Arabs badly need democracy, but they have a long way to go before they are ready for it
"[Here] is a very tricky question if one really wants to answer it honestly and objectively, away from populist chants and demagoguery: are Arabs prepared for democracy?" wrote Imad Eddine Adeeb, an Egyptian columnist, in the pan-Arab newspaper Asharq Al Awsat.
"Of course, Arab peoples are badly in need of democracy and deserve to enjoy all its delights. But they have not yet paid the bill that civilisations before them have had to pay to finally establish democratic rule - a system that is based on the rule of law and a peaceful rotation of power, as dictated by the results of free elections," Adeeb wrote in the Saudi-owned publication yesterday.
His column on Monday advocated the release of Hosni Mubarak, the deposed Egyptian president.
Democracy is a process, he argued. It involves the accumulation of political experience and legislative gains that both grassroots people and elites struggle to achieve in a peaceful way, over an extended period of time.
"But in our Arab democracies, we just want to get hold of the cake that is democracy and gobble it up straight away without assembling its delicate ingredients on the table, without knowing how to cook it up to perfection and without having the patience to keep it in the oven for as long as it needs to mature," Adeeb wrote. "We want the big prize but reject the high price that comes with it."
Sure, many people in Arab Spring countries have paid - and still are paying - a big price, he wrote.
"Unfortunately, however, those sacrifices were not made about democracy, but rather had to be made because of a failure in choosing the right way to get to it."
The columnist noted that the late Maj Gen Omar Suleiman, the intelligence chief under President Mubarak, once asked the same question about Egypt: "Are we prepared for democracy?" To this he answered: "Egypt is not prepared for democracy."
"After this sentence, all hell broke loose on the man," Adeeb added. "If only Gen Suleiman, may he rest in peace, had phrased it this way: 'Egypt is not prepared for democracy yet.'"
That single word at the end would have turned his statement into a completely cogent argument, Adeeb went on.
"We lack the culture of democracy, and our institutions are still outdated, corrupt and decaying, operating with the same old administrative structures and tattered values and moral codes, all of which have nothing to do with democracy."
For more than 500 years, Europe walked a thorny road to freedom, rights and democracy. It fought the despotism of the church and countered the Dark Ages with the Enlightenment.
"Our Arab world, on the other hand, is talking about freedom but practicing tyranny."
Jordan suffers from its neighbours' crises
Jordanian officials are fully aware that the Syrian crisis is the prime barometer of their country's stability. Hence, they are usually careful to formulate well-balanced policies that stave off any political crises that could jeopardise stability, noted the London-based daily Al Quds Al Arabi in its editorial on Tuesday.
Jordan isn't rich in natural resources; it has no oil or gold. Its main capital is its ability to coexist with its neighbours and to maintain its stability. Any mistake that threatens to disrupt either of these puts the unique Jordanian setting at great risk.
The UK daily The Guardian reported on Sunday: "Jordan has agreed to spearhead a Saudi-led push to arm rebel groups through its borders into southern Syria, in a move that coincides with the transfer from Riyadh to Amman of more than $1bn (Dh 3.67 billion)."
Jordan's financial woes are no secret. Its general debt has surpassed the $20bn mark. It has been struggling to address its economic hardship especially with the added burden of nearly one million Syrian refugees.
"Nonetheless, additional involvement in the Syrian crisis may compound the country's financial issues and lead to serious repercussions," the paper suggested.
Jordan's situation is quite alarming. It has become a basin that accumulates crises from the neighbouring countries of Iraq, Syria and Palestine.
Mubarak's supporters must accept he is gone
Former president Hosni Mubarak is history now, and the stumbling trial proceedings are only part of his dying phase before history brings the curtain down on him, noted Emad Eddine Hussein in an article in the Cairo-based paper Al Shorouk.
Those who imagine Mr Mubarak could come back to rule Egypt are way off-base, the writer commented.
Granted, Mr Mubarak's smile last Saturday reflected a setback for the revolution. But it does not mean in any way at all that Mr Mubarak will make a comeback in public life, as some people dream.
The columnist said he knows people who used to abhor Mr Mubarak and are now mourning his era, and he knows others who would not even mind a return of Mr Mubarak's National Party if that would rid them of the Brotherhood and the Islamist trend.
History may stumble or freeze, but it does not move backward, the writer argued. Mr Mubarak's people should accept the dynamic of history and save their efforts.
Sure, Mr Mubarak is history. But is his regime history, too? This calls for a definition of Mr Mubarak's regime.
On this point some people would ask: were there any principles or ideologies under Mr Mubarak's rule to justify calling it a regime in the first place?
* Digest compiled by The Translation Desk
translation@thenational.ae
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Lecce v SPAL (6pm)
Bologna v Genoa (9pm)
Atlanta v Roma (11.45pm)
Sunday
Udinese v Hellas Verona (3.30pm)
Juventus v Brescia (6pm)
Sampdoria v Fiorentina (6pm)
Sassuolo v Parma (6pm)
Cagliari v Napoli (9pm)
Lazio v Inter Milan (11.45pm)
Monday
AC Milan v Torino (11.45pm)
Fund-raising tips for start-ups
Develop an innovative business concept
Have the ability to differentiate yourself from competitors
Put in place a business continuity plan after Covid-19
Prepare for the worst-case scenario (further lockdowns, long wait for a vaccine, etc.)
Have enough cash to stay afloat for the next 12 to 18 months
Be creative and innovative to reduce expenses
Be prepared to use Covid-19 as an opportunity for your business
* Tips from Jassim Al Marzooqi and Walid Hanna
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
WHAT FANS WILL LOVE ABOUT RUSSIA
FANS WILL LOVE
Uber is ridiculously cheap and, as Diego Saez discovered, mush safer. A 45-minute taxi from Pulova airport to Saint Petersburg’s Nevsky Prospect can cost as little as 500 roubles (Dh30).
FANS WILL LOATHE
Uber policy in Russia is that they can start the fare as soon as they arrive at the pick-up point — and oftentimes they start it even before arriving, or worse never arrive yet charge you anyway.
FANS WILL LOVE
It’s amazing how active Russians are on social media and your accounts will surge should you post while in the country. Throw in a few Cyrillic hashtags and watch your account numbers rocket.
FANS WILL LOATHE
With cold soups, bland dumplings and dried fish, Russian cuisine is not to everybody’s tastebuds. Fortunately, there are plenty Georgian restaurants to choose from, which are both excellent and economical.
FANS WILL LOVE
The World Cup will take place during St Petersburg's White Nights Festival, which means perpetual daylight in a city that genuinely never sleeps. (Think toddlers walking the streets with their grandmothers at 4am.)
FANS WILL LOATHE
The walk from Krestovsky Ostrov metro station to Saint Petersburg Arena on a rainy day makes you wonder why some of the $1.7 billion was not spent on a weather-protected walkway.
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Brief scores:
Toss: India, opted to field
Australia 158-4 (17 ov)
Maxwell 46, Lynn 37; Kuldeep 2-24
India 169-7 (17 ov)
Dhawan 76, Karthik 30; Zampa 2-22
Result: Australia won by 4 runs by D/L method
The Old Slave and the Mastiff
Patrick Chamoiseau
Translated from the French and Creole by Linda Coverdale
J%20Street%20Polling%20Results
%3Cp%3E97%25%20of%20Jewish-Americans%20are%20concerned%20about%20the%20rise%20in%20anti-Semitism%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E76%25%20of%20US%20Jewish%20voters%20believe%20Donald%20Trump%20and%20his%20allies%20in%20the%20Republican%20Party%20are%20responsible%20for%20a%20rise%20in%20anti-Semitism%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E74%25%20of%20American%20Jews%20agreed%20that%20%E2%80%9CTrump%20and%20the%20Maga%20movement%20are%20a%20threat%20to%20Jews%20in%20America%22%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
Scotland v Ireland:
Scotland (15-1): Stuart Hogg; Tommy Seymour, Huw Jones, Sam Johnson, Sean Maitland; Finn Russell, Greig Laidlaw (capt); Josh Strauss, James Ritchie, Ryan Wilson; Jonny Gray, Grant Gilchrist; Simon Berghan, Stuart McInally, Allan Dell
Replacements: Fraser Brown, Jamie Bhatti, D'arcy Rae, Ben Toolis, Rob Harley, Ali Price, Pete Horne, Blair Kinghorn
Coach: Gregor Townsend (SCO)
Ireland (15-1): Rob Kearney; Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Jack Conan, Sean O'Brien, Peter O'Mahony; James Ryan, Quinn Roux; Tadhg Furlong, Rory Best (capt), Cian Healy
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Ultan Dillane, Josh van der Flier, John Cooney, Joey Carbery, Jordan Larmour
Coach: Joe Schmidt (NZL)
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
