The UAE embassy in Washington substituted its annual iftar this year with an online interfaith gathering on Wednesday, celebrating religious diversity in the US and attended by Muslim, Jewish, Christian and Sikh representatives.
UAE Minister and ambassador to the US Yousef Al Otaiba reflected on the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the peculiarity of this Ramadan and the need to bring people together.
“What corona can teach us is the importance of coming and working together,” Mr Al Otaiba said in his opening address.
The UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, Noura Al Kaabi, gave a message of tolerance and inclusion, as the country inaugurated a synagogue and a Latter-Day Saints house of worship.
The UAE has also led the reconstruction of the Great Mosque of Al Nuri, which was destroyed by ISIS in Mosul, Iraq.
The event featured a live broadcast of the call to taraweeh prayers from the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
The UAE’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Lana Nusseibeh, then told of the UAE’s engagement in the global fight against the pandemic, stressing the international co-operation needed in the struggle.
The UN’s High Representative for the Alliance of Civilisations, Miguel Angel Moratinos, described a harmonious integration of religions in the UAE.
“It is heartening to see religious leaders from across the faith spectrum joining today," Mr Moratinos said.
"I am very pleased that the UAE is building the Abrahamic Family House as an embodiment of interfaith harmony."
The Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi will include a mosque, church and synagogue.
Also taking part in the event were Reverends Navina and Andy Thompson, of St Andrew's Anglican Church in Abu Dhabi; Rabbi Bruce Lustig, of Washington; Surender Singh Kandhari, head of the Sikh gurudwara in Dubai; and the director general of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, Yousef Al Obaidli.
The President of the Congress of Christian Leaders, Johnnie Moore, said the UAE was the “Switzerland of religions”.
Other guests paid tribute to the Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed, for instituting strong values of tolerance.
The event was planned for the eve of a special day of prayer on Thursday.
The day was announced by the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity with the support of Pope Francis, the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed El Tayeb, and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
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Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
1st Test July 26-30 in Galle
2nd Test August 3-7 in Colombo
3rd Test August 12-16 in Pallekele
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
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Du Football Champions
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
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 Matrix Resurrections
Director: Lana Wachowski
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica Henwick
Rating:****
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RESULT
Manchester United 1 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Man United: Dunk (66' og)
Man of the Match: Shane Duffy (Brighton)
The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: seven-speed PDK dual clutch automatic
Power: 375bhp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh332,800
On sale: now
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The five pillars of Islam
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Normcore explained
Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.
