Jordan is worried about the war in Gaza spreading deeply into the occupied West Bank and causing refugees to flee close to the kingdom's borders, two European diplomats in Amman said on Saturday.
They told The National that this scenario featured prominently over the last 48 hours in high-profile meetings in Amman between King Abdullah and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, and between the king and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
"The concern in Jordan is that Hamas has more up its sleeve," said one of the diplomats, who requested anonymity. "Hamas could mount an operation against Israelis in the West Bank that could expand the war in a major way."
"In this case, people fleeing the violence have no place to go except towards Jordan."
For decades Jordanian authorities have cautioned against more Israeli pressure on the Palestinians resulting in another wave of refugees to the kingdom.
More Palestinian refugees would upset a social balance overseen by the king between those who came originally from Palestine since 1948, and tribes who were a cornerstone of Jordan's founding as a British protectorate in 1921.
Most of Jordan's 10 million population are descendants of refugees who fled the conflict surrounding Israel's creation in 1948 and Israeli expansion after the 1967 Middle East War.
The war in Gaza started on October 7 with a surprise attack by the Iran-backed Palestinian militant group Hamas on areas held by Israel. The attack killed more than 1,300 people, mostly civilians.
Israeli retaliation strikes killed more than 2,200 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians. More than 40 people have been also reportedly killed in the occupied West Bank in Palestinian-Israeli hostilities.
US State Department spokesman Mathew Miller said that when Mr Blinken met the Jordanian king on Friday, the two men discussed efforts to "prevent the conflict from widening." King Abdullah had met Mr Abbas the day before.
Hamas called the attack on Israel the Al Aqsa Flood, in reference to the mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, which is of immense religious importance.
Another diplomat said by linking the operation to Al Aqsa, Hamas is "itching for the conflict to spread."
"You could see the gravity of the situation, how sombre the king appeared when he met Mr Abbas, said another diplomat.
"He is looking at the spectre of a nightmare scenario," he said. "The Jordanians are hoping that the Palestinian Authority will not be swept away if the West Bank becomes a war theatre."
The king's message to Mr Abbas, the diplomat said, was that Jordan will do everything to help him.
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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
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
Profile of Hala Insurance
Date Started: September 2018
Founders: Walid and Karim Dib
Based: Abu Dhabi
Employees: Nine
Amount raised: $1.2 million
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, AB Accelerator, 500 Startups, private backers
Summer special
