The UK’s Prince William and his wife Kate made a surprise visit to Jordan to attend the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Rajwa Al Saif.
The Prince of Wales, 40, had been expected to attend the royal nuptials but it was not clear if he would be joined by his wife, 41.
“The Prince and Princess of Wales will attend the wedding later today,” Kensington Palace said.
Crown Prince Hussein, 29, will marry his Saudi architect fiancée, 29, at Zahran Palace in a ceremony scheduled for 4pm.
The Princess of Wales chose a blush pink long-sleeved dress for the occasion and kept her hair down in loose curls.
Upon arrival at the palace, the couple were greeted by King Abdullah of Jordan and Queen Rania.
They were closely followed by Princess Beatrice of York and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. The princess was wearing the long-sleeved Celia dress by British brand Needle & Thread. The sequined number features intricate work in tone-on-tone trailing flowers in pale blue, and the princess styled it with a black belt.
Prince William and his wife were spotted at a five-star hotel in Amman on Wednesday evening.
The Princess of Wales, dressed in a sleek black trouser suit over a white top, smiled at her fellow guests as she was escorted by staff and security guards through a dining area at the plush venue.
By her side was her husband, who opted for a casual look of open-collared shirt and suit.
Earlier, they were filmed entering the lobby of the hotel carrying bags.
It is not known how long they will stay for, but royal engagements in the UK have been scheduled for the weekend.
Prince William, who is president of the Football Association, will attend the FA Cup Final between Manchester City and Manchester United at London’s Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
Confirmation of their attendance in Jordan from the couple’s representatives came just hours before the wedding ceremony.
The visit comes weeks after King Abdullah and Queen Rania attended King Charles III’s coronation in London.
Queen Rania described the ceremony as “beautiful and unforgettable”.
William and Kate have in the past made known their fondness for Jordan.
Kate lived in the country in the 1980s for two years while her father was working for British Airways.
In 2021, the couple chose a portrait taken with their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis during a holiday in Jordan for their annual Christmas card.
The photo, which appeared to have been captured in a desert setting, had been taken earlier that year, their representatives said.
To mark Father's Day in June 2022, the palace released a photo of Prince William and his three children during the same family holiday in Jordan.
Prince William visited the country during a five-day tour of the Middle East in 2018.
He was given a tour of the ancient city of Jerash, a Roman city dating back to the first century, with Crown Prince Hussein.
Years earlier, the Middleton family released a photo showing a young Kate at the same site with her father Michael and sister Pippa.
Speaking during his visit to Jordan, Prince William said his wife loved living in the country and was “very upset that I am coming here without her”.
After posing in the same spot where his wife had been pictured years earlier, he said: “Need to come back with the family for this shot.”
Prince William, heir to the British throne, and his spouse were joined at the celebrations by fellow European royals such as Queen Maxima of the Netherlands and her daughter Princess Catharina.
The US first lady, Jill Biden, was also in attendance, accompanied by her daughter, Ashley Biden.
Celebrations began last week with a henna party for Ms Al Saif, hosted by Queen Rania and attended by several hundred women.
The bride has a degree in architecture and has lived and worked in Los Angeles. Her father is a founder of one of Saudi Arabia’s largest engineering firms and her mother is a relative of King Salman of Saudi Arabia.
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
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
Fixtures
50-over match
UAE v Lancashire, starts at 10am
Champion County match
MCC v Surrey, four-day match, starting on Sunday, March 24, play starts at 10am
Both matches are at ICC Academy, Dubai Sports City. Admission is free.
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Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
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Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
Kanye%20West
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