Parents celebrated a double blessing in the early hours of Monday as the first babies arrived in the UAE on Eid Al Fitr, minutes after midnight.
A baby girl, Noura Sultan, was among the first to be welcomed into the world at 12.20am to Emirati parents.
The family, who already have a 3-year-old girl, Naeema, said they were happy to share their joy with the rest of the world on Eid.
“May Allah keep his blessings on us all,” said her father, Sultan Shail.
The doctor who delivered the girl, who weighed 2.9kg, by Caesarean section, said she felt blessed to be part of the auspiciously timed event.
“My patients are like my family and it brings me joy to see them healthy and safe. The baby girl Noura Sultan is the first baby of Eid in our hospital,” said Dr Rabab Hilmy, consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology at NMC Royal Hospital Sharjah.
“She is doing well and so is her mother. I wish the family the blessings of Allah and Eid Mubarak to everyone.”
A couple of hours later, at 2.03am, Dr Hilmy oversaw the delivery of a second child, Yousuf, to an Iraqi family who arrived in the UAE only four months ago.
The couple, Shadan Alhishma and Dr Mustafa Alobaidi, who work as a pharmacist and orthopaedic surgeon, already have a girl, Sama, 3, who was born in Jordan.
“We are elated with the choice we made. The service has been fantastic. The staff have been professional, friendly and we know we are in safe hands,” said Dr Alobaidi.
In Abu Dhabi, baby Dhalia was born to Sudanese couple Lubna Abdurabo and Missara Mohammed by natural delivery at NMC Specialty Hospital, Abu Dhabi, at 5.57am, weighing 3.1kg. She is the third child to be born to the family.
“We are very happy that our third child is born in time of the celebration of the Eid Al Fitr,” said her father, Mr Mohammed.
“It is a truly a blessing. I would like to thank NMC Specialty Hospital, Abu Dhabi, especially the doctors and staff for the excellent service and taking good care of my wife and child.”
Michael Davis, the chief executive of NMC Healthcare, said the birth of a child is always a reason to celebrate, but when it coincides with an occasion such as Eid Al Fitr, “happiness knows no bounds”.
“We pray the babies continue to bring joy and remain a blessing for their families for ever,” he added.
At Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi, the first baby born on Eid was welcomed seconds after midnight.
Shahmeer was born to a Pakistani couple Saba Irfan and Irfan Khan, weighing 2.70kg. He is their third child.
“We are thrilled to welcome our newest family member,” said father Mr Khan.
“His arrival has doubled the joy we feel on this auspicious day.”
At a minute past midnight, doctors at Medeor Hospital, Abu Dhabi delivered baby Ayla weighing 3.61kg to an Egyptian couple, Amira Magdy and Khaled Fahmy.
“Ayla is our third child. This pregnancy was a surprise for us,” said her mother, Ms Magdy, 32.
“Now, Ayla surprised us again by coming to us as the most precious gift from above on this blessed day. We are thrilled to finally hold our angel in our arms.”
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World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
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
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg
Roma 4
Milner (15' OG), Dzeko (52'), Nainggolan (86', 90 4')
Liverpool 2
Mane (9'), Wijnaldum (25')
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
Scoreline
Al Wasl 1 (Caio Canedo 90 1')
Al Ain 2 (Ismail Ahmed 3', Marcus Berg 50')
Red cards: Ismail Ahmed (Al Ain) 77'
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch automatic
Power: 169bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh54,500
On sale: now
HEADLINE HERE
- I would recommend writing out the text in the body
- And then copy into this box
- It can be as long as you link
- But I recommend you use the bullet point function (see red square)
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- That's about it
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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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
