Back in the noughties, wallpaper was all the rage, with feature walls de rigueur in every stylish home. Then other trends came to the fore for a while, with the new neutrals, minimalism and Scandi chic all contributing to an altogether cleaner and more stripped-back aesthetic. Wallpaper didn’t quite disappear, but it wasn’t really a talking point.
Fast forward to 2021 and, as the world emerges from a year of being confined to our own four walls on and off, one thing is amply clear: wallpaper is back – and it’s making quite the entrance. Get ready for some seriously stylish options with a few sassy surprises mixed in.
Top wallpaper trends
Perhaps it’s because many of us have spent more than 12 months feeling fearful, uncertain and stressed, but the most standout wallpaper trends are big, bold and bright. From oversized botanicals and colourful tropical prints to every shade of yellow you can think of (you can thank Pantone's colour of the year 2021 for that), we’re talking designs that will make you, your family and your guests smile.
Some of our favourite looks this season are travel-inspired, tapping into the frustrations of having been so limited on holidays over the last year. Think geometrics that speak of Greece and Morocco, island-inspired palm trees (there are those botanicals again), and even safari-style animals, from elephants to leopards to giraffes. So if you have a dream destination in mind, but no means or inclination to travel there quite yet, why not create the local look in your own home?
Scenic wallpapers and murals are still big (if you’ll excuse the pun), as is colour, so don’t be afraid to express yourself. There are plenty of designs on the market that pull together half a dozen or more shades to create a spectacular effect.
Or, if you fancy something a little more refined, we’re seeing more in the way of textured wallpaper popping up now, and these designs are much more sophisticated than their chintzy 1970s cousins.
One last trend we’ve noticed – though it’s not yet mainstream – is wallpaper on the ceiling. This is a great trick if you want to create more intimacy by “lowering” a ceiling with a darker shade, or drawing the eye upwards to a lighter shade. You could even indulge your whimsical side by papering your ceiling with a sky blue paper studded with birds or butterflies.
Flocks, foils and fabrics
Designers aren’t just putting their efforts into wowing us with bold colours and dazzling prints, either. They’re also turning their attention to materials that stand out from the crowd. There’s a real decadence on offer here, a chance for us to turn the homes we’ve spent so much time in recently into little oases of luxury.
There are now more fabric wallpapers on offer, adding a subtle texture and real richness to a room. Choose uber-tactile flock with its velvety embossing, or smooth and elegant satin in a range of vibrant tones. Sure, you don’t want too much of this unless you’re going for an in-your-face statement, but use it wisely and you can bring new life to your walls.
Foils are another great way to add interest to your style, with silver, gold, brass and copper options creating a subtle reflective glint all around. Or, if you really want to get your guests talking, why not consider crystal-studded wallpaper? Nothing says luxe like living inside a literal glitter ball.
Dos and don’ts for buying wallpaper
When it comes to choosing wallpaper for your home, trends and personal taste are only part of the decision. You also need to consider a number of factors to ensure the print, colour, pattern and so on actually enhance your room. You wouldn't want your carefully chosen design to either not have the impact it should or to overpower the space. Here are a few things to consider.
The size of the room: The smaller a room, the more a pattern or print will dominate it. In general, a larger print will give a room a more cosy, intimate feel, while a smaller one will create a sense of space. Common sense suggests pairing the size of the print with the size of the room – ie small room, small print and large room, large print. But you might want to play around with this and take advantage to create a dramatic effect.
How you use the room: How much time do you spend in the room you’re considering wallpapering, and what do you do when you’re in it? A busy, vibrant print might work brilliantly in a bathroom, for example, where you’re only stopping by for a short time. In your living room, however, it might start to feel a bit much. Likewise, you don’t want too much going on in a room where you’re trying to sleep or concentrate on work, unless you’re a creative who needs ongoing stimulation.
The kind of traffic it gets: Are you wallpapering a guest bedroom that only gets used occasionally? A hallway that is regularly full of people coming and going? A playroom that belongs to young children and is often frequented by the family dog? The more traffic a room has – and the more messy that traffic is (ie, pets and kids) – the more you have to think about durability. If you know your wallpaper is going to have to take a battering, avoid pale colours and delicate fabrics that will snag or be hard to clean.
Once you’ve got it down to a few options, make sure you get samples so you can hold them up to furnishings and fittings in your room and reassure yourself that they blend in. Prop your samples up where you can see them regularly as you go about your daily life – which ones keep catching your eye and making you smile? Which ones leave you feeling a bit meh? Once you’ve done the head work, feel free to make a final decision by following your heart.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club race card
5pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic (PA) Prestige; Dh110,000; 1,400m
5.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic (PA) Prestige; Dh110,000; 1,400m
6pm: Maiden (PA); Dh80,000; 1,600m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (PA) Listed; Dh180,000; 1,600m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap; Dh70,000; 2,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (PA); Dh100,000; 2,400m
The biog
First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work
KYLIAN MBAPPE 2016/17 STATS
Ligue 1: Appearances - 29, Goals - 15, Assists - 8
UCL: Appearances - 9, Goals - 6
French Cup: Appearances - 3, Goals - 3
France U19: Appearances - 5, Goals - 5, Assists - 1
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
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Guns N’ Roses’s last gig before Abu Dhabi was in Hong Kong on November 21. We were there – and here’s what they played, and in what order. You were warned.
- It’s So Easy
- Mr Brownstone
- Chinese Democracy
- Welcome to the Jungle
- Double Talkin’ Jive
- Better
- Estranged
- Live and Let Die (Wings cover)
- Slither (Velvet Revolver cover)
- Rocket Queen
- You Could Be Mine
- Shadow of Your Love
- Attitude (Misfits cover)
- Civil War
- Coma
- Love Theme from The Godfather (movie cover)
- Sweet Child O’ Mine
- Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb cover)
- Wish You Were Here (instrumental Pink Floyd cover)
- November Rain
- Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden cover)
- Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover)
- Nightrain
Encore:
- Patience
- Don’t Cry
- The Seeker (The Who cover)
- Paradise City
Five famous companies founded by teens
There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:
- Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate.
- Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc.
- Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway.
- Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
- Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
Ultra processed foods
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
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
