ABU DHABI // Zakat Fund Abu Dhabi has pledged Dh230,000 to free 10 debt prisoners in the UAE.
The three Pakistanis, three Egyptians, two Jordanians, a Syrian and an Emirati had lost their jobs and were unable to pay back debts, which ranged between Dh3,000 and Dh40,000.
The donation to the Zakat Fund was made by Pure Gold Jewellers.
"I wanted to see the prisoners back home with their families instead of wasting time in prison," said Firoz G Merchant, the chairman of the company. "We're all human, we all make mistakes and I believe if they are sensible people, they will learn from their mistakes and correct them."
The prisoners returned to their home countries on their release.
"We care about prisoners and their families - the ones who have simple problems and are stuck in prison for negligible amounts," said Jamal Khalaf al Mazrouei, the head of Zakat sources and media department at the Zakat Fund Abu Dhabi.
"For every Muslim in the country or anywhere in the world, he has to help, from a social stand, as it is a social problem and responsibility of every Muslim who has money to help a prisoner return to his family, and it must be taken seriously."
Mr Merchant added he "would like to help people in many ways but this is the best way - to give them a new peaceful life in which they will be able to follow the country's law and system".
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- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
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Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
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Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
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Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.
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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.
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