• Marie Moser of The Edinburgh Bookshop lists her top books for World Book Day: Shuggie Bain - Douglas Stuart
    Marie Moser of The Edinburgh Bookshop lists her top books for World Book Day: Shuggie Bain - Douglas Stuart
  • Luckenbooth - Jenni Fagan
    Luckenbooth - Jenni Fagan
  • Snow and the Works on the Northern Line - Ruth Thomas
    Snow and the Works on the Northern Line - Ruth Thomas
  • Edge of the Grave - Robbie Morrison
    Edge of the Grave - Robbie Morrison
  • Empireland - How Imperialism Shaped Modern Britain - Sathnam Sanghera
    Empireland - How Imperialism Shaped Modern Britain - Sathnam Sanghera
  • Becoming - Michelle Obama
    Becoming - Michelle Obama
  • Beyond Order - 12 More Rules For Life - Jordan B Peterson
    Beyond Order - 12 More Rules For Life - Jordan B Peterson
  • Arlo the Lion who couldn't Sleep - Catherine Rayner
    Arlo the Lion who couldn't Sleep - Catherine Rayner
  • The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh - Helen Rutter
    The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh - Helen Rutter
  • Concrete Rose -Angie Thomas
    Concrete Rose -Angie Thomas

World Book Day: 10 of the best books for kids and adults to read this year


Neil Murphy
  • English
  • Arabic

World Book Day is upon us and will hopefully inspire a new generation of young people to start reading.

The event was created as a worldwide celebration of books and reading and is marked in over 100 countries around the globe.

Although World Book Day focuses on kids, that shouldn't stop older readers from picking up a book or two for themselves.

Marie Moser, of Edinburgh Books, has suggested these novels that should be top of everyone's shopping list.

It includes Shuggie Bain by the Douglas Stuart. In addition to being her store's best seller it was also the  2020 Booker Prize winner.

Also on the list is Luckenbooth by another Scottish novelist Jenni Fagan, while Snow and the Works on the Northern Line by Ruth Thomas makes up the top three.

For kids, she has selected Arlo the Lion Who Couldn't Sleep by Catherine Rayner, The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh by Helen Rutter and the Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas.

An estimated 200 million print books were sold in the UK last year, according to book sales monitor Nielsen BookScan, the highest number since 2012.

Many in the industry agree 2020 has offered a very strong range of titles from authors such as Richard Osman, Hilary Mantel and Barack Obama.

The UK's top selling book last year was Charlie Macksey's illustrated book The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse, underlining how important children's titles remain to booksellers.

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

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

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