• A baker sells bread as the time to break the fast approaches during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan amid lockdown due to the ongoing coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, in Herat, Afghanistan. EPA
    A baker sells bread as the time to break the fast approaches during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan amid lockdown due to the ongoing coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, in Herat, Afghanistan. EPA
  • A street vendor sells protective masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus, in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP
    A street vendor sells protective masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus, in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP
  • A volunteer gives a meal package to a woman during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan in Rotterdam as part of solidarity measures taken during the COVID-19 outbreak. AFP
    A volunteer gives a meal package to a woman during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan in Rotterdam as part of solidarity measures taken during the COVID-19 outbreak. AFP
  • Syrian refugee Emad cooks for the holly ramadan dinner in Clamart near Paris, as the country is under lockdown to stop the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus. It's not the first catastrophe they've faced. But, while today's global pandemic bears no resemblance to Syria's almost decade-long civil war, Syrian refugees in France believe their experience of violence and exile now helps them deal with the anxiety sparked by the novel coronavirus. Four France-based Syrians say that past ordeals like prison and food shortages have primed them for coping with confinement in the French lockdown -- but have also created optimism about finding the power to overcome the toughest challenges. AFP
    Syrian refugee Emad cooks for the holly ramadan dinner in Clamart near Paris, as the country is under lockdown to stop the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus. It's not the first catastrophe they've faced. But, while today's global pandemic bears no resemblance to Syria's almost decade-long civil war, Syrian refugees in France believe their experience of violence and exile now helps them deal with the anxiety sparked by the novel coronavirus. Four France-based Syrians say that past ordeals like prison and food shortages have primed them for coping with confinement in the French lockdown -- but have also created optimism about finding the power to overcome the toughest challenges. AFP
  • A woman waits to receive alms during the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, May 3, 2020. Muslims across the world are observing Ramadan when the faithful refrain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn to dusk. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
    A woman waits to receive alms during the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, May 3, 2020. Muslims across the world are observing Ramadan when the faithful refrain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn to dusk. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
  • A cat meows to a security guard who carries a gun on his laps while breaking fast outside closed shops at a shopping mall during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, during lockdown in efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Karachi, Pakistan May 2, 2020. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro
    A cat meows to a security guard who carries a gun on his laps while breaking fast outside closed shops at a shopping mall during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, during lockdown in efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Karachi, Pakistan May 2, 2020. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro
  • epa08397674 A man sits on a painted circle as he waits for free iftar meal (breaking of the fast) provided by Dhaka University students during the Ramadan in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 02 May 2020. Reports state Bangladesh may extend its ongoing closure of all public and private offices till 15 May amid the coronavirus outbreak in the country. EPA/MONIRUL ALAM
    epa08397674 A man sits on a painted circle as he waits for free iftar meal (breaking of the fast) provided by Dhaka University students during the Ramadan in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 02 May 2020. Reports state Bangladesh may extend its ongoing closure of all public and private offices till 15 May amid the coronavirus outbreak in the country. EPA/MONIRUL ALAM

World

Ramadan around the world in photos: May 3

Images of an Islamic holy month like no other because of the coronavirus outbreak

The National

May 03, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

More from Ramadan 2020

Ramadan: 1.3 million meals delivered in first week of food campaign
Ramadan headlines from the past: From the top of the world to the first mouse

First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus 

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

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

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES

September 30
South Africa v Australia
Argentina v New Zealand

October 7
South Africa v New Zealand
Argentina v Australia

MATCH INFO

BRIGHTON 0

MANCHESTER UNITED 3

McTominay 44'

Mata 73'

Pogba 80'

UAE%20v%20West%20Indies
%3Cp%3EFirst%20ODI%20-%20Sunday%2C%20June%204%20%0D%3Cbr%3ESecond%20ODI%20-%20Tuesday%2C%20June%206%20%0D%3Cbr%3EThird%20ODI%20-%20Friday%2C%20June%209%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EMatches%20at%20Sharjah%20Cricket%20Stadium.%20All%20games%20start%20at%204.30pm%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20squad%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMuhammad%20Waseem%20(captain)%2C%20Aayan%20Khan%2C%20Adithya%20Shetty%2C%20Ali%20Naseer%2C%20Ansh%20Tandon%2C%20Aryansh%20Sharma%2C%20Asif%20Khan%2C%20Basil%20Hameed%2C%20Ethan%20D%E2%80%99Souza%2C%20Fahad%20Nawaz%2C%20Jonathan%20Figy%2C%20Junaid%20Siddique%2C%20Karthik%20Meiyappan%2C%20Lovepreet%20Singh%2C%20Matiullah%2C%20Mohammed%20Faraazuddin%2C%20Muhammad%20Jawadullah%2C%20Rameez%20Shahzad%2C%20Rohan%20Mustafa%2C%20Sanchit%20Sharma%2C%20Vriitya%20Aravind%2C%20Zahoor%20Khan%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What is tokenisation?

Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets. 

FINAL SCORES

Fujairah 130 for 8 in 20 overs

(Sandy Sandeep 29, Hamdan Tahir 26 no, Umair Ali 2-15)

Sharjah 131 for 8 in 19.3 overs

(Kashif Daud 51, Umair Ali 20, Rohan Mustafa 2-17, Sabir Rao 2-26)

While you're here
Ramadan 2026