Jordan celebrates 75th Independence Day


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Jordan celebrated its 75th independence day on Tuesday.

Congratulations poured in for King Abdullah from the UAE and other countries.

The king said independence was a "symbol of pride and fortitude" for his nation.

At the Raghadan Palace, King Abdullah marked the occasion by awarding centennial medals to 140 Jordanians who “participated in building the nation and its institutions”.

The country also entered its 100th year since its establishment as Transjordan in 1921.

The hashtag "Jordan's independence 75" was widely shared on Twitter by officials and the public expressing their pride.

"Thank you to all our friends who noted this auspicious occasion which all #Jordanians are proud of. Happy Independence Day," the country's ambassador to the UK Omar Nahar wrote on Twitter.

Google dedicated a special doodle, a picture that shows up on the Google search page, of the Jordanian flag to celebrate.

Emirates airline issued a special Jordanian menu on flights to and from the kingdom on May 25.

Special announcements and a festive menu will be served on Emirates flights to and from Jordan on the country's Independence Day.
Special announcements and a festive menu will be served on Emirates flights to and from Jordan on the country's Independence Day.

The special festive menu included a traditional mansaf served as the main course, and a cream-filled kunafa for dessert.

  • Abu Dhabi lights up its iconic landmarks with the colours of the Jordanian flag in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s Independence. Abu Dhabi media office
    Abu Dhabi lights up its iconic landmarks with the colours of the Jordanian flag in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s Independence. Abu Dhabi media office
  • Abu Dhabi lights up its iconic landmarks with the colours of the Jordanian flag in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s Independence. Abu Dhabi media office
    Abu Dhabi lights up its iconic landmarks with the colours of the Jordanian flag in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s Independence. Abu Dhabi media office
  • 8Abu Dhabi lights up its iconic landmarks with the colours of the Jordanian flag in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s Independence. Abu Dhabi media office
    8Abu Dhabi lights up its iconic landmarks with the colours of the Jordanian flag in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s Independence. Abu Dhabi media office
  • Abu Dhabi lights up its iconic landmarks with the colours of the Jordanian flag in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s Independence. Abu Dhabi media office
    Abu Dhabi lights up its iconic landmarks with the colours of the Jordanian flag in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s Independence. Abu Dhabi media office
  • Abu Dhabi lights up its iconic landmarks with the colours of the Jordanian flag in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s Independence. Abu Dhabi media office
    Abu Dhabi lights up its iconic landmarks with the colours of the Jordanian flag in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s Independence. Abu Dhabi media office
  • Abu Dhabi lights up its iconic landmarks with the colours of the Jordanian flag in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s Independence. Abu Dhabi media office
    Abu Dhabi lights up its iconic landmarks with the colours of the Jordanian flag in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s Independence. Abu Dhabi media office
  • Abu Dhabi lights up its iconic landmarks with the colours of the Jordanian flag in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s Independence. Abu Dhabi media office
    Abu Dhabi lights up its iconic landmarks with the colours of the Jordanian flag in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s Independence. Abu Dhabi media office
  • Abu Dhabi lights up its iconic landmarks with the colours of the Jordanian flag in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s Independence. Abu Dhabi media office
    Abu Dhabi lights up its iconic landmarks with the colours of the Jordanian flag in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s Independence. Abu Dhabi media office

Emirates is also offering travellers special fares on flights from Jordan to Dubai, with up to 25 per cent off ticket prices. The flash sale runs until Wednesday, May 26, and is valid on bookings for travel until September 30. Economy class sale fares start from 247 Jordanian dinars ($348) while business class fares are available from 857 dinars.

Emirates has been flying to Jordan since 1986, and is set to celebrate its 35th anniversary in the country later this year. The Dubai airline is operating daily flights to Amman with its A380 double-decker superjumbo.

From July, Emirates says it plans to add more flights from Dubai to the Jordanian capital as demand rises.

Jordan’s National Centre for Security and Crises Management said 64,000 people received Covid-19 vaccinations on Jordan’s Independence day as the country recorded 920 new cases and 11 deaths.

West Asia rugby, season 2017/18 - Roll of Honour

Western Clubs Champions League - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Bahrain

Dubai Rugby Sevens - Winners: Dubai Exiles; Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons

West Asia Premiership - Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons; Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins

UAE Premiership Cup - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Dubai Exiles

UAE Premiership - Winners: Dubai Exiles; Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins

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

2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit

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”

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere

Director: Scott Cooper

Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong

Rating: 4/5

Race card

4pm Al Bastakiya Listed US$300,000 (Dirt) 1,900m

4.35pm Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $350,000 (D) 1,200m

5.10pm Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 $350,000 (Turf) 1,200m

5.45pm Burj Nahaar Group 3 $350,000 (D) 1,600m

6.20pm Jebel Hatta Group 1 $400,000 (T) 1,800m

6.55pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 $600,000 (D) 2,000m

7.30pm Dubai City Of Gold Group 2 $350,000 (T) 2,410m

The National selections:

4pm Zabardast

4.35pm Ibn Malik

5.10pm Space Blues

5.45pm Kimbear

6.20pm Barney Roy

6.55pm Matterhorn

7.30pm Defoe

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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

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

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Hobbies: Writing and running
Favourite sport: beach volleyball
Favourite holiday destinations: Turkey and Puerto Rico​

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

If you go

Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.

Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com

A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com

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.

How to avoid crypto fraud
  • Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
  • Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
  • Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
  • Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
  • Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
  • Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
  • Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
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