Queen Elizabeth II dies — follow the latest news as the world mourns
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has paused producing new episodes of her Archetypes podcast series after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, an alert on her platform said.
Earlier on Monday, her husband Prince Harry paid tribute to the late queen, whom he called his “guiding compass”.
The prince also recounted cherished childhood memories of Queen Elizabeth and her late husband Prince Philip.
“Granny, while this final parting brings us great sadness, I am forever grateful for all of our first meetings … You are already sorely missed, not just by us, but by the world over,” Prince Harry wrote.
-

Britain's William, Prince of Wales, second left, his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, left, along with Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, look at floral tributes as they walk outside Windsor Castle. Reuters -

Left to right: The Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex at Windsor Castle. AFP -

The royals meet people outside Windsor Castle. AP -

Walking together outside Windsor Castle. Reuters -

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan are staying at Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor estate, just a stone's throw from Prince William and his wife Kate's new home, Adelaide Cottage. PA -

The royals speak and shake hands with different sides of the cheering crowds. AP -

A pause to look at floral tributes laid by members of the public on the Long Walk at Windsor Castle. AFP -

Prince Harry points at a floral tribute. Reuters -

In his first speech as king on Friday, Charles, 73, spoke of his love for his second son and daughter-in-law. AP -

The two couples had last been seen together at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in 2020. Reuters
In his first public statement since the queen's death, Prince Harry said that the UK must now honour King Charles III, his father.
Prince Harry and Meghan became increasingly alienated from his family after stepping down from royal duties in 2020.
The couple were coincidentally in the country attending charity events when the queen died. They unexpectedly appeared with Prince William and his wife Kate for a walkabout near Windsor Castle on Saturday.
A royal source told Reuters that the moment demonstrated an important show of unity between the brothers.
The Duchess of Sussex's podcast has so far featured singer Mariah Carey and tennis player Serena Williams as guests.
-

A tribute altar for Queen Elizabeth II in Green Park in London. AFP -

Ann Doran, 6, looks at floral tributes left in Green Park. Reuters -

Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales, look at floral tributes on the Sandringham Estate. AFP -

A drawing of the queen and her husband Prince Philip among flowers outside Windsor Castle. AFP -

Members of the public view floral tributes in Green Park, near Buckingham Palace. PA -

People queue on a bridge over the river Thames to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth in London. Reuters -

A member of the public lights a candle at Windsor Parish Church. AFP -

Residents of the Lawn care home in Alton, Hampshire, decorate an area with photographs of Queen Elizabeth, bunting and their own flower arrangements. PA -

Lloyd's of London chief John Neal delivers remarks honouring the life of Queen Elizabeth during a remembrance ceremony in the atrium of the company's offices in London. Getty Images -

Joyce Buckley, a sponge decorator at Emma Bridgewater pottery in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, paints a commemorative mug. PA -

A royalist standing in front of Buckingham Palace. AFP -

Tributes to Queen Elizabeth are viewed at St James's Park in London. Reuters -

Crowds gather outside St. Giles' Cathedral on the Royal Mile as the queen's coffin passes in Edinburgh. Bloomberg -

Chelsea Pensioners attend a Drumhead service of remembrance, with readings and prayers, in London. Getty Images -

An image of Queen Elizabeth at Green Park Tube station. Reuters -

Vanessa, Anne and Grace, from left to right, wait opposite the Palace of Westminster to be first in line bidding farewell to Queen Elizabeth in London. AP -

A young girl holds Paddington Bear and Corgi stuffed toys while waiting to watch the procession of Queen Elizabeth's coffin from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Reuters -

Well-wishers outside Windsor Castle. Getty Images -

Lloyd Smith paints a portrait of Queen Elizabeth in London. AFP -

A child lays flowers outside the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. AP -

A family leaves flowers outside Buckingham Palace. EPA -

Flowers and tributes, including sunflowers and a Paddington Bear, are left for Queen Elizabeth at the Green Park memorial in London. AP -

People start to camp on The Mall ahead of Queen Elizabeth's coffin being taken from Buckingham Palace on Wednesday afternoon by procession on a Gun Carriage to the Palace of Westminster. PA -

Flowers left in St James's Park, London. PA -

A man with his dog arrive early as they wait to view the cortege carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth in Edinburgh. Getty Images -

Members of the public gather on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh to watch the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. PA -

Crowds watch as the hearse continues its journey to the Palace of Holyroodhouse from Balmoral. PA -

The hearse passing over Queensferry Crossing on its way to Edinburgh. PA -

Flowers left at the Sandringham Estate, one of the queen's residences. EPA -

A Paddington Bear teapot at the Sandringham Estate. EPA -

Flowers left at the gates of the Sandringham Estate. EPA -

Flowers, cards and messages left in St James's Park in London. EPA -

People lay flowers at Buckingham Palace in London. Reuters
Reuters contributed to this report
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
JAPANESE GRAND PRIX INFO
Schedule (All times UAE)
First practice: Friday, 5-6.30am
Second practice: Friday, 9-10.30am
Third practice: Saturday, 7-8am
Qualifying: Saturday, 10-11am
Race: Sunday, 9am-midday
Race venue: Suzuka International Racing Course
Circuit Length: 5.807km
Number of Laps: 53
Watch live: beIN Sports HD
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
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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.
The%20pillars%20of%20the%20Dubai%20Metaverse%20Strategy
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
While you're here
Bryant Harris: What Joe Biden did during his first week as US President
Kareem Shaheen: Omar Alghabra outshines the racists who malign him
Kareem Shaheen: Canada is failing those who bear its greatest Covid-19 burdens
While you're here
Nasser bin Nasser: Is US-China conflict in West Asia inevitable?
Sholto Byrnes: Time for an uninhibited China to lead Asia
Damien McElroy: BRI has changed the rules of the game
The Sky Is Pink
Director: Shonali Bose
Cast: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim, Rohit Saraf
Three stars
More from this package
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
|
1. |
United States |
|
2. |
China |
|
3. |
UAE |
|
4. |
Japan |
|
5 |
Norway |
|
6. |
Canada |
|
7. |
Singapore |
|
8. |
Australia |
|
9. |
Saudi Arabia |
|
10. |
South Korea |
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Company%C2%A0profile
MORE FROM ED HUSAIN: The UAE-Israel accord is a win for every Muslim
Dunki
MATCH INFO
Qalandars 112-4 (10 ovs)
Banton 53 no
Northern Warriors 46 all out (9 ovs)
Kumara 3-10, Garton 3-10, Jordan 2-2, Prasanna 2-7
Qalandars win by six wickets
While you're here
Soraya Ebrahimi: Who is the BBC journalist Martin Bashir?
Chris Blackhurst: How Diana might still have been alive
Brodie Owen: Bashir used deceit to land interview
Match info:
Portugal 1
Ronaldo (4')
Morocco 0

