The UN released a chilling report on climate change and global efforts to counter the warming planet earlier this year.
Extreme weather is on the rise, the UN said, with up to a billion people at risk of losing their homes as storms intensify and sea levels rise due to melting ice.
Some of the world's most precious ecosystems are dying, while people who live near areas hit by forest fires — now more common amid extreme heat — face respiratory problems.
As temperatures rise, tropical diseases spread. Hundreds of millions of people will be forced to migrate as agriculture collapses, the UN report said.
That's why Cop27 this year — held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt — is one of the most important to date. A gathering of tens of thousands of officials, experts and influencers to refocus efforts on reducing emissions and managing climate change.
When is Cop27?
Cop27 began on Sunday 6 November and ends on Friday 18 November.
Where is it being held?
The conference is being held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, at the International Convention Centre, which is close to the resort city’s international airport and can accommodate 20,000 people, with a main event hall that has a 7,000 capacity. The conference website says the venue is also accessible for “those with reduced mobility needs”.
Why Sharm El Sheikh?
Sharm El Sheikh is no stranger to hosting international conferences, having been the venue for the World Economic Forum twice, once in 2006 and again in 2008.
Located on the shores of the Red Sea, it houses one of the world's most unique marine ecosystems, which conservationists say is under threat. Local activists told The National they thought it apt to have a climate conference in the city because it represents one of Egypt's most pressing environmental crises.
The coastal city has also hosted a long list of peace summits, including a 1999 meeting where an agreement to restore Palestinian autonomy over the Gaza Strip was signed, and a number of other meetings related to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
The prevalence of such conferences has shaped the city's infrastructure to accommodate such events, making it easy to secure and navigate for the often high-profile attendees of such events.
Why is it called Cop27?
A UN climate summit is known as a Conference of the Parties (Cop). There have been 26 so far. That makes this one Cop27.
The “parties” in the name are the 197 signatories to a UN climate treaty, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Which countries are attending Cop27?
The UNFCCC, the UN branch which manages climate change matters and organises the Conference of Parties each year, says 35,000 people have registered to attend the conference.
Attendees will comprise world leaders, government officials, policymakers and experts. The conference's schedule includes a long list of talks and meetings expected to tackle all aspects of climate change.
One of the most important issues is climate finance — ensuring developing countries have access to the latest low-carbon technology. Another is water security, including improving efficiency in water treatment and distribution.
Others are protecting wetlands and river systems, adapting to climate change and making farming more water efficient.
These issues are particularly pressing for countries in the global south who are less financially equipped to deal with environmental disasters.
Pakistan, already financially strained, suffered $10 billion of damage after recent floods which killed 1,300 people.
Germany has also suffered, with $40 billion in losses from floods in 2021, while the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says extreme weather costs the US around $24 billion a year.
The conference will also be attended by representatives from private enterprises and initiatives working in climate change. Businesses with cutting-edge environmental solutions will be given the floor to showcase their goods. A large number of climate change NGOs are expected to be present.
Artists, designers and celebrities are also expected to attend, as the conference will feature performances and fashion shows, according to its website.
Why is Cop27 so important?
In 2022, some of the most severe climate disasters for years hit many parts of the world, events which have underscored the need to tackle a growing issue.
With wildfires and droughts breaking out all over Europe and a third of Pakistan under water following the melting of glaciers, climate change activists are more anxious than ever to make more meaningful progress.
Additionally, Cop27 holds a special significance because of its focus on the African subcontinent, home to some of the world's poorest countries, ill-equipped to handle environmental disasters.
What is the programme for Cop27?
The programme for the conference will feature events taking place in two zones. In the Blue Zone, the majority of the policy-related meetings and talks by world leaders and government officials will be held. The Green Zone will see events involving private sector organisations, civil society and NGOs, artists and fashion designers.
Cop26, which took place last year in Glasgow, Scotland, culminated in the Glasgow Pact which was signed by all participating parties and involved commitments related to carbon emissions.
An agreement was also signed by 141 leaders to mitigate forest loss.
Similar agreements are expected to be signed at Cop27.
What are the priorities?
The conference's presidency has chosen to focus on four areas of the climate crisis: mitigation, adaptation, finance and collaboration.
Finance in particular will be key because an emphasis on Africa is expected at Cop27. Financial mechanisms to help the world's poorest continent combat climate change are essential.
According to a statement by Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry during a press conference at the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in July, collaboration is also going to be an essential aspect of the conference.
The expertise of richer nations will be instrumental in helping poorer countries fight against environmental disasters, he said.
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Secret Pigeon Service: Operation Colomba, Resistance and the Struggle to Liberate Europe
Gordon Corera, Harper Collins
Company profile
Name: Steppi
Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic
Launched: February 2020
Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year
Employees: Five
Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings
Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year
Takreem Awards winners 2021
Corporate Leadership: Carl Bistany (Lebanon)
Cultural Excellence: Hoor Al Qasimi (UAE)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Bkerzay (Lebanon)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Raya Ani (Iraq)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Women’s Programs Association (Lebanon)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Osamah Al Thini (Libya)
Excellence in Education: World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) (Qatar)
Outstanding Arab Woman: Balghis Badri (Sudan)
Scientific and Technological Achievement: Mohamed Slim Alouini (KSA)
Young Entrepreneur: Omar Itani (Lebanon)
Lifetime Achievement: Suad Al Amiry (Palestine)
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
'Outclassed in Kuwait'
Taleb Alrefai,
HBKU Press
AGL AWARDS
Golden Ball - best Emirati player: Khalfan Mubarak (Al Jazira)
Golden Ball - best foreign player: Igor Coronado (Sharjah)
Golden Glove - best goalkeeper: Adel Al Hosani (Sharjah)
Best Coach - the leader: Abdulaziz Al Anbari (Sharjah)
Fans' Player of the Year: Driss Fetouhi (Dibba)
Golden Boy - best young player: Ali Saleh (Al Wasl)
Best Fans of the Year: Sharjah
Goal of the Year: Michael Ortega (Baniyas)
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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
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The specs
Engine: 2.5-litre, turbocharged 5-cylinder
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 400hp
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Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
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2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
Start-up hopes to end Japan's love affair with cash
Across most of Asia, people pay for taxi rides, restaurant meals and merchandise with smartphone-readable barcodes — except in Japan, where cash still rules. Now, as the country’s biggest web companies race to dominate the payments market, one Tokyo-based startup says it has a fighting chance to win with its QR app.
Origami had a head start when it introduced a QR-code payment service in late 2015 and has since signed up fast-food chain KFC, Tokyo’s largest cab company Nihon Kotsu and convenience store operator Lawson. The company raised $66 million in September to expand nationwide and plans to more than double its staff of about 100 employees, says founder Yoshiki Yasui.
Origami is betting that stores, which until now relied on direct mail and email newsletters, will pay for the ability to reach customers on their smartphones. For example, a hair salon using Origami’s payment app would be able to send a message to past customers with a coupon for their next haircut.
Quick Response codes, the dotted squares that can be read by smartphone cameras, were invented in the 1990s by a unit of Toyota Motor to track automotive parts. But when the Japanese pioneered digital payments almost two decades ago with contactless cards for train fares, they chose the so-called near-field communications technology. The high cost of rolling out NFC payments, convenient ATMs and a culture where lost wallets are often returned have all been cited as reasons why cash remains king in the archipelago. In China, however, QR codes dominate.
Cashless payments, which includes credit cards, accounted for just 20 per cent of total consumer spending in Japan during 2016, compared with 60 per cent in China and 89 per cent in South Korea, according to a report by the Bank of Japan.
The%20specs
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Super Bowl LIII schedule
What Super Bowl LIII
Who is playing New England Patriots v Los Angeles Rams
Where Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, United States
When Sunday (start time is 3.30am on Monday UAE time)
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 540hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 2,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Kerb weight: 1580kg
Price: From Dh750k
On sale: via special order
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.”
Results
1. New Zealand Daniel Meech – Fine (name of horse), Richard Gardner – Calisto, Bruce Goodin - Backatorps Danny V, Samantha McIntosh – Check In. Team total First round: 200.22; Second round: 201.75 – Penalties 12 (jump-off 40.16 seconds) Prize €64,000
2. Ireland Cameron Hanley – Aiyetoro, David Simpson – Keoki, Paul Kennedy – Cartown Danger Mouse, Shane Breen – Laith. Team total 200.25/202.84 – P 12 (jump-off 51.79 – P17) Prize €40,000
3. Italy Luca Maria Moneta – Connery, Luca Coata – Crandessa, Simone Coata – Dardonge, Natale Chiaudani – Almero. Team total 130.82/198.-4 – P20. Prize €32,000
