A rainbow appears after rainfall in Ankara, Turkey.
A rainbow appears after rainfall in Ankara, Turkey.
A rainbow appears after rainfall in Ankara, Turkey.
A rainbow appears after rainfall in Ankara, Turkey.

Rains bring respite to Turkey's fire-ravaged forests


  • English
  • Arabic

Heavy rainfall has helped firefighting efforts in Turkey's Mediterranean and Aegean provinces, after wildfires ravaged tens of thousands of hectares for almost two weeks.

Of the 240 fires that broke out since July 28, 238 have been put brought under control, state news agency Anadolu said on Monday.

Eight people were killed and thousands, including tourists, were forced to flee.

Although parts of neighbouring Greece continue to burn, rainfall brought some respite from the blazes in Turkey.

People rejoiced as the rain fell, kneeling down in prayer in the town of Manavgat, local Turkish media reported.

Turkey's Meteorological site Hava Forum described the rainfall over Antalya as “medicine".

On Monday, Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli said the only wildfires continuing to burn were in the Mugla districts of Milas and Koycegiz.

The fires in Milas are currently “dormant, not posing any significant threat,” Mr Pakdemirli said.

“We have been combating the fires with 16 aircraft, nine unmanned aerial vehicles, 57 helicopters, an unmanned helicopter, 850 water tenders and tankers, and 150 engineering vehicles, along with 5,250 forestry personnel.”

Mugla municipality said 55,000 hectares had been burnt — more than twice the area burnt across the whole of Turkey last year — and 36,000 people evacuated.

Strong winds, low humidity and temperatures above 40°C contributed to the spread of the fires.

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

'Unrivaled: Why America Will Remain the World’s Sole Superpower'
Michael Beckley, Cornell Press

Updated: August 09, 2021, 2:49 PM