Farah Dakhlallah has 'wide-ranging experience' in both the public and private sectors. Photo: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Farah Dakhlallah has 'wide-ranging experience' in both the public and private sectors. Photo: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Farah Dakhlallah has 'wide-ranging experience' in both the public and private sectors. Photo: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Farah Dakhlallah has 'wide-ranging experience' in both the public and private sectors. Photo: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

World

Europe

Nato appoints native Arabic speaker as spokeswoman

Appointment of UK's Farah Dakhlallah comes at a challenging time for the alliance

Sunniva Rose
Sunniva Rose

February 26, 2024

  • English
  • Arabic

Nato on Monday said that it had appointed British citizen and native Arabic speaker Farah Dakhlallah as the alliance's next spokeswoman.

“In a more dangerous world, clear and timely communication, and engagement with the media, are more important than ever,” Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement on her appointment.

Ms Dakhlallah joins Nato with “wide-ranging experience from both the public and private sectors, including the United Nations, the UK government and AstraZeneca, as well as several media organisations”, the statement continued.

Ms Dakhlallah last served as media relations director for the Middle East and Africa at AstraZeneca, according to her LinkedIn profile.

She was previously communications manager at the World Health Organisation between 2017 and 2021. Prior to that, she served as Arabic spokeswoman for the UK Foreign and Commonwealth office between 2014 and 2016.

Ms Dakhlallah has obtained a master's in international relations at the University of Cambridge and a master's in media and communications at the London School of Economics. She previously studied audiovisual arts at Universite Saint Joseph in Beirut.

She succeeds Oana Lungescu, who served as spokeswoman from 2010 to 2023. Ms Lungescu was the first person born in the former Soviet bloc to be appointed to the role.

Nato currently faces a wide range of challenges including the war in Ukraine and the possible re-election of a strong critic of the alliance, Donald Trump, as president of the US later this year.

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

Traits of Chinese zodiac animals

Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent   

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Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.

It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.

There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.

In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.

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Updated: February 26, 2024, 6:14 PM