Commuters who travel to Abu Dhabi have spoken of how they juggle mandatory testing and their daily work.
To enter the capital, drivers require proof that a negative PCR nasal swab test was taken in the past 48 hours.
Or they must under go a DPI test at a screening centre in Ghantoot, off the Abu Dhabi and Dubai highway. There, medics use a laser to quickly check a drop of blood in a process that takes just minutes.
Several drivers who commute in from Dubai told The National how they have been able to return to work in person.
If you look at it from Abu Dhabi's point of view, it's a precautionary measure that is needed
Nagendra Gaur, 39, a planning engineer working on two construction projects in Abu Dhabi, has taken three PCR tests since July 3, days after the authorities imposed mandatory Covid-19 clearance to enter the emirate.
“If you look at it from Abu Dhabi’s point of view, it’s a precautionary measure that is needed," he said.
“This is the only way to make [the emirate] covid-free. I actually appreciate it. If they allow everyone from outside free movement then all this safety exercise will have been wasted.”
The PCR test costs Dh370 and is offered in most hospitals in Dubai. In contrast, the DPI test on the Dubai-Abu Dhabi road costs just Dh50 - but the centre has been booked for weeks in advance.
Since the nasal swab test results come in anytime between 22 to 16 hours, he must be watchful of the 48-hour valid window.
Mr Gaur has not had to wait at the border since he begins work early and crosses into the capital at around 5am.
Fortunately, his company has covered the cost of several nights in a hotel each week, to avoid having to get tested every two days, and he returns to see his wife and two sons on Thursday nights.
“As of now my company handles all expenses. I’m a little worried if my company at some point thinks this is an additional expense,” he said.
“Covid-19 is unpredictable, you don’t know about the next month or next week. There are things that are uncertain that we cannot plan for.”
Rahul Bohra, 38, who also works in construction, has lived in an Abu Dhabi hotel for two 10-day stretches and returned to his family in Dubai for a few days in between.
After the Eid break, Mr Bohra will take a test every other day to drive in, and stay with a colleague in Abu Dhabi for a couple of days if required.
He has already booked regular appointments at the Ghantoot facility throughout August to ensure he can get to work on an Abu Dhabi construction project.
Testing slots at the facility are currently fully booked until August 17.
“The first thing I check in the day is the bookings,” said Mr Bohra, who prepares cost estimates for project tenders.
“I’m hoping more test centres come up so the booking window will reduce. It is always in my mind that I have to book an appointment.”
But juggling between accommodation and fitting in tests is not his biggest concern throughout the pandemic, when companies worldwide have retrenched staff or asked employees to take unpaid leave.
“All these are secondary issues. The critical thing is that we have jobs and I’m thankful to god for this,” he said.
Mr Bohra has no immediate plans to move out of Dubai, having recently renewed his tenancy contract and found a new school for his daughter.
“Many [commuters] are hopeful that with extra test facilities at border they can travel on a daily basis," he said.
Mr Bohra backs Abu Dhabi's rigorous testing as “absolutely necessary.”
“With everyone being tested, at least [authorities] will be able to trace where a new case is coming from,” he said.
“I’m pretty much in favour of this because it’s a good thing to be able to trace and track cases. Each country is taking measures to control the pandemic. People may face some problems but it’s for longer term benefit.”
Sushant Dalai, 32, said he plans to move from Dubai to Abu Dhabi next month.
The engineer, who works for a metals company in the capital, said the move would coincide with his lease ending in Dubai.
“My Dubai renewal is in September so I will wait before I decide on moving. I still have time," he said.
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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
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
Need to know
Unlike other mobile wallets and payment apps, a unique feature of eWallet is that there is no need to have a bank account, credit or debit card to do digital payments.
Customers only need a valid Emirates ID and a working UAE mobile number to register for eWallet account.
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.”
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
