When it comes to holidays, many of us book our next stay based on various factors. Things like where the hotel is, whether room rates are good value, how many swimming pools there are and what the food is like. But guests considering a stay at the Aurora Station will have to decide whether the hotel’s location, 200 miles above Earth, makes it the right pick for them.
Booked out for the first four months after its proposed opening date in 2023, the luxury space hotel has seen bookings roll in from the Middle East, North America and Europe. Each of these early birds has paid an $80,000 deposit to secure a slot on the 12-day holiday but the total cost will be $9.5 million per person.
The hotel is being developed by US-based space technology start-up Orion Span and progress has already started on the station which will be 14 metres in length. When complete, it will be able to accommodate four guests at a time, plus two space crew members.
Spectacular views
Once checked-in passengers will witness no less than 16 sunsets and sunrises during the 12-day vacation with the vessel set to lap around the planet every 90 minutes. Giant portholes will give space tourists otherworldly vistas to gaze out at, including spectacular views of the northern and southern lights.
Gourmet food will be on the menu as the company plans to partner with chefs and restaurants to develop space food that’s as tasty as the limited cooking facilities will allow. Specially-developed Aurora Station Space grape beverage will be served with dinner. Post-dinner naps will take place in sleekly designed sleeping pods.
Pre-holiday prep
In order to prepare for the trip, would-be guests first need to undergo a training programme where they’ll prepare for showering, eating and sleeping in a zero-gravity environment. Once on board, they’ll take part in daily training sessions and have the opportunity to get involved in space-related research projects. And while there will be no gravity on board, there will be no complaints about the Wi-Fi which will be unlimited.
The project was first announced in 2018, but earlier this month the first interior renderings were released, edging the project a step closer to competition.
A $50,000 flat-rate commission for travel agents booking customers on the trip has led to a sustained interest in the destination from travel professionals.
Raising funds
Orion Span listed the project on crowdfunding platform Seed Invest earlier this month in a bid to seek funds to help advance design work, begin prototyping and expand the company’s staff base. Potential investors were informed that they could own a piece of the space tourism industry, which is expected to reach $1.27 billion by 2023 when the International Space Station (ISS) will retire.
Nasa has encouraged private companies to prepare to take over the vacuum that will be left by the closure of the ISS after its 34 years in orbit. This will allow the agency to focus its efforts on further space exploration.
As well as functioning as a hotel, Aurora Station will also serve as a host for space manufacturing and government projects.
While progress continues on the project, the company has not yet announced its launch provider meaning the world's first luxury space hotel still has a giant leap to conquer before it opens its doors to holidaymakers.
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
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
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Opening weekend Premier League fixtures
Weekend of August 10-13
Arsenal v Manchester City
Bournemouth v Cardiff City
Fulham v Crystal Palace
Huddersfield Town v Chelsea
Liverpool v West Ham United
Manchester United v Leicester City
Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur
Southampton v Burnley
Watford v Brighton & Hove Albion
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Everton
Company Profile
Company name: Yeepeey
Started: Soft launch in November, 2020
Founders: Sagar Chandiramani, Jatin Sharma and Monish Chandiramani
Based: Dubai
Industry: E-grocery
Initial investment: $150,000
Future plan: Raise $1.5m and enter Saudi Arabia next year
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