A historical novel about Egypt, a research study on Spain's Islamic past and an Arabic translation of a 17th century Italian philosopher are some of the winners of this year's Sheikh Zayed Book Awards.
"The award embodies the extent of the commitment of the UAE capital and wise leadership and the great values we grew up with," Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre chairman Ali Bin Tamim said during the ceremony. "These include an appreciation and application of creativity, innovation, science and culture.
"The breadth of this year’s submissions not only increases our responsibility as custodians but also reflects the breadth of influence, reputation and reliability of this competition.”
Emerging from the shortlist was Reem Bassiouney for her 2022 novel Al Halwani...Thulathiyat al-Fatimiyeen’ (Al Halwani: The Fatimid Trilogy). The winning work is part of the Egyptian author's wider series of historical novels about Egypt set in the middle ages. With its meditations of Egyptian mythology and architecture, the prize-winning novel was praised for its innovative construction and accessibility.
Tunisian researcher Houssem Eddine Chachia won the Young Author prize for his study on the Moriscos of Spain, a 16th century community who forcibly converted from Islam to Christianity (or face exile) after the reconquest of Andalusia.
German scholar Frank Griffel won the Arab Culture in Other Languages award for his 2021 book The Formation of Post-Classical Philosophy in Islam, which highlights key figures in Islamic history – like ninth century philosopher Al Farabi – who spoke in depth about philosophy, metaphysics and ethics.
"It is a great honour personally and it sheds a light into our research community," Griffel told The National. "An award like this helps us create further connections with Arab countries and researchers in our field and ultimately make our work visible in the region."
Tunisia's Ahmed Somai was awarded for his translation of Al Ilm Al Jadeed (The New Science), by Italian philosopher Giambattista Vico. The Arabic translation was hailed for its "skilful rendering of terminology, structure, formulation and context," in addition to clarifying some of Vico's ideas about the history of philosophy.
This year, the prestigious Cultural Personality of the Year award went to Casa Arabe, a Spanish cultural organisation based in Madrid and Cordoba. For nearly 20 years Casa Arabe has become an intellectual and cultural hub with forums and exhibitions surrounding Spain’s relationship with the Muslim world.
The winner of the Cultural Personality of the Year award receives Dh1 million, while winners of other categories each receive a gold medal, a certificate of merit and Dh750,000.
“For 18 years, the Sheikh Zayed Book Award has played a pivotal role in supporting our efforts to enrich cultural and intellectual creativity worldwide while providing a platform for writers, translators, academics and organisations to reach global audiences,” said Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi as part of the winner’s announcement.
“Through this platform, we are celebrating Arabic-speaking writers and authors who write about Arab culture and civilisation, collectively advancing our intellectual and cultural heritage.”
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
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Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
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Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
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Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
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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.
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Infobox
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The two finalists advance to the next stage of qualifying, in Malaysia in August
Results
UAE beat Iran by 10 wickets
Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by eight wickets
Oman beat Bahrain by nine wickets
Qatar beat Maldives by 106 runs
Monday fixtures
UAE v Kuwait, Iran v Saudi Arabia, Oman v Qatar, Maldives v Bahrain
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SPECS
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Mamo Year it started: 2019 Founders: Imad Gharazeddine, Asim Janjua Based: Dubai, UAE Number of employees: 28 Sector: Financial services Investment: $9.5m Funding stage: Pre-Series A Investors: Global Ventures, GFC, 4DX Ventures, AlRajhi Partners, Olive Tree Capital, and prominent Silicon Valley investors. Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
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Short term
Establish logistics and systems needed to globally deploy vaccines
Intermediate term
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Long term
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