Every week seems to bring a new report of the discovery of fake branded consumer products (Huge cargo of counterfeit good seized, December 5).
The money in aping brand-name products must be enormous. Funny how people think a brand name, real or fake, can give them prestige or stature. What's that expression? "There's a fool born every minute", isn't it?
Gary Keller, Abu Dhabi
Uranium sale to India is a problem
I refer to Australia lifts uranium sales ban to India (December 5).
The move by Australia to remove its long-standing ban on uranium exports to India will definitely boost trade and enhance the bilateral relationship. But the commitment to nuclear disarmament of Prime Minister Julia Gillard's Labor Party may be negatively affected with this move.
The export of uranium is obviously important to Australia's economy, but the sales should be based on strict safeguards. In this context it is noteworthy that the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty, opened to signature in 1968, has been signed by nearly 200 parties but not, India, Pakistan, North Korea or Israel.
Profits should not be put before the peace and security of any region.
Ali Sedat Budak, Abu Dhabi
India wrong to delay reforms
India is losing its nerve about reform of the retail sector because of complaints from small shopkeepers (India forced to backtrack on retail plan, December 5).
This is remarkably backward thinking. If horse-drawn buggy drivers had protested hard enough, India would have no private cars today.
Retailers, and everyone in private business, makes a living by serving society, providing goods and services efficiently.
Now we are seeing inefficiency protected by political decision-making.
And people wonder why India isn't getting rich faster.
VJ Mehta, Dubai
Not a legitimate justification
The justification given by a letter-writer for the storming of the British Embassy in Tehran (Britain provoked Iranian retaliation, December 4) is worrying.
According to the writer, who withheld his or her name, David Cameron, the British prime minister, provoked the embassy attack with his comments.
It's a good thing that other countries don't follow this reasoning, that if you don't like what a politician says, you attack his embassy. What a mess that would be.
Faris, Dubai
Dictators refuse to go peacefully
So the Syrian regime keeps right on killing (Nine more die as Syria stalls on Arab plan, December 5) and meanwhile, as your headline says, Saleh still giving orders in Yemen (also December 5).
Nobody favours violence but how else can a country get rid of an unwanted dictator? Every other avenue has been exhausted, it seems to be, in both of these countries.
Name withheld by request
Is anyone surprised to learn that Bashar Al Assad is making a mockery of the Arab League's efforts to bring peace and stability to Syria?
As with everything he has done since the crisis began, the dictator continues to care about himself at the expense of his people.
Control number of vehicles per home
I refer to the letter to the editor Parking system aimed to bring more spaces (December 5).
What we need is fewer cars and fewer 4x4s. There ought to be a limit on how many cars each household can own for residences in or near an urban centre.
Perhaps a toll system based on engine size is needed. We also need more buses, and tougher penalty for violating road rules.
Joe Burns, Abu Dhabi
Ticket discount raises questions
I refer to the story National Day gift to speeding drivers (December 5).
I understand and welcome the generous impulse behind this gesture. Or perhaps it is not so generous after all; maybe the discount will increase total revenue actually collected from speeding fines.
But I wonder if the authorities have considered the signal this policy sends to speeders.
Isn't this affirmation that speeding is not so bad? And won't this encourage those who get tickets from now on to just throw them in a drawer and forget them until the next discount?
This policy would make more sense if it came with a sharp increase in all speeding fines.
Robert Swatsky, Dubai
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
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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
If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Seattle from Dh5,555 return, including taxes. Portland is a 260 km drive from Seattle and Emirates offers codeshare flights to Portland with its partner Alaska Airlines.
The car
Hertz (www.hertz.ae) offers compact car rental from about $300 per week, including taxes. Emirates Skywards members can earn points on their car hire through Hertz.
Parks and accommodation
For information on Crater Lake National Park, visit www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm . Because of the altitude, large parts of the park are closed in winter due to snow. While the park’s summer season is May 22-October 31, typically, the full loop of the Rim Drive is only possible from late July until the end of October. Entry costs $25 per car for a day. For accommodation, see www.travelcraterlake.com. For information on Umpqua Hot Springs, see www.fs.usda.gov and https://soakoregon.com/umpqua-hot-springs/. For Bend, see https://www.visitbend.com/.
