The coronavirus pandemic has put holiday plans on hold for millions of people across the globe.
Safety concerns and travel restrictions have prompted many to stay at home.
Absence has certainly made the heart grow fonder for UAE residents eager to jet off to favourite haunts or sample new destinations.
In many cases, how countries have controlled the spread of Covid-19 has influenced travel plans.
While the world is set to continue grappling with the wide-ranging impact of Covid-19 well into the new year, people continue to glance out of their window and chart travel plans for times when things go ‘back to normal’.
We asked residents to list the treasured spots they can't wait to visit.
Kerala: The spice garden of India
Jordanian Mohammad Nabulsi misses the frequent breaks he took in Cochin, a city in India's Kerala state.
“I can’t count how many times I have been to Kerala but I can tell you how many times I have been to Jordan,” said the 32-year-old operations officer with the Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services.
“I feel safe in Cochin. It is my favourite place. I like the people and the weather. I even like going there for weekends. From the first moment I went to Kerala, I have been in love with it.”
The Sharjah resident would also like to visit London in winter.
"I like their traditions like the Queen's speech. I would like to stay in a typical English house and drink a lot of tea," he said.
“I was planning to spend Christmas and New Year in London before corona happened.”
Travelling is his tactic to beat back depression.
“This was a really good strategy for me. Travelling was good to avoid stress in life,” he said.
“Both travelling and the cinema helped me cope.”
Doctors and health authorities have said the pandemic has resulted in elevated levels of anxiety and stress with a rise in loneliness and depression across the world.
Eastern promise for Emirati cyclist
Roudha Al Awadhi, co-founder of UAE Cycling Girls, which encourages women to take up exercise and fitness, said she was drawn to countries in the East particularly after seeing how well they handled the coronavirus pandemic.
“Before the pandemic, I would [have wanted to] travel to Europe, Paris,” said the Emirati.
“After the lockdown, I have become more interested in the Eastern side in Singapore, Malaysia, Korea and Japan.
“We are seeing more lockdowns in the West. The Eastern countries have managed better. People will go back to normal only when the fear is totally removed from their mind.”
She has been working on a stitching, embroidery and craft work to relax.
Costa del Sol siesta
Dubai resident Lisa Drury has visited Nerja town in Spain's southern Andalusia region with her family for years.
“We try to go every year. We have family ties and we usually rent a place,” said the British national, 53, who works in public relations.
Her daughters Charlotte Francesca, and husband Matthew, enjoy renting different places in the same town.
“I have two teenage girls who love it out there because it’s safe. They can go out in the evenings without any hassle.
"The weather is beautiful. It’s probably equivalent to the weather here in March, June or July. We love Spain, the food and the wine.”
Filipino's dream journey to the Holy Land
Arthur Los Banos has set his sights on Cana in Galilee – a popular destination for pilgrims and couples renewing marriage vows.
“Now with ties opening up, it would be convenient and cost effective to visit. I would love to visit the Holy Land to celebrate my 25th wedding anniversary in May,” said Mr Los Banos, who works for an energy logistics company.
Millions of pilgrims frequent Jerusalem and other cities every year.
The UAE normalised relations with Israel in August.
Diplomatic meetings and travel has resumed between both countries following the signing of an agreement called the Abraham Accord.
He would also like to travel with his wife Elle and son Yuji to islands that dot his home country the Philippines.
The couple have missed visiting their son, a university student in Manila.
“I want to explore places I have not been to in the Philippines, the archipelago has more than 7,000 islands,” said the 54-year-old Dubai resident.
“I would like to travel by car for 10 days covering the whole island of Luzon.”
The island at the northern end of the Philippines is the country’s largest and is known for mountains, beaches, coral reefs and towns with cobblestone streets.
“Travelling broadens your perspective in life, you met other nationalities and you become more human,” he said.
Escape to Thai island paradise
British citizen Lisa Jessup wants to head to the popular Thai island, Koh Samui, where the family has a holiday home.
Ms Jessup, her husband Rob and their sons Jack and Max have enjoyed time spent on the island that is also a favourite with tourists.
They bought a home in January 2019 on the island famed for white sandy beaches, mountainous rainforests and luxury resorts.
“We were last there in March 2020. My husband just made it back before Dubai shut the borders,” said Ms Jessup, a director in the energy industry.
“We had flights booked for other times throughout the course of this year, but obviously those have all been cancelled. As soon as it opens we will go.”
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.”
Formula%204%20Italian%20Championship%202023%20calendar
%3Cp%3EApril%2021-23%3A%20Imola%3Cbr%3EMay%205-7%3A%20Misano%3Cbr%3EMay%2026-28%3A%20SPA-Francorchamps%3Cbr%3EJune%2023-25%3A%20Monza%3Cbr%3EJuly%2021-23%3A%20Paul%20Ricard%3Cbr%3ESept%2029-Oct%201%3A%20Mugello%3Cbr%3EOct%2013-15%3A%20Vallelunga%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Living in...
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.
Paris%20Agreement
%3Cp%3EArticle%2014%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E1.%20%5BThe%20Cop%5D%20shall%20periodically%20take%20stock%20of%20the%20implementation%20of%20this%20Agreement%20to%20assess%20the%20collective%20progress%20towards%20achieving%20the%20purpose%20of%20this%20Agreement%20and%20its%20long-term%20goals%20(referred%20to%20as%20the%20%22global%20stocktake%22)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E2.%20%5BThe%20Cop%5D%20shall%20undertake%20its%20first%20global%20stocktake%20in%202023%20and%20every%20five%20years%20thereafter%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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
Section 375
Cast: Akshaye Khanna, Richa Chadha, Meera Chopra & Rahul Bhat
Director: Ajay Bahl
Producers: Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek Pathak & SCIPL
Rating: 3.5/5
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Living in...
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 biog
Birthday: February 22, 1956
Born: Madahha near Chittagong, Bangladesh
Arrived in UAE: 1978
Exercise: At least one hour a day on the Corniche, from 5.30-6am and 7pm to 8pm.
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi? “Everywhere. Wherever you go, you can relax.”
