The conflict in Sudan is not one that is going to lend itself to quick fixes. For that reason, hopes have not been very high for the round of negotiations that was launched in Geneva last week.
For a start, the Sudanese Armed Forces are not in official attendance. This is despite their leader, Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, receiving a US State Department invitation, in a message from Secretary of State Antony Blinken. This little-noticed development may have been intended to promote the Geneva talks, but it seems to have had the opposite effect.
More probably, Gen Al Burhan is holding out for next month’s 79th UN General Assembly meeting in New York. The US has an obligation to grant him a visa to represent Sudan. So his side’s decision to boycott Geneva does not seem likely to derail his trip, should he decide to go as he did last year.
Washington might wish, however, that it had not come down so decisively on his side. US officials have given heavy backing to the Geneva talks, promising that these negotiations would take on the Jeddah mediation agenda that has been at the centre of international efforts to end the bloodshed in Sudan.
The opposition Rapid Support Forces, on the other hand, have had a delegation in Geneva from the outset. In fact, they have had one from the time the preparatory talks were held there.
In an acknowledgement of the importance of the work done by Saudi Arabia in keeping the diplomatic track open, the Geneva talks have the same three agenda principles: a ceasefire, humanitarian access and a monitoring regime.
The Jeddah Declaration may not have been implemented by the opposing sides, but it holds importance because those sides signed up to it in the first place. While the three goals seem far away from being achieved, they are the pillars that any peace talks must be built on.
And indeed, even though the army representatives have not turned up in Switzerland, there has been some small progress. Participants and observers at the talks have welcomed announcements that the Adre border crossing as well as the Dabbah route to the provinces of Darfur and Kordofan would be opened by the SAF, as the factions agreed to co-operate with humanitarian deliveries.
While Tom Perriello, the US special envoy for Sudan, conceded that face-to-face talks between the protagonists would not be possible, he told a briefing at the outset of the week that gains, such as the announcement to open the routes, would be important. With the scale of food deprivation now thought to endanger 25 million Sudanese, any progress in this regard is to be welcomed.
Brinkmanship by Gen Al Burhan has seemed to be an outcome of the recent assassination attempt that he survived. But it is also true that among his own allies, the social media campaign to boycott Geneva has left him with less wriggle room on staying away from the Swiss initiative. Some diplomats suggest that this is because the move to convene the meeting was seen to be popular.
The mood in the city of Port Sudan seems to be more resolute and confident than it has been previously. But what is not likely to shift much, as a result of the current rounds of attempted mediation, are the timeframes for a resolution. This is partly because of the temporary factors playing out for the armed forces’ leadership.
If humanitarian aid access can be improved as a result of Geneva, it could start to bear fruit across the wider agenda
Focus on Sudan can be expected to play a big role at next month’s UNGA meeting. The Saudi determination to see the commitments made in March 2023 in Jeddah cannot be doubted. And the wider steering group of countries is also determined to keep this process on track.
At some point, the new UK government can be expected to use its role as the penholder on Sudan at the UN Security Council, too. The governing Labour party’s appointees at the Foreign Office can be expected to come under pressure from the Sudanese community to show that London is fulfilling its historical obligations to the country.
Despite the evolving developments on the ground and the swings of initiative on the battlefield, these are the factors that will dictate the timeframe for meaningful talks.
Full-scale negotiations are certainly possible. If nothing else, the meeting in Geneva demonstrates that potential, even if they are marred by the failure to get full representation. Yet it is important to note that, while the political will or appetite for talks can be nurtured, it is very fragile and starting from a long way behind where it should be.
Right now, the mood among the factions and their commanders is clearly not ripe to take new risks for negotiations. This is where the work of the special envoys on the conflict is especially crucial in the months ahead. There are openings for negotiations, and only back-and-forth shuttling between the protagonists can get the situation to a better place.
This work has its myriad challenges, but if humanitarian aid access can be improved as a result of Geneva, the painstaking efforts could start to bear fruit across the wider agenda.
AUSTRALIA SQUAD v SOUTH AFRICA
Aaron Finch (capt), Shaun Marsh, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, D'Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa
Fixtures (6pm UAE unless stated)
Saturday Bournemouth v Leicester City, Chelsea v Manchester City (8.30pm), Huddersfield v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm), Manchester United v Crystal Palace, Stoke City v Southampton, West Bromwich Albion v Watford, West Ham United v Swansea City
Sunday Arsenal v Brighton (3pm), Everton v Burnley (5.15pm), Newcastle United v Liverpool (6.30pm)
Where to buy
Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com
Abaya trends
The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm
Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh130,000
On sale: now
Walls
Louis Tomlinson
3 out of 5 stars
(Syco Music/Arista Records)
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
The Saga Continues
Wu-Tang Clan
(36 Chambers / Entertainment One)
More on animal trafficking
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
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
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.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EQureos%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EUAE%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELaunch%20year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E33%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESoftware%20and%20technology%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%243%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Funchal via Lisbon, with a connecting flight with Air Portugal. Economy class returns cost from Dh3,845 return including taxes.
The trip
The WalkMe app can be downloaded from the usual sources. If you don’t fancy doing the trip yourself, then Explore offers an eight-day levada trails tour from Dh3,050, not including flights.
The hotel
There isn’t another hotel anywhere in Madeira that matches the history and luxury of the Belmond Reid's Palace in Funchal. Doubles from Dh1,400 per night including taxes.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
More on Quran memorisation:
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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.
Places to go for free coffee
- Cherish Cafe Dubai, Dubai Investment Park, are giving away free coffees all day.
- La Terrace, Four Points by Sheraton Bur Dubai, are serving their first 50 guests one coffee and four bite-sized cakes
- Wild & The Moon will be giving away a free espresso with every purchase on International Coffee Day
- Orange Wheels welcome parents are to sit, relax and enjoy goodies at ‘Café O’ along with a free coffee
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
