A romantic trip to Paris is no longer an option for unvaccinated travellers from the US this autumn, after France became the latest country to remove the US from its safe travel list.
Following recommendations from the European Council, French authorities updated Covid-19 regulations to state that travellers from America who are not fully immunised can no longer visit unless they have an essential reason to do so.
Unfortunately for any US tourists hoping for a French holiday, essential reasons do not include drinking hot chocolate in a Parisian cafe or admiring an autumnal forest in the Bois de Boulogne.
But it's not only tourists from America that need to worry about being vaccinated before travelling. Several destinations around the world are only welcoming visitors who have received a complete dose of an approved Covid-19 vaccine.
If you’re not yet vaccinated, here are eight places that you’ll have to scratch off your travel bucket list for now.
Switzerland
If you want to take a cable car to the Matterhorn, go boating on Lake Geneva or explore the medieval city of Lucerne any time soon, then you’ll have to make sure you’re vaccinated first. That’s because only fully immunised tourists can travel to Switzerland for tourism purposes. An exemption exists for unvaccinated children, who can enter the country when accompanied by fully inoculated adults.
Switzerland is accepting travellers who have vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), namely Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. The country is also recognising vaccines approved by the World Health Organisation for emergency use, including Sinopharm and Sinovac.
Iceland
The land of fire and ice thrills with its lagoons, hot springs, glacier peaks, Northern Lights and untouched wilderness, but it's only worth putting on your bucket list if you have had your Covid-19 vaccine.
One of the first countries to reopen to tourists, Iceland has strict entry requirements in place since the outset and remains open only to travellers who are fully vaccinated.
There are eight accepted vaccines, including Sinopharm, but tourists must ensure they've had the last jab at least 14 days before flying to Iceland.
Saudi Arabia
The last frontier for travel has reopened to tourists after being closed for 17 months. Saudi Arabia is welcoming tourists who have been immunised against Covid-19 and who come from countries that are eligible to travel visa-free, or get a visa on arrival.
The bustling cities of Riyadh and Jeddah, endless sand dunes, mountain peaks and desert oases, not to mention Saudi Arabia’s thriving Red Sea coastline, await travellers who meet entry requirements.
Four Covid-19 vaccinations are approved for entry: AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. Visitors are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after their final dose. Any tourists vaccinated with Sinovac or Sinopharm can also travel to the kingdom but only if they have taken a booster shot from one of the recognised vaccines.
However, travellers from 10 countries, namely Indonesia, Pakistan, Brazil, Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, India, Ethiopia, Afghanistan and Vietnam, cannot yet travel to the kingdom even if they are fully vaccinated.
St Kitts and Nevis
The two-nation Caribbean destination of St Kitts and Nevis is welcoming back tourists to its pristine beaches, but only if they're fully inoculated.
Travellers who want to explore the islands which are known for their cloud-shrouded, rainforest-topped mountains need to have been administered the final dose at least two weeks before travelling.
A negative Covid-19 test result is also required for entry to the island destination and, upon arrival, the first five days of all holidays need to be spent at an approved hotel. Unvaccinated children up to the age of 18 can fly with their fully immunised parents.
Malta
The island nation of Malta is welcoming travellers too, but only those who are vaccinated against Covid-19. The island – part of an archipelago that consists of Malta, Gozo and Comino – is famed for its ocean landscapes, ancient archaeological sites and sunshine-laced climes.
All tourists aged 12 years and above must be vaccinated to be allowed entry to the country, which is fewer than 100 kilometres south of the Italian island of Sicily.
All vaccines approved by the EMA are recognised in Malta and anyone aged 12 and above must have taken the final dose at least 14 days before travel.
Canada
Having opened its borders to international tourists last week, Canada is only rolling out the welcome mat to visitors who are fully vaccinated. Other than Canadian citizens and residents, only double-jabbed tourists can get set to explore the Canadian Rockies, scale Toronto’s CN Tower or explore Montreal’s cultural scene.
Tourists must have received the last dose of an approved vaccine at least 14 full days before the day they fly to Canada. Currently, only four vaccines are accepted for entry, including Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. There are also PCR test requirements in place, with tourists having to show a negative result taken no more than 72 hours before travel.
Germany
Germany is a great destination for travel at this time of the year, thanks to an ever-changing landscape and a plethora of festivals celebrating everything from pumpkins to paper lanterns. But unless you’re a European Union citizen, you’ll have to be fully vaccinated before you can travel to Deutschland.
Travellers who want to visit Germany from outside the EU for tourism reasons can only do so if 14 days have passed since they received the final dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.
Anyone keen to explore the Old City of Heidelberg or marvel at the autumnal colours of the Black Forest must have been immunised by one of four accepted vaccinations, all of which are listed on the Paul Ehrlich Institute’s website. Sinopharm is not included. Children under 12 can travel to Germany without a jab, but only if they are travelling with a fully vaccinated adult.
Mauritius
The tropical island of Mauritius has also reopened to tourists, but only travellers who are fully vaccinated are currently welcome to travel to the holiday hot spot.
Famed for its sapphire waters, powder-white beaches and luxury resorts, Mauritius holidays are on the cards for anyone who has completed their vaccination at least 14 days before travel, or 28 days for anyone jabbed with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. If you’re recently recovered from the virus, you can visit Mauritius after one dose of any approved vaccine.
Take care when booking accommodation, as for the first seven days of any holiday, travellers need to stay in their resort where they are free to use the pool, beaches, spa facilities and more. After a negative PCR test on the seventh day, tourists keen to explore the island's mountains, hiking trails, world-class diving and near-perfect islets can venture out of their hotel.
These rules will ease on Friday, October 1, when vaccinated travellers will be allowed to leave their hotel so long as they have a negative Covid-19 test result take no more than 72 hours before travel.
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESmartCrowd%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiddiq%20Farid%20and%20Musfique%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%20%2F%20PropTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24650%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2035%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%20institutional%20investors%20and%20notable%20angel%20investors%20(500%20MENA%2C%20Shurooq%2C%20Mada%2C%20Seedstar%2C%20Tricap)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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
World Cup qualifier
Thailand 2 (Dangda 26', Panya 51')
UAE 1 (Mabkhout 45 2')
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
It's up to you to go green
Nils El Accad, chief executive and owner of Organic Foods and Café, says going green is about “lifestyle and attitude” rather than a “money change”; people need to plan ahead to fill water bottles in advance and take their own bags to the supermarket, he says.
“People always want someone else to do the work; it doesn’t work like that,” he adds. “The first step: you have to consciously make that decision and change.”
When he gets a takeaway, says Mr El Accad, he takes his own glass jars instead of accepting disposable aluminium containers, paper napkins and plastic tubs, cutlery and bags from restaurants.
He also plants his own crops and herbs at home and at the Sheikh Zayed store, from basil and rosemary to beans, squashes and papayas. “If you’re going to water anything, better it be tomatoes and cucumbers, something edible, than grass,” he says.
“All this throwaway plastic - cups, bottles, forks - has to go first,” says Mr El Accad, who has banned all disposable straws, whether plastic or even paper, from the café chain.
One of the latest changes he has implemented at his stores is to offer refills of liquid laundry detergent, to save plastic. The two brands Organic Foods stocks, Organic Larder and Sonnett, are both “triple-certified - you could eat the product”.
The Organic Larder detergent will soon be delivered in 200-litre metal oil drums before being decanted into 20-litre containers in-store.
Customers can refill their bottles at least 30 times before they start to degrade, he says. Organic Larder costs Dh35.75 for one litre and Dh62 for 2.75 litres and refills will cost 15 to 20 per cent less, Mr El Accad says.
But while there are savings to be had, going green tends to come with upfront costs and extra work and planning. Are we ready to refill bottles rather than throw them away? “You have to change,” says Mr El Accad. “I can only make it available.”
The specs: 2019 BMW X4
Price, base / as tested: Dh276,675 / Dh346,800
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged in-line six-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 354hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 1,550rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.0L / 100km
The%20specs
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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
Another way to earn air miles
In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.
An Emirates Dubai-London round-trip ticket costs 180,000 miles on the Air Miles website. But customers earn these ‘miles’ at a much faster rate than airline miles. Adidas offers two air miles per Dh1 spent. Air Miles has partnerships with websites as well, so booking.com and agoda.com offer three miles per Dh1 spent.
“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.
Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter
