Ohood Al Roumi is UAE Minister of State for Government Development and the Future
December 02, 2022
On November 24, 2021, Unesco’s 41st General Conference met and unanimously decided to proclaim December 2, 2022 as the first World Futures Day. We applaud this momentous occasion and celebrate Unesco’s focus on futurism, given its critical role in global development.
We hope this day will encourage the global community to look to the future in anticipation of new technologies and innovations that offer positive opportunities for humanity and prepare us for all that is to come. Instead of waiting for change to happen and playing catch up by reacting, we are now more than ever in a position to proactively look down the road, prepare for change and lead into the future with confidence.
The underlying concept of World Futures Day is to encourage governments around the world to plan for the future and raise their future readiness. This is important because our existence depends upon the anticipation of what is to come and our preparation and policymaking responses.
The best way to predict the future is to shape it. If we continue to wait for the future, we wait for the unknown. We would be unprepared and fearful of changes on the brink of the horizon. Instead, we should enhance our capabilities to be more future-ready, make our people ready, reinforce our agility to respond to mega changes and enhance our ability to design and shape the future we want for our current and future generations, as per President Sheikh Mohamed.
The UAE is one of few countries to have a ministerial portfolio dedicated to the future. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
The best way to predict the future is to shape it
Today, every minister and government leader around the world should be a futurist. Governments must actively anticipate economic, social and technological changes, and lead in innovation to safeguard our future. This means having the ability to make decisions for the future. It means identifying and preparing for the most likely future and a variety of potential futures. It means having the foresight to ensure our society is resilient, and that we have the policies and regulations in place to usher in a safe, prosperous and sustainable future. This gives us control, if not over the future itself then at least over how it may affect us.
The day Unesco chose to be World Futures Day also happens to be National Day in the UAE. On this day, we traditionally celebrate our heritage and past, our present achievements and, most importantly, our future. This year, we will have doubled the incentive to celebrate, having been one of the few governments worldwide who, from an early time, dedicated its attention and resources to understanding the future and shaping it to our advantage.
In responding to not just today's issues, but looking ahead and making strategic provisions for what may impact the world tomorrow, the UAE – by all standards – aims to remain ahead of the curve. Being forward-looking has become a key component of our national identity, and pushing the frontiers of technology to prepare our economy and government for the future is central to our daily activities. We are the region’s most competitive economy, home to the Museum of the Future, and are hosts to international forward-looking events like Expo 2020 and Cop28.
We have proven how well our future readiness has paid off many times over, most notably throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. The UAE has consistently ranked at the top of Bloomberg’s “Covid Resilience Ranking”; we were ranked first three times, and have not dipped below the top three spots since September 2021.
This was achieved because when the future came, we were ready. Our digital infrastructure was ready, our agile government system was ready and our innovation ecosystem was ready. We were able to ensure minimum disruption through robust digital systems, ranging from government services to educational platforms and even health services. These systems were not built overnight; in fact, we have spent years digitising our sectors as part of our national strategy. We integrated advanced technologies into our society and reaped the benefits when they mattered most. That is what we will continue to do.
We will continue to invest in time, effort, energy and positively disruptive ideas towards a better future for our nation. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid, the UAE’s Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, put it best when he said: “The future belongs to those who can imagine it, design it, and execute it. It isn’t something you await, but rather create.” This is the spirit of the UAE, and this is the spirit of the global World Futures Day, both to be celebrated on December 2.
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023 More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
Riders must be 14-years-old or over
Wear a protective helmet
Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
Do not drive outside designated lanes
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
