Muslims hoping to experience some escapism during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in lockdown can tour the Al Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem in virtual reality.
Holy City VR gives viewers a chance to travail the Old City of Jerusalem, which Israel occupied in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, in 360-degree virtual reality. It takes in the Al Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, the Western Wall, the Holy Sepulchre with commentary from local religious leaders.
The eight-minute documentary, designed to be viewed through a virtual or augmented reality headset at the Tower of David Museum, was made available online for free on March 24.
April sees Ramadan, Easter and Passover falling in the same month for the first time since 1992, at a time when Jerusalem is shut down due to coronavirus containment measures.
Israel has declared over 13,800 cases of the virus and 181 deaths. The Palestinian Authority has confirmed 449 cases and three deaths.
The museum says the tour has been viewed thousands of times since the launch.
“We had always thought that it was an incredible experience for people of other faiths to explore and understand more about the different religions in Jerusalem and allow access for different backgrounds/genders to Jerusalem's holiest sites,” said Eilat Lieber, Director and Chief Curator of the Tower of David Museum.
“Never did we imagine that The Holy City would be playing such an important role this April in allowing pilgrims to ‘travel’ to Jerusalem and to ‘participate’ in the ceremonies and prayers because physical access was indeed stopped to these holy sites due to the pandemic.”
The tour was produced by people of the three faiths featured, working between a group of Christian and Muslim creators in Toronto and a team of Jewish creators in Jerusalem.
The free tours were due to end on the first day of Ramadan, but have been extended by a week to April 30. After this deadline, visitors will need to pay $3.99 for the experience.
Viewers can form part of the crowd as tens of thousands of Muslims gather at the Al Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock for Ramadan prayers. The film captures the prayers during Laylat Al Qadr, commemorating the first revelation of the Holy Quran to Prophet Muhammad. Normally, during these prayers, the site is closed for non-Muslims.
The Al Aqsa Mosque, which sits in a compound known as the Haram Al Sharif, is the world's third holiest site after Makkah and Medinah.
The creators hope to give comfort to regular visitors to Jerusalem and bring something new to those who have never visited.
“During these trying times, it is important for all of us to hold family and tradition close to our hearts,” said co-director Timur Musabay.
“The Holy City is a project that, at its core, is a means for all to visit Jerusalem, including the sites of Al Aqsa Mosque and The Dome of the Rock.”
Israel has claimed the whole of Jerusalem as its capital since 1980. The Palestinians claim the east of the city as their future capital.
Community Shield info
Where, when and at what time Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday at 5pm (UAE time)
Arsenal line up (3-4-2-1) Petr Cech; Rob Holding, Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal; Hector Bellerin, Mohamed Elneny, Granit Xhaka, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain; Alex Iwobi, Danny Welbeck; Alexandre Lacazette
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
Chelsea line up (3-4-2-1) Thibaut Courtois; Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Gary Cahill; Victor Moses, Cesc Fabregas, N'Golo Kante, Marcos Alonso; Willian, Pedro; Michy Batshuayi
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte
Referee Bobby Madley
Family reunited
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was born and raised in Tehran and studied English literature before working as a translator in the relief effort for the Japanese International Co-operation Agency in 2003.
She moved to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies before moving to the World Health Organisation as a communications officer.
She came to the UK in 2007 after securing a scholarship at London Metropolitan University to study a master's in communication management and met her future husband through mutual friends a month later.
The couple were married in August 2009 in Winchester and their daughter was born in June 2014.
She was held in her native country a year later.
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
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo 4-cyl
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Power: 190bhp
Torque: 300Nm
Price: Dh169,900
On sale: now
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
MATCH INFO
Who: UAE v USA
What: first T20 international
When: Friday, 2pm
Where: ICC Academy in Dubai
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE%20Warriors%20fight%20card
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