With the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 so close yet so far for many of us, the UAE is an ideal location to experience the action outside the host country.
For the past week, an array of Dubai venues have been created or transformed in order to conjure up the mass excitement and camaraderie associated with being in a football stadium.
This is not really a surprise, because the UAE events sector is arguably the Maradona of its international peers.
For years, savvy operators have capitalised on global sporting events, from the NFL Super Bowl to Spain’s El Clasico matches, to create immersive viewing parties in a league of their own.
Such consistent form convinced four of my cousins to fly to the UAE from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Australia to watch the opening week’s matches in venues big and small.
We watched 10 matches in three days, in places ranging from the palatial to the intimate.
These three venues, in particular, offer a memorable experience.
For the mass vibes: BudX Fifa Fan Festival Dubai at Dubai Harbour
A fan zone officially associated with World Cup organisers Fifa, this is as close as we will get in the UAE to being in the stadium in terms of atmosphere.
Located on previously deserted gravel land in Dubai Harbour, the space resembles an oceanside music festival with several stages, food trucks, picnic areas and various pavilions.
The main stage at the centre is home to a large 330-square-metre screen with the kind of surround sound fit for an Imax theatre.
From the soft thud of the ball being kicked to the thunderous drumming of the Japanese fans during Wednesday's stunning match against Germany, the sound is clear and powerful.
Various kinds of comfortable seating is on offer, from large bean bags free with general admission tickets (recommended if you want to interact with other football fans) to the elevated and more private booths and couches that come with food and beverage packages.
As the tournament heats up expect the fan zone to increase its programming to include musical performances and appearances by football greats.
Such dynamic offerings make the BudX Fifa Fan Zone top of the league when it comes to a mass viewing experience.
Running until December 18; until 3am; from Dh79; Dubai Harbour; dubai.platinumlist.net
For elegance: The Arena at Palazzo Versace, Dubai
Qatar World Cup meets Dubai Bling in this lavish viewing venue.
Located in an exclusive Dubai creek-side space normally reserved for gala ceremonies and weddings, The Arena resembles a luxurious garden party with football and theatre performances thrown into the mix.
In a break between matches on screen, a series of performers ― from jazz singers to football jugglers ― feature on various stages across the site.
A special a la carte menu is served featuring refined takes of much-loved sports-viewing staples such as hotdogs and chicken wings.
Seating options range from a table of four to couches accommodating six to 10 people.
If you are serious about the game and want fewer distractions, a number of luxurious black leather recliner chairs are on offer near the screen.
Running until December 18. From 2pm until the end of the evening's final match. Entry begins from Dh180 minimum spend during the opening group stages; www.palazzoversace.ae
For the passion: Loca at Dubai Marine Beach Resort and Spa
The UAE’s many ethnically themed restaurants can also provide a stirring football watching experience.
Popular Mexican food spot Loca is an ideal place for watching matches featuring South American and Latin American teams.
Staff get into the spirit with members wearing dark football jerseys with names emblazoned on the back.
Loca was awash with supporters when attending the Mexico versus Poland match on Tuesday.
In addition to raucous chants, laughs and incessant groans from what was a close encounter, extra vibrancy was provided by a special World Cup menu of colourful favourites, including aromatic fajitas, hearty nachos and vegan-friendly quesadillas.
Loca at Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa. Monday to Sunday from 12pm to 2am; www.locauae.com
Where to watch Fifa World Cup 2022 games in fan zones in Dubai — in pictures
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
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
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Generation Start-up: Awok company profile
Started: 2013
Founder: Ulugbek Yuldashev
Sector: e-commerce
Size: 600 plus
Stage: still in talks with VCs
Principal Investors: self-financed by founder
Iran's dirty tricks to dodge sanctions
There’s increased scrutiny on the tricks being used to keep commodities flowing to and from blacklisted countries. Here’s a description of how some work.
1 Going Dark
A common method to transport Iranian oil with stealth is to turn off the Automatic Identification System, an electronic device that pinpoints a ship’s location. Known as going dark, a vessel flicks the switch before berthing and typically reappears days later, masking the location of its load or discharge port.
2. Ship-to-Ship Transfers
A first vessel will take its clandestine cargo away from the country in question before transferring it to a waiting ship, all of this happening out of sight. The vessels will then sail in different directions. For about a third of Iranian exports, more than one tanker typically handles a load before it’s delivered to its final destination, analysts say.
3. Fake Destinations
Signaling the wrong destination to load or unload is another technique. Ships that intend to take cargo from Iran may indicate their loading ports in sanction-free places like Iraq. Ships can keep changing their destinations and end up not berthing at any of them.
4. Rebranded Barrels
Iranian barrels can also be rebranded as oil from a nation free from sanctions such as Iraq. The countries share fields along their border and the crude has similar characteristics. Oil from these deposits can be trucked out to another port and documents forged to hide Iran as the origin.
* Bloomberg
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