• Performers from the London School of Samba prepare ahead of The Notting Hill Carnival in London, England. Ben A Pruchnie / Getty Images
    Performers from the London School of Samba prepare ahead of The Notting Hill Carnival in London, England. Ben A Pruchnie / Getty Images
  • The homeland’s symbolic flame burns behind the National Congress building in Brasilia, Brazil. Suspended President Dilma Rousseff will face Congress on Monday as her impeachment process enters its final stages. She is accused of using unauthorised loans from state-owned banks and that she illegally issued decrees to make government payments without congressional approval. Leo Correa / AP
    The homeland’s symbolic flame burns behind the National Congress building in Brasilia, Brazil. Suspended President Dilma Rousseff will face Congress on Monday as her impeachment process enters its final stages. She is accused of using unauthorised loans from state-owned banks and that she illegally issued decrees to make government payments without congressional approval. Leo Correa / AP
  • Tourists enjoy a picnic at Wadi Darbat in Salalah, Dhofar province, Oman. Ahmed Jadallah / Reuters
    Tourists enjoy a picnic at Wadi Darbat in Salalah, Dhofar province, Oman. Ahmed Jadallah / Reuters
  • Rihanna performs onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Michael Loccisano / Getty Images / AFP
    Rihanna performs onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Michael Loccisano / Getty Images / AFP
  • A picture taken with a wide-angle lens shows the Milky Way observed in the background of a lookout tower near the Hungarian border village of Tachty, or Tajti in Hungarian, Slovakia. Peter Komka / EPA
    A picture taken with a wide-angle lens shows the Milky Way observed in the background of a lookout tower near the Hungarian border village of Tachty, or Tajti in Hungarian, Slovakia. Peter Komka / EPA
  • Indian Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan showcases a creation by designer Sabyasachi at Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Winter/Festive 2016 in Mumbai. Sujit Jaiswal / AFP
    Indian Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan showcases a creation by designer Sabyasachi at Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Winter/Festive 2016 in Mumbai. Sujit Jaiswal / AFP
  • Maidens carry and lay reeds while they sing and dance during the annual royal Reed Dance at the Ludzidzini Royal palace in Lobamba, Swaziland. Umhlanga, or Reed Dance ceremony, is an annual Swazi cultural event where tens of thousands of Swazi girls travel from the various chiefdoms to the Ludzidzini Royal Village to participate in the eight-day event. Mujahid Safodien/ AFP
    Maidens carry and lay reeds while they sing and dance during the annual royal Reed Dance at the Ludzidzini Royal palace in Lobamba, Swaziland. Umhlanga, or Reed Dance ceremony, is an annual Swazi cultural event where tens of thousands of Swazi girls travel from the various chiefdoms to the Ludzidzini Royal Village to participate in the eight-day event. Mujahid Safodien/ AFP
  • FC Barcelona’s Luis Suarez, left, gestures beside Athletic Bilbao’s Aymeric Laporte during a Spanish La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao, at San Mames stadium, in Bilbao, northern Spain. FC Barcelona won the match 1-0. Alvaro Barrientos / AP
    FC Barcelona’s Luis Suarez, left, gestures beside Athletic Bilbao’s Aymeric Laporte during a Spanish La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao, at San Mames stadium, in Bilbao, northern Spain. FC Barcelona won the match 1-0. Alvaro Barrientos / AP
  • Some of the 300 accredited people to launch the total of 70,000 rockets as they light up the streets in Paterna, Valencia, Spain, during the traditional ‘Corda’ fiestas. Manuel Bruque / EPA
    Some of the 300 accredited people to launch the total of 70,000 rockets as they light up the streets in Paterna, Valencia, Spain, during the traditional ‘Corda’ fiestas. Manuel Bruque / EPA
  • Malaysian citizens wave the Malaysian national flag as they march during an Independence Day celebration rehearsal in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Malaysia, which gained its independence from British colonial rule in 1957, will celebrate its 59th Independence Day on August 31. Ahmad Yusni / EPA
    Malaysian citizens wave the Malaysian national flag as they march during an Independence Day celebration rehearsal in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Malaysia, which gained its independence from British colonial rule in 1957, will celebrate its 59th Independence Day on August 31. Ahmad Yusni / EPA
  • An Indian artist uses sparkles to decorate statues of the Hindu god Lord Ganesh ahead of the forthcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival at a workshop in Hyderabad. The statues are being prepared for the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, a popular eleven-day long Hindu religious festival in India which will be celebrated from September 5 to 15. Noah Seelam / AFP
    An Indian artist uses sparkles to decorate statues of the Hindu god Lord Ganesh ahead of the forthcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival at a workshop in Hyderabad. The statues are being prepared for the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, a popular eleven-day long Hindu religious festival in India which will be celebrated from September 5 to 15. Noah Seelam / AFP

World in focus – best photos for August 29, 2016


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  • Arabic

A look at the best photos from around the world today.

Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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THE SPECS

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine 

Power: 420kW

Torque: 780Nm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Price: From Dh1,350,000

On sale: Available for preorder now

FIXTURES

Thu Mar 15 – West Indies v Afghanistan, UAE v Scotland
Fri Mar 16 – Ireland v Zimbabwe
Sun Mar 18 – Ireland v Scotland
Mon Mar 19 – West Indies v Zimbabwe
Tue Mar 20 – UAE v Afghanistan
Wed Mar 21 – West Indies v Scotland
Thu Mar 22 – UAE v Zimbabwe
Fri Mar 23 – Ireland v Afghanistan

The top two teams qualify for the World Cup

Classification matches 
The top-placed side out of Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong or Nepal will be granted one-day international status. UAE and Scotland have already won ODI status, having qualified for the Super Six.

Thu Mar 15 – Netherlands v Hong Kong, PNG v Nepal
Sat Mar 17 – 7th-8th place playoff, 9th-10th place play-off

SPECS%3A%20Polestar%203
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELong-range%20dual%20motor%20with%20400V%20battery%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E360kW%20%2F%20483bhp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E840Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20automatic%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20touring%20range%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20628km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E0-100km%2Fh%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.7sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20210kph%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh360%2C000%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeptember%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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

The specs

Engine: 3.0-litre flat-six twin-turbocharged

Transmission: eight-speed PDK automatic

Power: 445bhp

Torque: 530Nm

Price: Dh474,600

On Sale: Now