2022.
The statistics reflected "the efficiency of Abu Dhabi's public transport infrastructure", Abu Dhabi Media Office said.
Abu Dhabi's green drive
Abu Dhabi authorities have joined nationwide efforts to bolster public transport services in an effort to take cars off the roads and reduce emissions.
The emirate introduce road tolls in January 2021, in part to help drive investment in public transport networks.
Transport officials said before the initiative was launched that it would be accompanied by major investment, to encourage people to ditch their cars and embrace greener forms of transport.
Last March, the emirate introduced an initiative in which commuters receive points each time they deposit plastic bottles in a reverse-vending machine at Abu Dhabi’s main bus terminal.
The points are used to earn free public bus journeys.
About 70,000 plastic bottles were recycled between March and November last year, Ateeq Al Mazrouei, acting director of planning at the Integrated Transport Centre, said at the time.
Each bottle measuring 600ml or less earns a point, while larger containers earn two points.
Five electric Tesla vehicles hit the roads of the capital in March under a deal between the Integrated Transport Centre and Arabia Taxi Transportation.
“This step contributes to reducing carbon emissions from vehicle exhausts thus enhancing air quality, especially since taxis roam the streets of the emirate for several hours a day, seven days a week," a representative for the centre said.
"It also supports the Integrated Transport Centre’s efforts in transitioning towards environmentally friendly and sustainable transport, which further enhances the quality of life in the emirate of Abu Dhabi."
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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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
