The late architect Zaha Hadid has won an award for her innovative design of the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The American Concrete Institute honoured the Riyadh building with an award of excellence in concrete construction.
The award recognises the industry’s “most creative visions and projects".
With stark white rounded edges and a modular design, the research centre resembles a honeycomb, bearing the signature curved lines of Hadid’s portfolio of work.
“In nature, hexagonal prismatic honeycomb structures use the least amount of material to create a lattice of cells within any given volume," Zaha Hadid Architects said.
"This natural principle determined Kapsarc’s composition as an amalgamation of crystalline forms that emerges from the desert landscape."
Hadid's many other works include the Sheikh Zayed Bridge in Abu Dhabi, and the Roca London Gallery.
The Kapsarc building houses a non-profit institution for research into the energy sector.
Experts meet there to discuss challenges in energy economies and to develop policies that reduce the environmental impact and costs within the energy sector.
The campus incorporates five buildings: the energy knowledge centre; the energy computer centre; a conference centre with an exhibition hall and 300-seat auditorium; a research library with archives for 100,000 volumes; and the Musalla, a place for prayer and contemplation.
The building was designed to minimise energy consumption.
“Presenting a solid, protecting shell to the harsh sunlight from the south, the campus opens to north and west, encouraging prevailing winds to cool the campus via a series of sheltered courtyards that bring softly-controlled daylight into the interior,” Zaha Hadid Architects said.
“'Wind catchers' integrated within the roof profiles direct the prevailing winds from the north into each courtyard for cooling.”
Hadid was awarded the Kapsarc contract after winning a 2009 design competition held by Aramco. She was the only female entrant in the contest.
It is the first project from the Iraq-born architect to be awarded the LEED Platinum certification by the US Green Building Council.
The building has also been named Saudi Arabia’s "smartest" building in the Honeywell Smart Building Awards programme.
Known as the Queen of the Curve for her fluid designs, Hadid won the biggest awards in her field, including the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2004 and the Stirling Prize twice, in 2010 and 2011.
Her unexpected death of a heart attack while being treated for bronchitis at 65, came at a time when several of her buildings were still being built.
Racecard
6.35pm: The Madjani Stakes – Group 2 (PA) Dh97,500 (Dirt) 1,900m
7.10pm: Evidenza – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,200m
7.45pm: The Longines Conquest – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 2,000m
8.20: The Longines Elegant – Conditions (TB) Dh82,500 (D)
8.35pm: The Dubai Creek Mile – Listed (TB) Dh132,500 (D) 1,600m
9.30pm: Mirdif Stakes – Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,400m
10.05pm: The Longines Record – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,900m
Two products to make at home
Toilet cleaner
1 cup baking soda
1 cup castile soap
10-20 drops of lemon essential oil (or another oil of your choice)
Method:
1. Mix the baking soda and castile soap until you get a nice consistency.
2. Add the essential oil to the mix.
Air Freshener
100ml water
5 drops of the essential oil of your choice (note: lavender is a nice one for this)
Method:
1. Add water and oil to spray bottle to store.
2. Shake well before use.
RESULTS
6.30pm Handicap (TB) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Golden Goal, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
7.05pm Dubai Racing Club Classic Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (Turf) 2,410m
Winner: Walton Street, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
7.40pm Dubai Stakes Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Switzerland, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
8.15pm Singspiel Stakes Group 3 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner Lord Giltters, Adrie de Vries, David O’Meara
8.50pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Military Law, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
9.25pm Al Fahidi Fort Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Land Of Legends, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
10pm Dubai Dash Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,000m
Winner Equilateral, Frankie Dettori, Charles Hills.
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
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
