AD201010708209990AR
AD201010708209990AR
AD201010708209990AR
AD201010708209990AR

How to change coins for notes


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  • Arabic

Dear Ali, Where can I go to exchange dirham coins for paper money? Over the three and a half years I've lived in Abu Dhabi, I've collected about 500 dirham coins. I'm in the process of leaving and would like to exchange them for paper currency. Is there a bank that has a coin-counting machine or will I have to count the coins? WE, Abu Dhabi

Dear WE, I'm assuming you have a local bank account. If you have, your bank should offer this service. Some banks don't offer this service to all of their customers but as you have been with them for three years and are in the process of leaving, I'm sure they can help. Another option would be to pick up the special rolling paper that holds a specific number of coins. You wrap the coins up yourself and can then hand the tubes in at the bank, which will exchange them for notes. Alternatively, you can contact the central bank. Here is its address: www.centralbank.ae . The phone number is 02 665 2220. Thank you and God bless.

Dear Ali, I'm a Saudi student in the UAE and I have a project on the difference in cultural values between Arabs and expats in the Middle East. What would you say are the most key cultural differences? Any thoughts will be very much appreciated? Keep making us proud, brother. JQ, KSA Dear JQ, Fascinating subject, dear brother. I am glad to share some of the findings from my cultural awareness workshops with you. I believe that recognising these cultural differences equips us with the right tools to communicate more meaningfully, whether it is a diplomatic, business or social setting.

Let us first agree on one thing: the two cultures have very different foundations. One is collectivist, the other individualistic. This affects how both groups approach such things as religion, power structures, masculinity, femininity, friendship, trust and so on. As a cultural consultant, I feel that once this dichotomy is understood, everything else falls into place. Let us start with our western guests.

The West is usually known for its individualistic society. People live in nuclear or one-parent families and views on religion are relaxed. Children are supposed to take care of themselves as soon as possible and learn to think in terms of "I". Family ties are weak, there are more divorces and older relatives care for themselves. Choosing not to have children within a marriage is socially acceptable. Privacy is normal and speaking one's mind is characteristic of an honest person. Lasting friendships are hard to achieve.

The Arab world is known for its collective society. Relatives are important and people live among families instead of on their own. Family provides protection in exchange for lifelong loyalty. There are fewer divorces as this is frowned upon and society is built more on the term of "we" rather than "I", especially with regard to children. Taking care of older parents is a duty and having children is a sign of a complete marriage. Being alone is considered weird.

While these observations are generalisations, with no implied right or wrong, it is helpful to recognise them. I hate to see this become an argument of Arab vs western values. We are all, in the end, people and we want the same things in life. It is just that our priorities are different. Take care.

Ali Alsaloom is a cultural adviser and public speaker from Abu Dhabi who has lived all over the world. For more of his advice, see his show on www.onetvo.com or visit www.ask-ali.com Ali's new book, Ask Ali: A Guide To Abu Dhabi, is available from www.ask-ali.com priced at Dh50.

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)

White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogenChromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxideUltramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica contentOphiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on landOlivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour

Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush

Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”

A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.

“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”

Director: Shady Ali
Cast: Boumi Fouad , Mohamed Tharout and Hisham Ismael
Rating: 3/5

2.0

Director: S Shankar

Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films

Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

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

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

The biog

Name: James Mullan

Nationality: Irish

Family: Wife, Pom; and daughters Kate, 18, and Ciara, 13, who attend Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS)

Favourite book or author: “That’s a really difficult question. I’m a big fan of Donna Tartt, The Secret History. I’d recommend that, go and have a read of that.”

Dream: “It would be to continue to have fun and to work with really interesting people, which I have been very fortunate to do for a lot of my life. I just enjoy working with very smart, fun people.”

Napoleon
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Results
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