King Abdullah of Jordan on Tuesday opened the country’s first coronavirus field hospital, underlying the gravity of the pandemic situation in the kingdom.
The opening of the makeshift hospital came on the same day authorities announced 78 more deaths, one of the highest daily tolls, bringing the number of Covid-19 deaths in the kingdom to 2,380.
State television showed King Abdullah in military fatigues and a black face mask accompanied by army officers touring the 300-bed hospital built in the province of Zarqa, next to Amman.
King Abdullah is the most senior public figure to appear in public on coronavirus-related issues.
Officials used the media repeatedly in recent weeks to urge people to abide by safety instructions amid significant disregard for social distancing and other measures.
Prime Minister Bishr Al Khasawneh said that he hopes five to six more field hospitals will be ready by the middle of next month, doubling the number of beds designated to receive coronavirus patients to 3,000.
Holding a medical mask in his hand, Mr Al Khasawneh described it as the nearest thing to a vaccine Jordan has, and is “available now and which is effective”.
“I urge citizens again to adhere to the rules of social distancing. One of the main requirements is to wear this mask, as simple as it is,” he said.
The official death toll from the coronavirus rose sharply this month to average more than 60 people a day, despite a curfew that began two weeks ago. People are not allowed on the streets between 10pm and 6am and cannot leave their homes on Friday.
The government imposed the curfew shortly after parliamentary elections, in which very few people bothered to vote.
People en masse disregarded coronavirus precautions, rioting and celebrating after election results were announced for the 130-member legislature, which holds very little power.
Jordan has a population of 10 million and the government says 193,000 people have been infected with coronavirus so far.
The Ministry of Health on Tuesday ordered private laboratories to lower the price of PCR tests from 35 dinars ($49) to 30 dinars to encourage more people to get tested for the virus.
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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.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The biog
Born: Kuwait in 1986
Family: She is the youngest of seven siblings
Time in the UAE: 10 years
Hobbies: audiobooks and fitness: she works out every day, enjoying kickboxing and basketball
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