One intriguing aspect of any living language (and it probably applies to Latin, too) is the way in which new words and phrases continue to be created. That's what makes it a "living language", after all. Some new words, perhaps originating from translations, can be highly scientific or technical, known only to a few people. Others come fairly rapidly into popular use.
I was reminded the other day of a word that first emerged in English (mainly in Britain) in the mid-1960s: the delightful "jobsworth". It derives from the phrase "I can't do that, it's more than my job's worth." TheOxford English Dictionary defines jobsworth as: "A person in authority (especially a minor official) who insists on adhering to rules and regulations or bureaucratic procedures even at the expense of common sense." It has also been defined as "a minor factotum whose only status comes from enforcing otherwise petty regulations".
So what brought the word to mind?
A couple of weeks ago, a Dubai resident who is a keen photographer of birds, plants and other wildlife paid an early morning visit to one of the local public parks. He arrived at 8am, but by 8.05am he had been ordered to leave. Why? Because he wanted to take some pictures. Not of people, although he was told it was fine if he wanted to photograph his wife and children, but because he wanted to take pictures of birds and insects. He asked if he could use a macro lens, suitable only for close-ups (no possibility there of taking photographs of people who didn't want to be photographed), but that is banned, too.
He was told that the rule had come in a couple of weeks earlier and had, apparently, been introduced because someone had taken lots of nice pictures in the park and had published a book without permission. Does one really need permission to publish photographs taken in a public park?
An online acquaintance of the first person, hearing the story, got hold of the administration section in the park and was referred to the relevant department. An official there yielded the information that if professional photographers pay Dh500 per day, then they can get permission to take pictures in a park.
Taking photographs in public parks is a perfectly normal and harmless pastime - unless it is of people who do not wish to be photographed, and there are plenty of ways of dealing with that. To try to forbid the publication of photographs taken in a public park unless you get prior permission from the park authority seems rather odd. But to dream up a rule whereby you are allowed to take pictures of your family in a public park but can't photograph a butterfly or a passing bird, unless you pay for the privilege of doing so, requires a particular type of thought process that, I must confess, I am completely unable to comprehend.
One could, I suppose, enter the park with a child - your own, perhaps - then position the child close to the flower or insect you want to photograph and then snap away happily, hoping that the park attendant assumed that you were photographing the child. It's not so easy with birds, of course, while in these days of digital cameras, you might get found out very quickly if some jobsworth working in the park demanded to look at your photographs.
It's not an experience I've had myself, but I suspect that it would be rather irritating; I can imagine all sorts of scenarios. A local family enters the park. Daddy takes a few pictures of the wife and children, carefully making sure that, as his wife lifts her veil, no one outside the family is looking. Because there's a nice flower nearby, he takes a picture of that too, and is spotted by a nearby jobsworth, who rushes over demanding to look at the pictures. Daddy refuses - after all, his digital camera has private pictures of his wife on it. The jobsworth calls the police, who promptly arrive. What are they going to do? In a world of common sense, they would simply shrug their shoulders, tell the jobsworth that he was being stupid, and go away.
Another word comes to mind: "pettifogging". Not much in use these days, but one that's still of relevance. It means, "the behaviour of one who quibbles over trivia". Or, to put it another way, the act of making a great fuss over something that is really of very minor importance.
We are fortunate in the UAE that there isn't much evidence of pettifogging rules and regulations, giving "authority" the right to interfere in the minor details of our lives. When such rules do come to light, it's best to get rid of them as soon as possible.
It seems to have been a bit of pettifogging by a jobsworth in a single park that created the original problem in Dubai a couple of weeks ago. One assumes that somehow the new rule hadn't been properly explained to him. I do hope, though, that the rule will be quickly scrapped before there are more problems.
The cooler weather is upon us. Families - and individuals - will be visiting the parks more, and many will have cameras with them, to take pictures of people and of the places themselves, and of the wildlife and plants to be found within them. None of them are likely to take very kindly to being told by pettifogging jobsworths that they're not permitted to do so.
Peter Hellyer is a writer and consultant who specialises in Emirati culture and heritage
The specs: 2017 Maserati Quattroporte
Price, base / as tested Dh389,000 / Dh559,000
Engine 3.0L twin-turbo V8
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 530hp @ 6,800rpm
Torque 650Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Fuel economy, combined 10.7L / 100km
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group C
Liverpool v Napoli, midnight
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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
Poacher
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RESULTS
6.30pm: Emirates Holidays Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Lady Snazz, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
7.05pm: Arabian Adventures Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zhou Storm, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7.40pm: Emirates Skywards Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Rich And Famous, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.15pm: Emirates Airline Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Rio Angie, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Emirates Sky Cargo (TB) Dh 92,500 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Kinver Edge, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
9.15pm: Emirates.com (TB) Dh 95,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Firnas, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
Tips for entertaining with ease
· Set the table the night before. It’s a small job but it will make you feel more organised once done.
· As the host, your mood sets the tone. If people arrive to find you red-faced and harried, they’re not going to relax until you do. Take a deep breath and try to exude calm energy.
· Guests tend to turn up thirsty. Fill a big jug with iced water and lemon or lime slices and encourage people to help themselves.
· Have some background music on to help create a bit of ambience and fill any initial lulls in conversations.
· The meal certainly doesn’t need to be ready the moment your guests step through the door, but if there’s a nibble or two that can be passed around it will ward off hunger pangs and buy you a bit more time in the kitchen.
· You absolutely don’t have to make every element of the brunch from scratch. Take inspiration from our ideas for ready-made extras and by all means pick up a store-bought dessert.
The specs: 2018 Peugeot 5008
Price, base / as tested: Dh99,900 / Dh134,900
Engine: 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 165hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 240Nm @ 1,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.8L / 100km
HWJN
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Remaining fixtures
Third-place-play-off: Portugal v Mexico, 4pm on Sunday
Final: Chile v Germany, 10pm on Sunday
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
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
The%20specs
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MATCH INFO
Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0
De Bruyne (70')
Man of the Match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'
Director:Michael Lehmann
Stars:Kristen Bell
Rating: 1/5
Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Calendar 2018/19
July 29: OTA Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan
Sep 22-23: LA Convention Centre in Los Angeles, US
Nov 16-18: Carioca Arena Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Feb 7-9: Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE
Mar 9-10: Copper Box Arena in London, UK
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: 3/5
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
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
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 290hp
Torque: 340Nm
Price: Dh155,800
On sale: now
25%20Days%20to%20Aden
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About Krews
Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: January 2019
Number of employees: 10
Sector: Technology/Social media
Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support
