Pupils at UK curriculum schools in the UAE will be at a disadvantage if A-level results are downgraded this week, said headteachers.
A-level, or an equivalent qualification, is required for university entrance, and admission offers are based on grades achieved.
Enrolment in a good college may become difficult if pupils secure lower than expected results.
I am hoping they (examination boards) might already have learnt from the Scottish and the IB experience and are going to think carefully and get things right
This week, the Scottish Qualifications Authority lowered the National 5 of almost 125,000 pupils, which is the equivalent of A-levels qualification taken by pupils in Scotland.
Heads of schools in the UAE said they were concerned that results predicted by teachers may be similarly downgraded.
At Brighton College Abu Dhabi, 63 pupils expect to receive their results on Thursday.
“These things are handled at a UK level so I see no reason why it would be any different here,” said Simon Corns, headmaster at Brighton College Abu Dhabi.
“I am hoping they (examination boards) might already have learnt from the Scottish and the IB experience and are going to think carefully and get things right.
"Ideally, they should get it right from the start. If they do not, I am hoping for more clarity on the appeals procedure because they can rest assured that schools will fight very hard for justice for their pupils.
“The way they are likely to get things right is by listening to the schools and teachers who have made the assessments very carefully.
“We were extremely careful about producing predictions based on evidence and I hope the boards will listen to us.
“I am optimistic but I have some reservations about the statistical model one hears they are using.”
Mr Corns said he expected the results to be in line with the historical performance of the school.
"I am sure pupils will be concerned and are waiting to see what the situation actually is," he said.
"We submitted a great deal of information and if the boards have used it sensibly, then they ought to have arrived at accurate and rational conclusions."
Mr Corns said schools which performed poorly in the past but had a capable year group, or schools that were appearing for A-levels for the first time, will likely take a hit.
He urged the pupils to stay calm and keep the morale high.
"There is time for schools to appeal where necessary and let's hope the boards will be reasonable especially after the mistakes that were made in Scotland," he said.
Some schools are already consulting legal experts to see what the options are for challenging the exam boards so the situation is being taken very seriously
A-level and other external exams like the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme were cancelled this year because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Instead, pupils were given their final scores based on predicted grades by teachers, their marks in different subjects and the school’s academic performance in the past.
The IB diploma and Career-related programme results, the equivalent of A-levels, were awarded to more than 170,000 pupils on July 6.
Thousands of IB pupils felt let down after they received lower than expected grades and appealed for reassessments.
Almost 22,000 pupils signed an online petition to dispute their scores, claiming they were an unfair reflection of their performance.
At the time, Jeff Evans from Learning Key Education Consultancy said A-level pupils could face the same situation as their grades would be estimated in a similar manner.
Fiona McKenzie, head of Carfax Education, an education consultancy in Dubai, said: “This is an incredibly stressful time for pupils and to have all of this uncertainty is very challenging.
“We have been working with all our pupils to plan for a best case and a worst case scenario so they can react quickly on the day.
“Given the reactions to the IB results and the recent Scottish results there is undeniably an expectation that pupils may not receive the grades that were predicted.
"Some schools are already consulting legal experts to see what the options are for challenging the exam boards so the situation is being taken very seriously.”
Simon Jodrell, principal, Dubai British School, said pupils at the school were hoping for positive results on Thursday.
“The estimated grades underwent a rigorous internal process at school level based on pupil performance over the two-year courses and a history of excellent results,” said Mr Jodrell.
“This gives us confidence that the examination boards will support results that reflect the hard work and effort of this year's cohort of pupils.
"We are comfortable and confident that the grades submitted accurately reflect individual performance in a given subject.
“Schools are able to appeal to the examination boards should they not support these anticipated outcomes."
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
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The specs: 2018 Audi R8 V10 RWS
Price: base / as tested: From Dh632,225
Engine: 5.2-litre V10
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 540hp @ 8,250rpm
Torque: 540Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.4L / 100km
The biog
From: Upper Egypt
Age: 78
Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila
Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace
Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace
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
Draw
Quarter-finals
Real Madrid (ESP) or Manchester City (ENG) v Juventus (ITA) or Lyon (FRA)
RB Leipzig (GER) v Atletico Madrid (ESP)
Barcelona (ESP) or Napoli (ITA) v Bayern Munich (GER) or Chelsea (ENG)
Atalanta (ITA) v Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Ties to be played August 12-15 in Lisbon
Company profile
Name: Dukkantek
Started: January 2021
Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani
Based: UAE
Number of employees: 140
Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service)
Investment: $5.2 million
Funding stage: Seed round
Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
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FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Saint-Etienne v Montpellier (10.45pm)
Saturday
Monaco v Caen (7pm)
Amiens v Bordeaux (10pm)
Angers v Toulouse (10pm)
Metz v Dijon (10pm)
Nantes v Guingamp (10pm)
Rennes v Lille (10pm)
Sunday
Nice v Strasbourg (5pm)
Troyes v Lyon (7pm)
Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain (11pm)
UAE squad
Rohan Mustafa (captain), Ashfaq Ahmed, Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Naveed, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
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
Company profile
Name: Oulo.com
Founder: Kamal Nazha
Based: Dubai
Founded: 2020
Number of employees: 5
Sector: Technology
Funding: $450,000
The Saga Continues
Wu-Tang Clan
(36 Chambers / Entertainment One)
