The future of air travel is set to change forever with the advent of a new era of high-powered jetliners.
The ability to travel farther and faster while burning less fuel has long been a pipe dream for the aviation industry – but that could all be about to change.
The National looked at some of the new planes that are expected to be at the forefront of the next generation of flight.
Boom Supersonic Overture
The Oregon-based company Boom Supersonic is set to release the Overture in 2026. The aircraft can fly at twice the speed of sound, at Mach 2.2, but is expected to be limited to subsonic speeds of about 1,125kph over land.
It will be the first civilian supersonic jet since Concorde was retired almost 20 years ago.
The company has promised that ticket prices would not be much higher than those of a typical seat in business class.
The Overture will be able to fly from Tokyo to Seattle in four and a half hours, cutting four hours off the usual time.
A trip from Los Angeles to Sydney could be completed in eight and half hours with the Overture, instead of the standard 14.5 hours.
Its range is 8,300 kilometres.
Maveric by Airbus
The suggestion that Airbus has created a plane that looks like it belongs in a futuristic version of Top Gun will not be allayed by its name – Maveric (Model Aircraft for Validation and Experimentation of Robust Innovative Controls).
The plane, which is two metres long and 3.2 metres wide, has the potential to reduce fuel consumption by up to 20 per cent in comparison with current single-aisle aircraft.
The Maveric is designed to hold hundreds of people but experts predict a wait until 2035 before aircraft using this design are in regular use.
It is currently in the development phase but a remote-controlled prototype took flight for the first time in June last year.
The “blended wing body”, which resembles a giant bat, opens new possibilities for propulsion systems.
“Airbus is leveraging emerging technologies to pioneer the future of flight. By testing disruptive aircraft configurations, Airbus is able to evaluate their potential as viable future products,” said Jean-Brice Dumont, executive vice president of engineering with Airbus.
“Although there is no specific time line for entry into service, this technological demonstrator could be instrumental in bringing about change in commercial aircraft architectures for an environmentally sustainable future for the aviation industry.”
Airbus A220-500
The Airbus A220-500 is expected to make travelling in economy class a whole lot more comfortable.
Expected to be released in the second half of this decade, the A220-500 boasts seats at least 46cm wide, has a 2x3 seating layout and can hold 150 passengers – significantly more than existing A220s, which hold 100.
The new model also offers larger windows and spacious overhead lockers.
The A220-500 will consume less fuel than other short-haul planes, which will make brief flights more appealing to environmentally conscious passengers.
Boeing 777X
Boeing claims its new 777X will be the “world’s largest and most efficient twin-engine jet, unmatched in every aspect of performance”.
Lufthansa will launch the jet into service in 2022, two years after it was delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 777X will carry between 384 and 426 passengers in a multi-class layout.
The aircraft will also feature dimmable windows, wider cabins and larger overhead lockers.
Expect to see this plane become a regular feature at Dubai International Airport because Emirates has ordered 150 777Xs, worth more than $83 billion. The aircraft are expected to seat 426 passengers and have a range of 13,500km.
Airbus A321XLR
Airbus’ A321XLR will be able to fly just under 8,700km non-stop. A third fuel tank means it can fly for up to 10 hours without needing to refuel, almost double the duration of other narrow-bodied planes.
Airbus says the aircraft, expected to be released in 2023, operates with a 30 per cent reduction in fuel burn per seat.
The A321XLR has a top speed of 876kph.
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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.”
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
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'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'
Director:Michael Lehmann
Stars:Kristen Bell
Rating: 1/5
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Charlotte Gainsbourg
Rest
(Because Music)
The years Ramadan fell in May
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
Blonde
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
Other simple ideas for sushi rice dishes
Cheat’s nigiri
This is easier to make than sushi rolls. With damp hands, form the cooled rice into small tablet shapes. Place slices of fresh, raw salmon, mackerel or trout (or smoked salmon) lightly touched with wasabi, then press, wasabi side-down, onto the rice. Serve with soy sauce and pickled ginger.
Easy omurice
This fusion dish combines Asian fried rice with a western omelette. To make, fry cooked and cooled sushi rice with chopped vegetables such as carrot and onion and lashings of sweet-tangy ketchup, then wrap in a soft egg omelette.
Deconstructed sushi salad platter
This makes a great, fuss-free sharing meal. Arrange sushi rice on a platter or board, then fill the space with all your favourite sushi ingredients (edamame beans, cooked prawns or tuna, tempura veggies, pickled ginger and chilli tofu), with a dressing or dipping sauce on the side.
