Khartoum resident Othman Said was feeling rested on Monday. He had not felt like that in weeks.
“I had not slept as much I did today and yesterday since the war began on April 15,” said Mr Said, who lives in the Al Thawra district of Omdurman, one of three cities that make up the greater Khartoum area around the confluence of the Blue and White Niles.
The other two cities are Khartoum and Bahri.
“Things are very quiet in Omdurman today. I also checked with my sister in Bahri. She said things were calm there, too,” he told The National.
It is the first time that Sudan's warring sides – the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces – are heeding a truce. Previous ones were breached by both sides, allowing the fighting that turned the Sudanese capital into a war zone to continue unchecked.
The 72-hour ceasefire was mediated by the US and Saudi Arabia. It coincides with an international pledging conference for Sudan to be convened by the UN in Geneva later on Monday.
The UN prepared for the meeting in conjunction with several state partners. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is among those scheduled to address the gathering.
Donors were expected to “announce financial commitments to address the unfolding humanitarian crisis and reiterate the need for the parties to the conflict in Sudan to adhere to their obligations under International Humanitarian Law”, the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs said.
“To date, this year's revised Humanitarian Response Plan for Sudan has received less than 16 per cent of the $2.57 billion required, while the Regional Refugee Response Plan for $470 million is just 17 per cent funded,” it said in a statement.
Sudan needed substantial humanitarian aid even before the war began, with its deeply troubled economy leaving millions unable to find or afford their basic needs. Now, the UN says about 25 million people in the vast Afro-Arab nation – more than half the population – are in need of humanitarian assistance.
The war has killed at least 3,000 and injured twice as many, according to the Health Ministry. It has forced more than 2.2 million to flee their homes in search of security. Of these, more than 500,000 sought refuge in neighbouring states, chiefly Egypt, Chad and South Sudan.
Mr Said, the Omdurman resident, said some of the stores were open in the local outdoor food market when he went shopping on Sunday, but he complained that prices were too high.
“There are not many shoppers, though, and the butcher's did not open for business. Some pharmacies are open but they have no antibiotics or medicine for diabetes,” he continued.
To Saydah Mahmoud, a schoolteacher from the Jabrah district in Khartoum, the lull in the fighting meant a chance to leave the city.
“This is the first time that we get some quiet. But we are leaving for Wad Medani [south of Khartoum] to stay with relatives. Homes, including ours, have been looted and we feel under siege. There is no guarantee what things will be like after this truce.
“We are tired. We have seen death come close, but we could not leave. Now, we must.”
Sudan's war began when army chief Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan and his one-time ally and deputy Gen Mohamed Dagalo clashed in a bitter struggle for supremacy.
The war has to all practical purposes buried Sudan's hopes to transition to democratic rule four years after long-time dictator Omar Al Bashir was removed by a popular uprising after 29 years in power.
The two generals took part in removing Al Bashir in 2019 and in October 2021 jointly staged a coup that derailed Sudan's democratic transition and plunged the north-east African nation into its worst economic crisis in living memory, as well as creating a political impasse.
The current fighting has also spilt into the western Darfur region, where local activists say as many as 1,100 have died in violence in the West Darfur state capital of Al Geneina alone.
The International Organisation for Migration says at least 149,000 people have fled from Darfur into Chad and the US attributed the violence there “primarily” to the RSF. It said alleged rights violations were an “ominous reminder” of the region's previous genocide.
A years-long war in Darfur began in 2003 with a rebel uprising that prompted Al Bashir to unleash the Janjaweed militia, the forerunner of the RSF, on the rebels. The militia is known to have committed large-scale atrocities in Darfur at the time.
Al Bashir, in detention since 2019, was indicted by the International Criminal Court more than a decade ago of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
WHAT%20IS%20THE%20LICENSING%20PROCESS%20FOR%20VARA%3F
%3Cp%3EVara%20will%20cater%20to%20three%20categories%20of%20companies%20in%20Dubai%20(except%20the%20DIFC)%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECategory%20A%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Minimum%20viable%20product%20(MVP)%20applicants%20that%20are%20currently%20in%20the%20process%20of%20securing%20an%20MVP%20licence%3A%20This%20is%20a%20three-stage%20process%20starting%20with%20%5B1%5D%20a%20provisional%20permit%2C%20graduating%20to%20%5B2%5D%20preparatory%20licence%20and%20concluding%20with%20%5B3%5D%20operational%20licence.%20Applicants%20that%20are%20already%20in%20the%20MVP%20process%20will%20be%20advised%20by%20Vara%20to%20either%20continue%20within%20the%20MVP%20framework%20or%20be%20transitioned%20to%20the%20full%20market%20product%20licensing%20process.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECategory%20B%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Existing%20legacy%20virtual%20asset%20service%20providers%20prior%20to%20February%207%2C%202023%2C%20which%20are%20required%20to%20come%20under%20Vara%20supervision.%20All%20operating%20service%20proviers%20in%20Dubai%20(excluding%20the%20DIFC)%20fall%20under%20Vara%E2%80%99s%20supervision.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECategory%20C%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20New%20applicants%20seeking%20a%20Vara%20licence%20or%20existing%20applicants%20adding%20new%20activities.%20All%20applicants%20that%20do%20not%20fall%20under%20Category%20A%20or%20B%20can%20begin%20the%20application%20process%20through%20their%20current%20or%20prospective%20commercial%20licensor%20%E2%80%94%20the%20DET%20or%20Free%20Zone%20Authority%20%E2%80%94%20or%20directly%20through%20Vara%20in%20the%20instance%20that%20they%20have%20yet%20to%20determine%20the%20commercial%20operating%20zone%20in%20Dubai.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
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PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
1 Man City 26 20 3 3 63 17 63
2 Liverpool 25 17 6 2 64 20 57
3 Chelsea 25 14 8 3 49 18 50
4 Man Utd 26 13 7 6 44 34 46
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5 West Ham 26 12 6 8 45 34 42
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6 Arsenal 23 13 3 7 36 26 42
7 Wolves 24 12 4 8 23 18 40
8 Tottenham 23 12 4 8 31 31 39
IF YOU GO
The flights: FlyDubai offers direct flights to Catania Airport from Dubai International Terminal 2 daily with return fares starting from Dh1,895.
The details: Access to the 2,900-metre elevation point at Mount Etna by cable car and 4x4 transport vehicle cost around €57.50 (Dh248) per adult. Entry into Teatro Greco costs €10 (Dh43). For more go to www.visitsicily.info
Where to stay: Hilton Giardini Naxos offers beachfront access and accessible to Taormina and Mount Etna. Rooms start from around €130 (Dh561) per night, including taxes.
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
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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'Saand Ki Aankh'
Produced by: Reliance Entertainment with Chalk and Cheese Films
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Jha, Vineet Singh
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UJDA CHAMAN
Produced: Panorama Studios International
Directed: Abhishek Pathak
Cast: Sunny Singh, Maanvi Gagroo, Grusha Kapoor, Saurabh Shukla
Rating: 3.5 /5 stars
MATCH INFO
Osasuna 1 Real Madrid 4
Osasuna: García (14')
Real Madrid: Isco (33'), Ramos (38'), Vázquez (84'), Jovic (90' 2)
The biog
Favourite food: Fish and seafood
Favourite hobby: Socialising with friends
Favourite quote: You only get out what you put in!
Favourite country to visit: Italy
Favourite film: Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
Family: We all have one!
Zayed Sustainability Prize
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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The biog
Hometown: Birchgrove, Sydney Australia
Age: 59
Favourite TV series: Outlander Netflix series
Favourite place in the UAE: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque / desert / Louvre Abu Dhabi
Favourite book: Father of our Nation: Collected Quotes of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
Thing you will miss most about the UAE: My friends and family, Formula 1, having Friday's off, desert adventures, and Arabic culture and people
RIDE%20ON
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Larry%20Yang%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Jackie%20Chan%2C%20Liu%20Haocun%2C%20Kevin%20Guo%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
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Saturday's results
Brighton 1-1 Leicester City
Everton 1-0 Cardiff City
Manchester United 0-0 Crystal Palace
Watford 0-3 Liverpool
West Ham United 0-4 Manchester City
Company%20profile
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