The widow of a prominent British lawyer who died in a Cairo road accident has won the right to sue the Egyptian hotel operator she booked the fatal tour through.
Lawyers for Lady Christine Brownlie said the ruling by the Supreme Court of England & Wales had important implications for English nationals killed or injured abroad.
It means the High Court in England can hear the case after the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal by FS Cairo, which operates the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo.
Lady Brownlie suffered injuries, her husband Sir Ian Brownlie died and his daughter also passed away during the 2010 crash. They had booked a desert safari tour through the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo. The driver was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
“This judgment will provide welcome clarity for any other English nationals who have the misfortune to be injured or killed in foreign accidents, and who wish to bring their claims in the English Courts,” said Terrence Donovan, a partner at Kingsley Napley LLP.
“Lady Brownlie, by her courage and determination, has done a great favour to them, and made an important contribution to English travel law.”
Lady Brownlie had initially brought her claim against Four Seasons Holdings Incorporated, a Toronto-based company, for damages for injury and losses suffered as a result of the accident.
It was later found that the firm did not own or operate the hotel, so she was able to amend her claim so that it could be brought against FS Cairo, an Egyptian company, instead.
Sir Ian was a barrister who specialised in international law and had advised the-then US president Jimmy Carter during the Iran hostage crisis.
Bundesliga fixtures
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Full time contracts
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Emirate: Dubai
Hobbies: I enjoy travelling, experiencing new things, painting, reading, flying, and the French language
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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
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