Travel experts and enthusiasts from around the world gathered in Dubai this week for the Airport Show.
Visitors said the global rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine offered hope for a travel industry revival, but many were braced for a slow recovery.
During the three-day event, aviation and technology companies exhibited the future of airport innovation.
From biometric-based smart gates to self-sanitising tunnels, the pandemic has changed the airport experience forever.
Countries really need to push forward their vaccination roll-out because as that happens, governments and airlines will loosen restrictions
As the industry's recovery continues, airports have reimagined every part of how passengers travel, from check-in to how meals are served in food courts and lounges.
There will be way less human interaction and certain pandemic precautions, such as mask wearing and regular sanitising, will stay in place for the foreseeable future.
Reynaldo Jr David, a Dubai resident from the Philippines, said he would like to see countries work together to implement more seamless travel protocols.
“The biggest issue expats like us face is the co-ordination between countries,” he said.
“Vaccinations are a key element in helping the travel industry rebound, but countries that have strong travel corridors need to be better aligned to make the travel experience easier for passengers.”
Mr David said they could liaise closer with each other to reduce major disruptions to travel, especially countries with a high concentration of expats.
Suggestions included exemptions for vaccinated passengers or GPS tracking protocols on arrival.
Mischelle Cacho, a partnerships manager for a media company in Dubai, said she is optimistic about the future of travel but said passengers “have to get used to the new normal”.
“The economy is slowly picking up but, personally, I think it will be about five years until things settle down for the sector,” she said.
“The vaccine roll-out is a great start but with new Covid-19 variants popping up, it will be an uphill battle.
“The future of travel will entail a lot more safety precautions, which will change the flight and journey experience for the better.
“In-person events like this offer a glimmer of hope that companies are adapting to this new norm, so travel, at some point, will pick up again.”
Since the start of the year, more international flights have resumed to several destinations from the Emirates and airlines are adding more flights to their schedules each week.
A growing number of countries are also slowly reducing or eliminating quarantine and Covid-19 testing requirements for those who have been fully vaccinated.
Just recently, a safe travel corridor between the UAE and Greece opened for fully vaccinated travellers to move between the two countries.
Under the agreement, passengers holding vaccination certificates issued by health authorities can travel to and from Greece without having to quarantine on arrival.
It follows similar agreements with Seychelles, Serbia and Bahrain.
For Zain Abedin Shaikh, manager of Al Hamraa Tourism LLC in Sharjah, such travel corridors are a welcome relief after a tough year.
“The travel market has been affected very hard by the pandemic, as a travel agency we have been hit hard,” he said.
“Countries really need to push forward their vaccination roll-out because as that happens, governments and airlines will loosen restrictions.
“The core of our business is travel packages between the UAE and South Asia, countries like Pakistan and India, and flight suspensions result in a slow-down in business.
“Reducing the risk of spread is a priority but there has to be a balance, which is where the vaccination plays a part.”
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
MATCH INFO
Chelsea 1
Alonso (62')
Huddersfield Town 1
Depoitre (50')
UAE jiu-jitsu squad
Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: Dh325,125
On sale: Now
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
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
Squads
Australia: Finch (c), Agar, Behrendorff, Carey, Coulter-Nile, Lynn, McDermott, Maxwell, Short, Stanlake, Stoinis, Tye, Zampa
India: Kohli (c), Khaleel, Bumrah, Chahal, Dhawan, Shreyas, Karthik, Kuldeep, Bhuvneshwar, Pandey, Krunal, Pant, Rahul, Sundar, Umesh
Company name: Farmin
Date started: March 2019
Founder: Dr Ali Al Hammadi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: AgriTech
Initial investment: None to date
Partners/Incubators: UAE Space Agency/Krypto Labs
Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.
Based: Riyadh
Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany
Founded: September, 2020
Number of employees: 70
Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions
Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds
Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Oscars in the UAE
The 90th Academy Awards will be aired in the UAE from 3.30am on Monday, March 5 on OSN, with the ceremony starting at 5am
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
Banthology: Stories from Unwanted Nations
Edited by Sarah Cleave, Comma Press
RESULTS
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