A group of pupils from Abu Dhabi have launched a high-powered rocket in the Texas desert as part of an educational initiative by their school.
The bright youngsters at American Community School of Abu Dhabi spent a year learning about and developing a model rocket that can be launched using a motor and compressed air, while carrying a 0.4kg payload.
The achievement was possible because the school enrolled in SystemsGo, an American programme that teaches Stem – science, tech, engineering and maths – and helps pupils build skills that could propel them into engineering careers.
Ryan Ayoub, a year 10 pupil, said that his group’s rocket, called Viper I, flew as high as 1,524 metres from the White Sands Missile Range on May 11.
It came close to reaching the altitude goal of 1,609 metres (1 mile) set for the programme.
“I would’ve described my stay in Texas as not being able to stay awake while also having issues going to sleep because of all that was going on in a short amount of time,” he said.
“All my woes were gone when I saw that green rocket fly. It was unbelievable for me. It sparked a sort of childlike joy in me which is always great.”
Pupils from different schools across the US also flew rockets from the range.
Last year, a rocket built by pupils at the Brazoswood High School in Texas flew 13,716 metres, setting a new world record for altitude achieved by a high school pupil-designed and built hybrid-motor propelled rocket.
Jeremiah Mathew, a year 10 pupil at the Abu Dhabi school, oversaw Viper I’s recovery systems and electronics.
He said even though the rocket’s parachute did not deploy due to a technical problem, it was still a “great learning experience”.
He also designed and wrote the code for the altimeter, a navigation instrument on the rocket, helping him hone his skills in computer science, electronics and circuitry.
“My highlight of this year-long journey would definitely be seeing our rocket lift off from the launch pad in Texas, which gave me an overwhelming sense of relief, joy and awe,” said Jeremiah, who watched the launch remotely from Abu Dhabi.
“Being a part of the ACS Rocket Club this year presented me with the perfect opportunity to partake in activities that not only aligned with my future academic pursuits but also resonated deeply with my genuine passions and interests.”
In 2021, three Emirati students from Abu Dhabi's Khalifa University launched high-powered rockets from the Mojave Desert in California, with some reaching 1,500 metres.
Students involved in the programme are required to spend their weekends camping in the desert, where they test and launch their rockets.
The successful project was part of a Stem programme by Decenture, an education technology company that has its headquarters in the US.
Stellar ambitions
More than 150 Emirati young people have been involved in various programmes linked to the company.
An increasing number of schools and companies in the UAE are becoming involved with space-related programmes, as the global space sector grows exponentially.
In the UAE, the sector is also thriving, with more projects being undertaken by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre and the UAE Space Agency – both government-owned organisations.
But the Emirates is also seeing a rise of space starts-ups, with the country now aiming to set up a space industry that will contribute to the national economy.
Monique Flickinger, superintendent of the American Community School of Abu Dhabi, said that they are teaching stem-focused subjects so their pupils can be prepared for the future.
“We want to provide our students with the ability to have choices,” she said.
“And to have background knowledge and experience because several corporations are actually offering full-ride scholarships, where students can work for their corporation after they finish their degree in either engineering, mathematics or aerospace.
“And I think it's exciting that the UAE has placed so much importance on this because it really is the next frontier.”
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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
ABU DHABI T10: DAY TWO
Bangla Tigers v Deccan Gladiators (3.30pm)
Delhi Bulls v Karnataka Tuskers (5.45pm)
Northern Warriors v Qalandars (8.00pm)
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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.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
