Drones map out dazzling tribute to Sheikh Hamdan at Dubai World Cup


Gillian Duncan
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Drones took to the night sky in Dubai on Saturday for a fitting tribute to the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, who died last week.

The show took place at the conclusion of the Dubai World Cup, the highlight of the UAE’s horse-racing calendar.

Drones flew in formation above Meydan Racecourse to map out a portrait of Sheikh Hamdan and images of racing horses, in an acknowledgement of his longstanding love of the sport.

In the background, images of the sheikh were projected on to a large screen, accompanied with the messages, "a gentleman, a statesman, the equestrian".

The deputy ruler of Dubai and minister of finance died on Wednesday aged 76 after a months-long illness.

The leading owner and breeder of race horses celebrated many triumphs, including the English and Irish derbies, the 2,000 Guineas, the Ascot Gold Cup and the Dubai World Cup in 1999 and 2007.

But his love of racing never distracted him from the duties of public life.

He served as deputy ruler of Dubai for 26 years.

On Wednesday, Sheikh Mohammed posted a picture of his brother saying: "We belong to God and to Him we shall return ... May God have mercy on you, my brother, my support and my companion."

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid at Dubai World Cup over the years - in pictures

  • Italian rider Frankie Dettori celebrates his 2003 Dubai World Cup win with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid. AFP
    Italian rider Frankie Dettori celebrates his 2003 Dubai World Cup win with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid. AFP
  • Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid give the winner's trophy to Stefan Friborg and his wife Dalva de Oliveira, owners of Gloria De Campeao which won the 2010 Dubai World Cup. AFP
    Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid give the winner's trophy to Stefan Friborg and his wife Dalva de Oliveira, owners of Gloria De Campeao which won the 2010 Dubai World Cup. AFP
  • Mirco Demuro celebrates while receiving the winner's trophy by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid after clinching the 2011 Dubai World Cup. EPA
    Mirco Demuro celebrates while receiving the winner's trophy by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid after clinching the 2011 Dubai World Cup. EPA
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid celebrates after winning the 2014 Dubai World Cup. Satish Kumar / The National
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid celebrates after winning the 2014 Dubai World Cup. Satish Kumar / The National
  • Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid is presented with the 2015 Dubai World Cup trophy after Prince Bishop won the showpiece race. Pawan Singh / The National
    Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid is presented with the 2015 Dubai World Cup trophy after Prince Bishop won the showpiece race. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, celebrate winning the 2015 Dubai World Cup. Getty
    Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, celebrate winning the 2015 Dubai World Cup. Getty
  • Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid presents the golden stick to the 2017 Dubai World Cup winning jockey Mike Smith. EPA
    Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid presents the golden stick to the 2017 Dubai World Cup winning jockey Mike Smith. EPA
  • Arrogate, ridden by Mike Smith, won the 2017 Dubai World Cup. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid at the podium. Pawan Singh / The National
    Arrogate, ridden by Mike Smith, won the 2017 Dubai World Cup. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid at the podium. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid arrives at the 2018 Dubai World Cup. Reem Mohammed / The National
    Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid arrives at the 2018 Dubai World Cup. Reem Mohammed / The National
  • Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, with the 2018 Dubai World Cup trophy after Thunder Show, ridden by Christophe Soumillon, won the race. Pawan Singh / The National
    Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, with the 2018 Dubai World Cup trophy after Thunder Show, ridden by Christophe Soumillon, won the race. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed during the 2018 Dubai World Cup trophy presentation ceremony after Thunder Snow, ridden by Christophe Soumillon, won at the Meydan Racecourse. Pawan Singh / The National
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed during the 2018 Dubai World Cup trophy presentation ceremony after Thunder Snow, ridden by Christophe Soumillon, won at the Meydan Racecourse. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed at the 2019 Dubai World Cup. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed at the 2019 Dubai World Cup. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Essentials

The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours 
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.

Skoda Superb Specs

Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol

Power: 190hp

Torque: 320Nm

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Stree

Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Movies
Director: Amar Kaushik
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee
Rating: 3.5

The Settlers

Director: Louis Theroux

Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz

Rating: 5/5

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Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

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 
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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

MATCH INFO

Group B

Bayern Munich v Tottenham, midnight (Thursday)

Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club race card

5pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic (PA) Prestige; Dh110,000; 1,400m
5.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic (PA) Prestige; Dh110,000; 1,400m
6pm: Maiden (PA); Dh80,000; 1,600m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (PA) Listed; Dh180,000; 1,600m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap; Dh70,000; 2,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (PA); Dh100,000; 2,400m

Winners

Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)

Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)

Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)

Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)

Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)

Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)

Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)

Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

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Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone

Rating: 3/5

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League last 16, first leg

Liverpool v Bayern Munich, midnight, Wednesday, BeIN Sports

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Jiu-jitsu calendar of events for 2017-2018:

August 5:

Round-1 of the President’s Cup in Al Ain.

August 11-13:

Asian Championship in Vietnam.

September 8-9:

Ajman International.

September 16-17

Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, Ashgabat.

September 22-24:

IJJF Balkan Junior Open, Montenegro.

September 23-24:

Grand Slam Los Angeles.

September 29:

Round-1 Mother of The Nation Cup.

October 13-14:

Al Ain U18 International.

September 20-21:

Al Ain International.

November 3:

Round-2 Mother of The National Cup.

November 4:

Round-2 President’s Cup.

November 10-12:

Grand Slam Rio de Janeiro.

November 24-26:

World Championship, Columbia.

November 30:

World Beach Championship, Columbia.

December 8-9:

Dubai International.

December 23:

Round-3 President’s Cup, Sharjah.

January 12-13:

Grand Slam Abu Dhabi.

January 26-27:

Fujairah International.

February 3:

Round-4 President’s Cup, Al Dhafra.

February 16-17:

Ras Al Khaimah International.

February 23-24:

The Challenge Championship.

March 10-11:

Grand Slam London.

March 16:

Final Round – Mother of The Nation.

March 17:

Final Round – President’s Cup.

Company Profile

Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million

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