How Arab-American voters could affect the presidential election

This year is shaping up to be a repeat of 2020 when it comes to the US presidential election, with Joe Biden expected to again face off against Donald Trump.

But both candidates have a much different set of challenges to deal with than the previous election, with Mr Biden facing growing criticism over his approach to the Israel-Gaza war.

The most vocal critics of his Gaza policy have been Arab and Muslim Americans, with many in the communities angry over his staunch support of Israel and slow response to the growing humanitarian crisis in the besieged enclave.

Mr Biden has sent billions in military aid to Israel while directing the US ambassador to the UN to veto a series of Security Council resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire.

But Mr Trump is also a strong supporter of Israel. While in office, he moved the US embassy to Jerusalem and in 2017, he enacted the so-called Muslim ban, which blocked citizens from Muslim-majority countries from coming to the US.

He has sworn to reinstate the ban if elected.

Can Arab Americans affect the election?

James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute, told The National that historically, the bloc has leaned Democrat by four to five points.

After the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, those numbers changed, with two Democratic voters to every Republican.

“The most recent poll we did, however, showed a complete reversal, with Arab-American Democrats falling below Arab-American Republicans for the first time,” Mr Zogby said.

There are about 2.5 million Arab-American voters in the US, mostly in the mid-Atlantic region, as well as Michigan, Florida and California.

Michigan is a crucial swing state and has the highest density of Arab-American voters.

In 2016, Mr Trump took the state with a little more than 13,000 votes, while Mr Biden won it in 2020 with about 100,000 votes.

Muslim and Arab Americans in Michigan protest against Biden – in pictures

During the state primaries this year, activists in Michigan launched a campaign encouraging Democrats to vote uncommitted to protest against Mr Biden's Gaza policy.

Arab-American voters led the campaign, but they were far from the only ones taking part.

“[There is] nothing that Biden can come here and say to us as an empty platitude to try to win our votes back,” voter Mariam Tout told The National at an event held in support of the "uncommitted" movement.

“It is all going to be just really disrespectful.”

The campaign in Michigan had aimed to get 10,000 people to vote uncommitted, but more than 100,000 Democratic voters marked the uncommitted box.

Not all states offer the uncommitted option during their respective primaries, but since Michigan, campaigns are gearing up in states that do have the option.

Washington state's largest union endorsed voting uncommitted, saying there were concerns about Mr Biden's political strength in addition to his stance on Gaza.

This is despite Mr Biden, who joined car workers on the picket line in Michigan last year in a presidential first, describing himself as the most pro-union US leader in history.

The uncommitted campaign has spread to Minnesota, which has a significant Somali and Muslim-American population.

While it is not a battleground state, 20 per cent of Democrats there voted uncommitted at the March 5 primary, instead of backing Mr Biden.

Since the Michigan vote, US Vice President Kamala Harris has called for a ceasefire and the US has started to parachute aid into the Gaza Strip, but it is not clear that those actions will sway alienated Democrats to vote in November.

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Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company

The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.

He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.

“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.

“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.

HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.

With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.

On Women's Day

Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action

Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality

The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?

Justin Thomas: Challenge the notion that 'men are from Mars, women are from Venus'

KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI

National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate

Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead

Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble

Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks

Hussein Ibish: Trump's order on solid constitutional ground

Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile

Rashmee Roshan Lall: Sound of silence in South Asia

Fanar Haddad: The Iranian response will be gradual

Richard Olson: Why Afghanistan will be very wary

23-man shortlist for next six Hall of Fame inductees

Tony Adams, David Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp, Sol Campbell, Eric Cantona, Andrew Cole, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba, Les Ferdinand, Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Matt Le Tissier, Michael Owen, Peter Schmeichel, Paul Scholes, John Terry, Robin van Persie, Nemanja Vidic, Patrick Viera, Ian Wright.

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How being social media savvy can improve your well being

Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.

As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.

Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.

Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.

Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.

However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.

“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.

People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.

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

THREE

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