UAE

UAE robotics competition announces 20 semi-finalists

Twenty inventions from around the world, including nine from the UAE, have been named semi-finalists for the Dh4.67 million UAE AI and Robotics Award for Good.

The National staff

January 18, 2016

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DUBAI // Twenty inventions from around the world, including nine from the UAE, were named as semi-finalists for the Dh4.67 million UAE AI and ­Robotics Award for Good.

The award encourages research and the application of innovative solutions in artificial intelligence and robotics to meet existing challenges in the categories of health, education and social services.

Saif Al Aleeli, chief executive officer of Dubai Museum of the Future Foundation and coordinator general of the UAE AI and Robotics Award for Good, said the award involved robotics projects designed to serve humanity.

Mr Al Aleeli said 20 projects had qualified for the semi-final stage out of 664 submissions from 121 countries, reflecting the global impact of the award in its first edition.

Mr Al Aleeli said the award focused on the practical side of robotics technology, making it easier for the public and investors to identify the economic and social value of these projects to transform them into services and commercial ventures.

One of the main objectives of the award was to make people aware of the potential of the robotics sector, Mr Al Aleeli said.

The 20 semifinalists – 11 international and nine from the UAE – covered a wide range of applications, from devices that can be implanted in the human body, to large robots that can enter disaster zones.

The international winner will be awarded a grant worth US$1 million (Dh3.67m), while the national winner will receive Dh1 million.

newsdesk@thenational.ae

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

Results:

First Test: New Zealand 30 British & Irish Lions 15

Second Test: New Zealand 21 British & Irish Lions 24

Third Test: New Zealand 15 British & Irish Lions 15

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