Dubai Police patrols were out in force on Monday morning for a major back-to-school safety drive.
Officers were stationed at schools across the emirate in anticipation of a surge in traffic as tens of thousands of pupils headed back to the classrooms after the summer break.
Police chiefs had drawn up a comprehensive action plan in an effort to cut congestion and limit accidents on one of the busiest days of the year.
The National joined police as they managed traffic outside the School of Research Science in Al Warqa.
Maj Gen Abdullah Al Ghaithi, director of the General Department of Protective Security and Emergency at Dubai Police, greeted pupils as they arrived at the school gates.
He underlined the importance of providing a safe environment for pupils.
Maj Gen Al Ghaithi told The National: "Ensuring the safety of our children is not just the responsibility of the police but a collective effort from the community.
“The response from drivers to the scheme grows stronger every year, which gives us great hope.”
He said the force has thrown its support behind a nationwide campaign to make the first day back at school accident free.
Motorists can have four black points removed from their licence if they avoid having an accident or committing a traffic offence on Monday, under the Accident-Free Day initiative.
“Dubai Police focuses on engaging people because its only with an active participation from the public that we can assure the safety of our children en route to their educational institutions,” Maj Gen Al Ghaithi said.
“Because this would help that one day we could see an entire generation for whom traffic culture is deeply ingrained in their daily behaviour.”
Members of the public said they were eager to sign the scheme's online pledge in order to play their part in making the emirate's roads safer, not just on the start of the new term.
Janine Nael, 26, who signed the pledge, told The National: "We can’t expect change to happen if we we're not part of it."
Frustrated by daily encounters with irresponsible drivers, she emphasised that most offences she faces on her route from Ajman to Dubai involve excessive speeding and tailgating.
"There are drivers who make you feel they own the roads," she said.
"I have even told my younger cousins about the campaign and explained to them how important it is. This lesson will grow with them and hopefully be part of their traffic culture one day."
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: SimpliFi
Started: August 2021
Founder: Ali Sattar
Based: UAE
Industry: Finance, technology
Investors: 4DX, Rally Cap, Raed, Global Founders, Sukna and individuals
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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