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.
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
India cancels school-leaving examinations
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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Dubai World Cup Carnival card
6.30pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) US$100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (Turf) 1,000m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,900m
8.15pm: Meydan Challenge Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m
8.50pm: Dubai Stakes Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
9.25pm: Dubai Racing Club Classic Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m
The National selections
6.30pm: Final Song
7.05pm: Pocket Dynamo
7.40pm: Dubai Icon
8.15pm: Dubai Legacy
8.50pm: Drafted
9.25pm: Lucius Tiberius
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The biog
Fast facts on Neil Armstrong’s personal life:
- Armstrong was born on August 5, 1930, in Wapakoneta, Ohio
- He earned his private pilot’s license when he was 16 – he could fly before he could drive
- There was tragedy in his married life: Neil and Janet Armstrong’s daughter Karen died at the age of two in 1962 after suffering a brain tumour. She was the couple’s only daughter. Their two sons, Rick and Mark, consulted on the film
- After Armstrong departed Nasa, he bought a farm in the town of Lebanon, Ohio, in 1971 – its airstrip allowed him to tap back into his love of flying
- In 1994, Janet divorced Neil after 38 years of marriage. Two years earlier, Neil met Carol Knight, who became his second wife in 1994
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
