Latest updates: Follow our full coverage on the US election
The National this week published the results of an exclusive poll that underscored how close the November 5 presidential election will be and revealed US voters' attitudes to the war in the Middle East and a range of pressing domestic issues.
The Deltapoll survey of more than 3,000 adults, including 1,340 swing-state voters, was conducted between October 17 and 24.
Here is a breakdown of the polling questions and its summarised results. Not all percentages add up to 100 due to rounding.
Which candidate will you vote for in the election?
Former president Donald Trump: 48%. Vice President Kamala Harris: 51%. Some other candidate: 1%. Ms Harris's 3-point national lead is within the margin of error.
Of note: when respondents from swing states were asked, Mr Trump is ahead by one point (50% to 49%). Men were more likely than women to back Mr Trump (52% to 44%) and the reverse was true for Ms Harris, with 47% of male respondents backing her compared to 55% of women.
Mr Trump leads among men and white voters; Ms Harris with women and ethnic minorities. There is very little switching between candidates, so instead the result will come down to who can get their supporters to turn out. Currently Trump supporters are more likely to say they will vote, but again the differences are within the margin of error.
Do you have a favourable or unfavourable view of these political leaders?
A total of 55% of respondents had a somewhat or very unfavourable view of President Joe Biden. For Ms Harris it was 46% and for Mr Trump it was 54%. With just over half (52%) viewing Ms Harris favourably, she is ahead of Ms Trump, who is at 46%.
Compared to Ms Harris and Mr Trump, their running mates JD Vance and Tim Walz have a much higher proportion who say they don’t know if they have a favourable or unfavourable view of the candidate (17% and 19%, respectively). Mr Walz is slightly ahead of Vance on favourability (42% against 39%).
Putting aside any support for a political party or candidate, who would be best for the US economy?
Democrats Ms Harris and Mr Walz are slightly ahead of Republicans Mr Trump and Mr Vance on the question of who would be best for the US economy, but at 50% compared with 45%, there is little in it.
The Democratic candidates do maintain their lead, however, among those from swing states, as well as nationally.
What do you think are the most important problems facing you and your family?
Prices and the cost of living and the economy are clearly the most important issues (51% and 40%, respectively, put them in the top three). Immigration and health care form a second tier of issues (24% and 22%, respectively) with abortion and a woman's right to choose (17%), housing (16%) and crime (14%) forming the third tier.
Foreign policy issues were further down the list of top concerns. Only 3 per cent of respondents listed the war in Gaza as one of the top three concerns facing them and their families. However, when asked the broader question of how important the war Middle East is in determining their presidential pick, 71 per cent said it was either “very” or “fairly” important, while 23 per cent said it was not important. Six per cent were unsure.
What do you think are the most important problems facing the US?
Similar to the previous question, prices and the cost of living and the economy come top at both the national level (40% and 38%, respectively) and among those in swing states (44% and 40%, respectively).
How important are foreign policy issues in determining who you will vote for?
While foreign policy issues score relatively low in relative terms, in absolute terms, a large majority of respondents still say they are important in determining their vote at the election.
More than eight in 10 (81%) say foreign policy issues are important. More than half of Trump supporters (53%) say they are very important compared to 43% of Harris supporters.
How important would you say the war in the Middle East is in determining your vote?
The proportion who specifically say that the war in the Middle East is important in determining their vote is slightly lower, but it is still very high. More than seven in 10 (71%) say it is important, including more than a third (35%) who say it is very important.
Has President Biden generally done the right thing or the wrong thing with the war in Gaza?
Just less then half (49%) of respondents said Mr Biden has generally done the wrong thing with Gaza. This rises to more than eight in 10 (81%) Trump supporters.
Just more than half (52%) of Harris supporters believe he has done the right thing. Nearly a quarter (24%) of Harris supporters believe Mr Biden has done the wrong thing.
Has President Biden generally done the right thing or the wrong thing when it comes to the war between Ukraine and Russia?
On the war in Ukraine, 46% of respondents believe Mr Biden has done the wrong thing but nearly four in 10 (39%) think the opposite, including nearly seven in 10 (68%) of Harris supporters.
Eight in 10 (80%) Trump supporters believe Mr Biden has done the wrong thing, virtually identical to the 81% who thought the same about the war in Gaza.
Which of the following would be your preferred position for the next US President on the war in Gaza?
Supporting a negotiated diplomatic settlement between the Israelis and Palestinians is the most popular preferred cause of action for the next US president to take. At 39%, it is well ahead of supporting Israeli military action in Gaza and stopping military aid to Israel in second and third (18% and 16%, respectively).
Among Trump supporters, a negotiated settlement and supporting Israeli military action are equally popular (both on 31%), but for Harris supporters a negotiated settlement is by far the most popular option on 49%.
Which of the following would be your preferred position for the next US president when it comes to the war in Ukraine?
Supporting a negotiated diplomatic settlement in Ukraine is also the most popular position on the war in Ukraine on 44%.
Supporting military action against Russia is the second most popular option among Harris supporters (29%), while for Trump supporters stopping aid to Ukraine is the second most popular option (28%).
Would you support or oppose the next US president doing each of the following?
- Recognising an independent state of Palestine: 44% support, 20% oppose, 36% don't know.
- Banning arms sales to Israel: 41% support, 37% oppose, 22% don't know.
- Continuing to provide weapons to Israel: 44% support, 34% oppose, 22% don't know.
- Making a public demand for a full ceasefire to take place in Gaza: 59% support, 20% oppose, 21% don't know.
- Demanding an end to Israeli military action in Lebanon: 49% support, 25% oppose, 26% don't know.
- Supporting military action against Iran: 43% support, 31% oppose, 26% don't know.
Of the two main candidates running to be the next US president, which do you believe would best support …?
- Arab-American communities in the US: Mr Trump 34%, Ms Harris 51%, don't know 15%.
- Jewish-American communities in the US: Mr Trump 42%, Ms Harris 46%, don't know 12%.
- The Israeli government: Mr Trump 46%, Ms Harris 38%, don't know 16%.
- The Palestinian people: Mr Trump 28%, Ms Harris 53%, don't know 19%.
Of the two main candidates, which would be more likely to bring about a swift end to fighting in the Middle East?
Mr Trump: 46%, Ms Harris 41%, don't know 13%.
Of the following statements, which comes closest to your own view?
The US is currently the world's only superpower: 23%. The US is no longer the world's only superpower: 58%. The US has never been a superpower: 7%.
Do you personally support or oppose Israel's military action in Gaza?
The percentage who personally support Israel’s military action in Gaza (39%) is exactly the same percentage who oppose it, but support is slightly ahead of opposition among those from swing states (40% compared with 34%).
Among Harris supporters, 46% oppose the action compared with 32% who support it, while for Trump supporters 51% support it and 30% are opposed.
Do you personally support or oppose Israel's military action in Lebanon?
At a national level, 40% oppose Israel’s military action in Lebanon, compared to 34% who support it. By a margin of two to one, Harris supporters oppose the action (50% compared with 25%). Trump supporters, meanwhile, support the action, but by a smaller margin (46% to 30%).
Would you personally support a two-state solution in the Middle East?
A majority (56%) support a two-state solution, rising to more than two thirds (68%) of Harris supporters. Among Trump supporters, 48% back it.
How likely or unlikely do you think it is that a two-state solution will happen in the foreseeable future?
At the national level, nearly half (48%) think it is unlikely to happen in the foreseeable future – a figure similar for both Harris and Trump supporters (45% and 51%, respectively). Just under a third (32%) think it is likely to happen, rising to 37% of Harris supporters. For Trump supporters, the figure is 28%.
Of the two main candidates running which do you believe is more trusted by the international community when it comes to the situation in the Middle East?
There is an even split over whether Mr Trump or Ms Harris is more trusted by the international community when it comes to the situation in the Middle East (44% against 46%, respectively) and foreign policy issues generally (45% against 47%). Supporters almost unanimously favour the candidate they support on these questions.
Of the following two countries, Israel and Iran, which do you believe represents the greatest threat to peace in the world?
Nearly half (49%) believe Iran rather than Israel represents the greatest threat to peace in the world. For Trump supporters, this figure rises to 62%. For Harris supporters, the figure is 43%.
Nationally, one in seven (14%) believe it is Israel. Nearly one in five (19%) believes neither represents a threat.
UAE%20Warriors%2045%20Results
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%0DMain%20Event%0D%3A%20Lightweight%20Title%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EAmru%20Magomedov%20def%20Jakhongir%20Jumaev%20-%20Round%201%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-Main%20Event%0D%3A%20Bantamweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERany%20Saadeh%20def%20Genil%20Franciso%20-%20Round%202%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECatchweight%20150%20lbs%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EWalter%20Cogliandro%20def%20Ali%20Al%20Qaisi%20-%20Round%201%20(TKO)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBantamweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERenat%20Khavalov%20def%20Hikaru%20Yoshino%20-%20Round%202%20(TKO)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFlyweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EVictor%20Nunes%20def%20Nawras%20Abzakh%20-%20Round%201%20(TKO)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFlyweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EYamato%20Fujita%20def%20Sanzhar%20Adilov%20-%20Round%201%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELightweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EAbdullo%20Khodzhaev%20def%20Petru%20Buzdugen%20-%20Round%201%20(TKO)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECatchweight%20139%20lbs%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERazhabali%20Shaydullaev%20def%20Magomed%20Al-Abdullah%20-%20Round%202%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFlyweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ECong%20Wang%20def%20Amena%20Hadaya%20-%20Points%20(unanimous%20decision)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMiddleweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EKhabib%20Nabiev%20def%20Adis%20Taalaybek%20Uulu%20-%20Round%202%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELight%20Heavyweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EBartosz%20Szewczyk%20def%20Artem%20Zemlyakov%20-%20Round%202%20(TKO)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES
September 30
South Africa v Australia
Argentina v New Zealand
October 7
South Africa v New Zealand
Argentina v Australia
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
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
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.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
MEYDAN RESULTS
6.30pm Baniyas (PA) Group 2 Dh125,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner ES Ajeeb, Sam Hitchcock (jockey), Ibrahim Aseel (trainer).
7.05pm Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Galaxy Road, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
7.40pm Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Al Modayar, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh170,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner Gundogdu, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.50pm Rated Conditions (TB) Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner George Villiers, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
9.25pm Handicap (TB) Dh175,000 (D)1,200m
Winner Lady Parma, Connor Beasley, Satish Seemar
10pm Handicap (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Zaajer, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
The%20specs
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Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Last 10 winners of African Footballer of the Year
2006: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2007: Frederic Kanoute (Sevilla and Mali)
2008: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal and Togo)
2009: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2010: Samuel Eto’o (Inter Milan and Cameroon)
2011: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2012: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2013: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2014: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2015: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund and Gabon)
2016: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City and Algeria)
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
JAPAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Masaaki Higashiguchi, Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida, Sho Sasaki, Hiroki Sakai, Sei Muroya, Genta Miura, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Midfielders: Toshihiro Aoyama, Genki Haraguchi, Gaku Shibasaki, Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Shoya Nakajima, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Ritsu Doan
Forwards: Yuya Osako, Takuma Asano, Koya Kitagawa
No_One Ever Really Dies
N*E*R*D
(I Am Other/Columbia)
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Norway v Spain, Saturday, 10.45pm, UAE
Results
2.30pm: Park Avenue – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Rb Seqondtonone, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
3.05pm: Al Furjan – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Bosphorus, Dane O’Neill, Bhupat Seemar
3.40pm: Mina – Rated Condition (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Royal Mews, Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupat Seemar
4.15pm: Aliyah – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,900m; Winner: Ursa Minor, Ray Dawson, Ahmad bin Harmash
4.50pm: Riviera Beach – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 2,200m; Winner: Woodditton, Saif Al Balushi, Ahmad bin Harmash
5.25pm: Riviera – Handicap (TB) Dh2,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Al Madhar, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
6pm: Creek Views – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Al Salt, Dane O’Neill, Erwan Charpy
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Sam Smith
Where: du Arena, Abu Dhabi
When: Saturday November 24
Rating: 4/5
THE%20SPECS
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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
