The Pointe is expected to be popular with families this New Year's Eve. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The Pointe is expected to be popular with families this New Year's Eve. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The Pointe is expected to be popular with families this New Year's Eve. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The Pointe is expected to be popular with families this New Year's Eve. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Transport

New Year's Eve: Families urged to leave cars at home for Palm Jumeirah fireworks

The Pointe's spectacular fountain show is expected to be a huge draw this year

Sarwat Nasir
Sarwat Nasir
UAE

December 27, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Organisers of Palm Jumeirah's New Year celebrations urged families to use public transport and avoid bringing cars to the island.

Developer Nakheel urged the public to park at the entrance to the Palm and take the scenic monorail to Nakheel Mall.

Free buses will be on hand between 7pm and 3am to transport people from Nakheel Mall to the Pointe.

The promenade of restaurants is home to the world's largest fountain show.

Daily discounts to and from the Pointe are available with Careem until January 1. The discount code is ‘THEPALMFOUNTAIN’.

Rock hall of fame stars Kiss will perform before a crowd at Atlantis, with a fire show and fireworks visible for miles around. The show will also be livestreamed.

Hotels, retail outlets and restaurants have been asked to arrange catering deliveries early to avoid congesting the roads, and food deliveries must end by 5pm.

Pedestrian crossings on the trunk road at junction 2 (near Shoreline Apartments, Building 5) and junction 4 (Building 10) will close from 9pm to 1am.

Crossings at Buildings 3 and 7 will be open and manned by security personnel.

All visitors must follow Covid-19 safety measures, including wearing masks and social distancing.

Dubai's Palm Jumeirah - in pictures 

  • The fronds is the height of luxury and there are mansion-sized villas with more than seven bedrooms in some cases.
    The fronds is the height of luxury and there are mansion-sized villas with more than seven bedrooms in some cases.
  • Located on the trunk of the Palm Jumeirah, Azure Residences offers apartments and restaurants with views of the Arabian Gulf. All photos supplied by Nakheel
    Located on the trunk of the Palm Jumeirah, Azure Residences offers apartments and restaurants with views of the Arabian Gulf. All photos supplied by Nakheel
  • The Palm Jumeirah island consists of the trunk, the crescent and 16 fronds, which are accessible only to homeowners and tenants.
    The Palm Jumeirah island consists of the trunk, the crescent and 16 fronds, which are accessible only to homeowners and tenants.
  • Al Ittihad park is located at the entrance of the Palm.
    Al Ittihad park is located at the entrance of the Palm.
  • Palm Jumeirah, set on the coast of the Arabian Gulf, is considered by many to be the unofficial eighth wonder of the world.
    Palm Jumeirah, set on the coast of the Arabian Gulf, is considered by many to be the unofficial eighth wonder of the world.
  • The Palm Jumeirah island consists of the trunk, the crescent and 16 fronds.
    The Palm Jumeirah island consists of the trunk, the crescent and 16 fronds.
  • This thriving community is home to more than 78,000 people.
    This thriving community is home to more than 78,000 people.
  • In terms of size, the island covers 560 hectares, which is big enough to house 600 football pitches.
    In terms of size, the island covers 560 hectares, which is big enough to house 600 football pitches.
  • As its name suggests, this bustling neighbourhood is carved in the shape of a palm tree. Once completed, it doubled the coastline of the city by adding 80km to Dubai’s original shoreline.
    As its name suggests, this bustling neighbourhood is carved in the shape of a palm tree. Once completed, it doubled the coastline of the city by adding 80km to Dubai’s original shoreline.
  • Shoreline Apartments are on the east side of the trunk of Palm Jumeirah
    Shoreline Apartments are on the east side of the trunk of Palm Jumeirah
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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

Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

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UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
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All you need to know about Formula E in Saudi Arabia

What The Saudia Ad Diriyah E-Prix

When Saturday

Where Diriyah in Saudi Arabia

What time Qualifying takes place from 11.50am UAE time through until the Super Pole session, which is due to end at 12.55pm. The race, which will last for 45 minutes, starts at 4.05pm.

Who is competing There are 22 drivers, from 11 teams, on the grid, with each vehicle run solely on electronic power.

Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
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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.

The Bio

Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity

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