UAE

UAE news in review 2015: Improved emergency services and roads for Ras Al Kahimah

Better emergency services, road upgrades and more power plants are among the changes the emirate’s citizens have seen this year or are expecting in the near future.

The National staff

December 30, 2015

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RAS AL KHAIMAH // Better emergency services, road upgrades and more power plants are among the changes the emirate’s citizens have seen this year or are expecting in the near future.

Just this week it was announced that the Federal Electricity and Water has a Dh1.3 billion plan, for next year, to build 25 power plants and increase the output of 17 more.

In total, RAK will see the arrival of 10 new plants.

Other changes taking place in the emirate include the development of the 14 kilometre Al Ittihad Road and extension of Emirates Road from Al Tawaeen to RAK Ring Road.

The upgrades are among seven, in Sharjah, RAK and Fujairah, being studied by the Ministry of Public Works.

Changes have taken place across the board, with the National Ambulance service recently upgrading its fleet of ambulances from 30 to 50 to better serve residents.

The services will affect all of the Northern Emirates and come seven months after the introduction of a dedicated 998 emergency phone number for Northern Emirates residents.

And the emirate’s Government is looking further afield, taking steps this year to promote RAK to tourists.

Plans being discussed include Al Marjan Island, a cluster of four islands extending 4.5 kilometres into the Gulf.

Whatever future plans the emirate has up its sleeve, it’s aim to entice more people has worked: earlier this year Ras Al Khaimah’s Tourism Development Authority announced a 14 per cent increase in visitor numbers during the third quarter of 2015 to almost 200,000 visitors – the highest number ever recorded in the emirate.

newsdesk@thenational.ae

Read more on the UAE’s developments in 2015 in:

› Umm Al Quwain and Ajman: Tourism focus for Ajman while Umm Quwain pushes outdoor activity

› Fujairah: Fujairah's infrastructure gets an upgrade

Emirates exiles

Will Wilson is not the first player to have attained high-class representative honours after first learning to play rugby on the playing fields of UAE.

Jonny Macdonald
Abu Dhabi-born and raised, the current Jebel Ali Dragons assistant coach was selected to play for Scotland at the Hong Kong Sevens in 2011.

Jordan Onojaife
Having started rugby by chance when the Jumeirah College team were short of players, he later won the World Under 20 Championship with England.

Devante Onojaife
Followed older brother Jordan into England age-group rugby, as well as the pro game at Northampton Saints, but recently switched allegiance to Scotland.

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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