Facebook will roll out its paid news tab Facebook News in the UK from next month, the company said late Monday.
The social media giant, which is facing a government clampdown over its dominance of online advertising in the UK, will pay publishers for content that is not already on its platform. It will help publishers "reach new audiences and bring more advertising and subscription opportunities", the company said in a statement.
“Facebook News offers a mix of curated and personalised top stories to deliver informative, reliable and relevant news,” Jesper Doub, Facebook’s director for news partnerships, said.
Facebook News was rolled out in the US in June. In August, the company said the feature will be introduced in new markets including the UK, Brazil, India, France and Germany.
The UK launch will build on the success that Facebook News has seen in the US, where more than 95 per cent of the traffic it delivers to publishers is new audiences that have not interacted with those news outlets in the past, Mr Doub said.
Facebook did not disclose the amount of money it is investing in the UK Facebook News programme.
The first group of publishers featured in Facebook News in the UK includes Conde Nast, The Economist Group, Guardian Media Group, Hearst, Midland News Association and Reach, among others.
"These publishers are home to hundreds of the UK's best known and most loved national and local news brands ... will also include content from lifestyle brands such as Red, Harper's, Cosmopolitan, Wired … we expect many more partners to join prior to [the] launch," Mr Doub added.
Facebook is currently in negotiations to bring Facebook News to France and Germany, Mr Doub said. “We will continue to work with publishers in countries where market conditions and regulatory environments invite this kind of investment and innovation.”
Facebook News provides timely news digests and highlights original reporting on pressing topics. It also helps people to discover new topics and stories based on the news they read, share and follow.
"We are delighted to extend The Independent's longstanding strategic partnership with Facebook through the UK launch of Facebook News, helping to bring high-quality and trustworthy news to its UK users," said Zach Leonard, chief executive of The Independent, which has an average monthly global audience of 101 million unique users.
Facebook, which has trained 80 journalists across the UK through its $6 million Community News Programme, also announced a year-long extension of the initiative with an additional $3m to support local journalism.
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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.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
