{"id":660294,"date":"2025-12-29T13:05:12","date_gmt":"2025-12-29T13:05:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/660294\/"},"modified":"2025-12-29T13:05:12","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T13:05:12","slug":"uaes-new-sugar-tax-will-address-root-cause-of-rising-health-crises-experts-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/660294\/","title":{"rendered":"UAE&#8217;s new sugar tax will address &#8216;root cause&#8217; of rising health crises, experts say"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-0-UV4JVQWXFJHLVB726BLBBSUEE4\">A tiered beverage tax set to launch in the UAE from January 1 is being hailed by medical and dental professionals as a \u201cgreat\u201d public health initiative that will finally address the \u201croot causes\u201d of the region\u2019s rising health crises. <\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-1-CGWV5KZK7ZA4ZLBVHK54RYYAYA\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/news\/uae\/2025\/07\/18\/drinks-prices-to-be-based-on-sugar-content-under-uae-tax-ruling\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.thenationalnews.com\/news\/uae\/2025\/07\/18\/drinks-prices-to-be-based-on-sugar-content-under-uae-tax-ruling\/\">new pricing system<\/a>, which was announced in July by the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Tax Authority, links the tax rate directly to the level of sugar content per 100ml, marking an evolution from the flat-rate tax on soft drinks introduced in 2017.<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-3-UDQEAAJMCBCD7ARYWKNV2IYZKQ\">Under the new pricing strategy, drinks containing between 5 and 8 grams of sugar per 100ml will be taxed at 79 fils (Dh0.79) per litre, while those containing 8g or more of sugar per 100ml will be subject to a tax of Dh1.09 per litre.<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-5-XVQK36CK4RAYRMMXHCKLA4CTXI\">Beverages with fewer than 5g of sugar per 100ml, as well as those containing only artificial sweeteners, will be exempt from the new taxation rules.<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-6-MYLNW7WONJEZVLU3AMR4V4JNIM\">\u201cThe policy encourages both manufacturers and consumers to choose low-sugar or natural-sugar alternatives,\u201d said Dr Ali Elhouni, a consultant endocrinologist at Medcare Royal Specialty Hospital Al Qusais. <\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-8-444ZZDUYQBBNLLP52WGCIX7ZUY\">\u201cThis method is more effective than the usual flat tax and this connects financial policy with health results, which is important in a place where obesity and type 2 diabetes rates among young people are increasing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>Concern over obesity and diabetes<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-10-BEQQXFULOFC57ADLYNCNRAPUGY\">The UAE obesity rates are forecasted to hit new highs by 2050, according to a Lancet study earlier this year. It showed that overweight and obesity prevalence among males aged 25-plus will increase from 84 per cent in 2021 to 94 per cent in 25 years, among the highest globally. For females, it is expected to rise to 95 per cent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-12-RJWEOF3LLVELBLMGPQ22O7VM2Q\">As for type 2 diabetes, it is estimated that there is nearly a 21 per cent prevalence among the UAE\u2019s population as of 2024, according to the International Diabetes Federation. In the Middle East and North Africa region, it is believed 163 million people will have some form of diabetes by 2050, an increase from 85 million last year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-13-IHHJXPZI75H3ZPKJNBP5BUFEVE\">\u201cCutting back on sugar can significantly improve long-term health,\u201d added Dr Elhouni. \u201cWhenever possible, individuals should opt for natural sugars found in fruits instead of sugary drinks, as the body can digest these sugars more effectively.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>International precedence <\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-15-7C5AN24ECVATFCTYDLGIUNE5GE\">While some may question whether these financial measures will lead to real-world change in the health space, international data suggests they do. <\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-16-FH67OQPIN5H7TFEI6A2K7IOPDQ\">For example, in Ireland, a Sugar-Sweetened Drinks Tax was introduced in 2018, with independent evaluations showing that sugar consumption from carbonated soft drinks fell by 30.2 per cent in retail purchases and 19.8 per cent in food service settings within a year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-17-V5MS53K3SZBNPOHSXV2BWRHFBI\">Similarly, the UK\u2019s soft drinks industry levy, which also came into effect in 2018, showed a significant drop in the amount of sugar in people\u2019s diets across the UK \u2013 about half in children and by a third in adults after the tax was announced in 2016 \u2013 according to the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.<\/p>\n<p><b>Protecting the next generation<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-19-VDRV7D7QL5CGVC65L5U4UUWWWU\">The medical community is particularly focused on how the tax might wean young people off high-sugar habits in the UAE. \u201cI wish more individuals would see that drinking high-sugar beverages is closely related to obesity and type 2 diabetes,\u201d said Dr Elhouni. \u201cEven slight decreases in the daily consumption of these drinks can lead to significant health improvements.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-20-NGA6E5H36BDZTFGMKOGPUG4MAY\">Sugars in drinks can be easy to over-consume because they are not as filling as food, he added. \u201cBut they still add calories that can lead to weight gain and metabolic issues. <\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-21-HQTTRNRWMNDPBF23SYJHE434PE\">\u201cThis is why it\u2019s advised to eat whole fruits instead of drinking fruit juice, where it\u2019s easy to add more sugar for better taste.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>Good for your teeth<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-23-RUREADDVTBFHTNJVFVIGKPRFUU\">It is not just metabolic health disorders, either, as high sugar consumption is also linked to faster dental decay. Dr David Roze, founder of Dubai\u2019s Roze BioHealth and BioDental Clinics, also \u201cstrongly\u201d supports the new sugar tax as it\u2019ll help address the imbalances he frequently sees in the oral microbiome. <\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-24-QOG66OZEORBHVKRSCXQ2GEQEYM\">\u201cFrom a dental perspective, this policy tackles one of the root causes of disease,\u201d he told The National. \u201cReducing sugar exposure directly lowers rates of cavities, gum disease and tooth loss.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-26-FJZXVTDXGFCVLGQCMK7RHNFLBM\">Dr Roze said he commonly sees early signs of biological imbalances showing up in the mouth, such as aggressive tooth decay at a surprisingly young age, chronic gum inflammation and early bone loss around the teeth. There is often also advanced dental breakdown in patients with undiagnosed or poorly controlled diabetes or pre-diabetes. <\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-27-WAI3ZQ5O6RGONMAE2OQWCLSWCY\">\u201cThe underlying pattern is often frequent and hidden sugar exposure not just from soft drinks, but from sweetened coffees, flavoured teas, energy drinks and products marketed as \u2018healthy\u2019,\u201d said Dr Roze. <\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-28-DCVARQHOPFFABGJ3MJKTIA5474\">\u201cWhen sugar is consumed continuously throughout the day, the mouth remains acidic for hours, disrupting the oral microbiome and allowing harmful bacteria to dominate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>A shifting retail industry<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-30-WRJ3TCNDEBAG3KCU2IOJYM2UCM\">As obesity rates rise, there has been a move towards healthier lifestyles and decreased sugar consumption across the UAE in recent years, particularly in the retail sector. <\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-31-MPA6IEHW2RFT5LYR47Y4EC3V5I\">The country\u2019s healthy snacks industry is booming, as consumers demand more sugar-free, gluten-free, low-fat, plant-based and organic items. The healthy snacks market is expected to reach a projected revenue of more than $1 billion by 2033, a compound annual growth rate of 7.2 per cent, according to Grand View Research. <\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-33-ISQ5H5EHAFERFBHPP5SJDU7K5U\">As more manufacturers incorporate alternative and natural sweeteners, such as stevia, the UAE\u2019s sugar-free drinks market is also projected to reach $1.2 billion by 2033, with a CAGR of 9.3 per cent from this year, according to Deep Market Insights. <\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-34-U3U6XODZT5AOTBZ4XQ3PZRGXFE\">\u201cBy pushing manufacturers to create products with lower sugar content and backing public awareness efforts about healthy eating, we might witness a slow decline in obesity and associated chronic illnesses over time,\u201d said Dr Elhouni. <\/p>\n<p class=\"defaultstyled__StyledText-sc-11u52t4-1 huqwQJ margin-lg-bottom\" id=\"el-35-CPWJJLTJBJAV5DORCAFGWUNW2U\">\u201cThis should be included in a wider health promotion plan that focuses on education, better access to nutritious foods and increased awareness of preventing chronic diseases,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>Company%20Profile<\/p>\n<p>%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENamara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJune%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammed%20Alnamara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMicrofinance%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFamily%20offices%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n<p>The specs<\/p>\n<p><strong>Engine: <\/strong>3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8<\/p>\n<p><strong>Transmission: <\/strong>seven-speed automatic<\/p>\n<p><strong>Power: <\/strong>592bhp<\/p>\n<p><strong>Torque: <\/strong>620Nm<\/p>\n<p><strong>Price: <\/strong>Dh980,000<\/p>\n<p><strong>On sale: <\/strong>now<\/p>\n<p>Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026 <\/p>\n<p><strong>1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2. E-invoicing in the UAE<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>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.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>3. More tax audits<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><strong>5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><strong>6. Further transfer pricing enforcement<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>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.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>7. Limited time periods for audits<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>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.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>8. Pillar 2 implementation\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE&#8217;s implementation of the OECD\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p><strong>9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>10. Substance and CbC reporting focus<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>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\u2019 global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer<\/p>\n<p>KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANIThe five pillars of Islam%20Ramez%20Gab%20Min%20El%20Akher<\/p>\n<p>%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStreaming%20on%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMBC%20Shahid%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n<p>A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAEWhat is dialysis?<\/p>\n<p>Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.<\/p>\n<p>It gets rid of your body&#8217;s wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.<\/p>\n<p>There are two kinds of dialysis \u2014 haemodialysis and peritoneal.<\/p>\n<p>In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.<\/p>\n<p>In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.<\/p>\n<p>It isn\u2019t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.<\/p>\n<p>What are the influencer academy modules?<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Mastery of audio-visual content creation.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Cinematography, shots and movement.<\/li>\n<li>All aspects of post-production.<\/li>\n<li>Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.<\/li>\n<li>Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.<\/li>\n<li>Tourism industry knowledge.<\/li>\n<li>Professional ethics.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The specs<\/p>\n<p><strong>Engine:<\/strong> 4.0-litre flat-six<\/p>\n<p><strong>Torque: <\/strong>450Nm at 6,100rpm<\/p>\n<p><strong>Transmission: <\/strong>7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual<\/p>\n<p><strong>Fuel economy, combined: <\/strong>13.8L\/100km<\/p>\n<p><strong>On sale: <\/strong>Available to order now<\/p>\n<p>Forced%20Deportations<\/p>\n<p>%3Cp%3EWhile%20the%20Lebanese%20government%20has%20deported%20a%20number%20of%20refugees%20back%20to%20Syria%20since%202011%2C%20the%20latest%20round%20is%20the%20first%20en-mass%20campaign%20of%20its%20kind%2C%20say%20the%20Access%20Center%20for%20Human%20Rights%2C%20a%20non-governmental%20organization%20which%20monitors%20the%20conditions%20of%20Syrian%20refugees%20in%20Lebanon.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%9CIn%20the%20past%2C%20the%20Lebanese%20General%20Security%20was%20responsible%20for%20the%20forced%20deportation%20operations%20of%20refugees%2C%20after%20forcing%20them%20to%20sign%20papers%20stating%20that%20they%20wished%20to%20return%20to%20Syria%20of%20their%20own%20free%20will.%20Now%2C%20the%20Lebanese%20army%2C%20specifically%20military%20intelligence%2C%20is%20responsible%20for%20the%20security%20operation%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Mohammad%20Hasan%2C%20head%20of%20ACHR.%3Cbr%3EIn%20just%20the%20first%20four%20months%20of%202023%20the%20number%20of%20forced%20deportations%20is%20nearly%20double%20that%20of%20the%20entirety%20of%202022.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ESince%20the%20beginning%20of%202023%2C%20ACHR%20has%20reported%20407%20forced%20deportations%20%E2%80%93%20200%20of%20which%20occurred%20in%20April%20alone.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIn%20comparison%2C%20just%20154%20people%20were%20forcfully%20deported%20in%202022.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n<p>Violence%20<\/p>\n<p>%3Cp%3EInstances%20of%20violence%20against%20Syrian%20refugees%20are%20not%20uncommon.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EJust%20last%20month%2C%20security%20camera%20footage%20of%20men%20violently%20attacking%20and%20stabbing%20an%20employee%20at%20a%20mini-market%20went%20viral.%20The%20store%E2%80%99s%20employees%20had%20engaged%20in%20a%20verbal%20altercation%20with%20the%20men%20who%20had%20come%20to%20enforce%20an%20order%20to%20shutter%20shops%2C%20following%20the%20announcement%20of%20a%20municipal%20curfew%20for%20Syrian%20refugees.%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CThey%20thought%20they%20were%20Syrian%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20the%20mayor%20of%20the%20Nahr%20el%20Bared%20municipality%2C%20Charbel%20Bou%20Raad%2C%20of%20the%20attackers.%3Cbr%3EIt%20later%20emerged%20the%20beaten%20employees%20were%20Lebanese.%20But%20the%20video%20was%20an%20exemplary%20instance%20of%20violence%20at%20a%20time%20when%20anti-Syrian%20rhetoric%20is%20particularly%20heated%20as%20Lebanese%20politicians%20call%20for%20the%20return%20of%20Syrian%20refugees%20to%20Syria.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n<p><strong>UAE v Zimbabwe A, 50 over series<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Fixtures<\/strong><br \/>Thursday, Nov 9 &#8211; 9.30am, ICC Academy, Dubai<br \/>Saturday, Nov 11 \u2013 9.30am, ICC Academy, Dubai<br \/>Monday, Nov 13 \u2013 2pm, Dubai International Stadium<br \/>Thursday, Nov 16 \u2013 2pm, ICC Academy, Dubai<br \/>Saturday, Nov 18 \u2013 9.30am, ICC Academy, Dubai<\/p>\n<p>Dengue%20fever%20symptoms<\/p>\n<p>%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHigh%20fever%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIntense%20pain%20behind%20your%20eyes%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESevere%20headache%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ENausea%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EVomiting%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESwollen%20glands%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERash%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIf%20symptoms%20occur%2C%20they%20usually%20last%20for%20two-seven%20days%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n<p>World Cup warm up matches<\/p>\n<p><strong>May 24<\/strong>\u00a0Pakistan v Afghanistan, Bristol; Sri Lanka v South Africa, Cardiff<\/p>\n<p><strong>May 25<\/strong>\u00a0England v Australia, Southampton; India v New Zealand, The Oval<\/p>\n<p><strong>May 26<\/strong>\u00a0South Africa v West Indies, Bristol; Pakistan v Bangladesh, Cardiff<\/p>\n<p><strong>May 27<\/strong>\u00a0Australia v Sri Lanka, Southampton; England v Afghanistan, The Oval<\/p>\n<p><strong>May 28<\/strong>\u00a0West Indies v New Zealand, Bristol; Bangladesh v India, Cardiff<\/p>\n<p>Citizenship-by-investment programmes<\/p>\n<p><strong>United Kingdom<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The UK offers three programmes for residency.\u00a0The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest \u00a350,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest \u00a32 million, \u00a35m or \u00a310m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).<\/p>\n<p>All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Caribbean<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate.\u00a0From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Portugal<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The investment amount ranges from \u20ac350,000 to \u20ac500,000 (Dh1.5m\u00a0to Dh2.16m) in real estate.\u00a0From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAmong European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,\u201d states Veronica Cotdemiey\u00a0of Citizenship Invest.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Greece<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is \u20ac250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Spain<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is \u20ac500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Cyprus<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of \u20ac2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Malta<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Malta citizenship by investment programme\u00a0is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least \u20ac650,000 to the National Development &amp; Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute \u20ac25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute \u20ac50,000 each.<\/p>\n<p>The second step is to make an investment in property of at least \u20ac350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least \u20ac16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least \u20ac150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.<\/p>\n<p>Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Egypt\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.<\/p>\n<p>Source: Citizenship Invest and Aqua Properties<\/p>\n<p>UAE and Russia in numbers<\/p>\n<p>UAE-Russia ties stretch back 48 years<\/p>\n<p>Trade between the UAE and Russia reached Dh12.5 bn in 2018<\/p>\n<p>More than 3,000 Russian companies are registered in the UAE<\/p>\n<p>Around 40,000 Russians live in the UAE<\/p>\n<p>The number of Russian tourists travelling to the UAE will increase to 12 percent to reach 1.6 million in 2023<\/p>\n<p>If you go:<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Getting there:<\/p>\n<p>Flying to Guyana requires first reaching New York with either Emirates or Etihad, then connecting with JetBlue or Caribbean Air at JFK airport. Prices start from around Dh7,000.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Getting around:<\/p>\n<p>Wildlife Worldwide offers a range of Guyana itineraries, such as its small group tour, the 15-day \u2018Ultimate Guyana Nature Experience\u2019 which features Georgetown, the Iwokrama Rainforest (one of the world\u2019s four remaining pristine tropical rainforests left in the world), the Amerindian village of Surama and the Rupununi Savannah, known for its giant anteaters and river otters; <a href=\"http:\/\/wildlifeworldwide.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wildlifeworldwide.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p>ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS<\/p>\n<p>%3Cp%3ECreator%3A%20Tima%20Shomali%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0Tara%20Abboud%2C%C2%A0Kira%20Yaghnam%2C%20Tara%20Atalla%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n<p>INDIA&#8217;S%20TOP%20INFLUENCERS<\/p>\n<p>%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBhuvan%20Bam%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fbhuvan.bam22%2F%3Fhl%3Den%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EInstagram%3C%2Fa%3E%20followers%3A%2016.1%20million%3Cbr%3EBhuvan%20Bam%20is%20a%2029-year-old%20comedian%20and%20actor%20from%20Delhi%2C%20who%20started%20out%20with%20YouTube%20channel%2C%20%E2%80%9CBB%20Ki%20Vines%E2%80%9D%20in%202015%2C%20which%20propelled%20the%20social%20media%20star%20into%20the%20limelight%20and%20made%20him%20sought-after%20among%20brands.%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EKusha%20Kapila%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fkushakapila%2F%3Fhl%3Den%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EInstagram%3C%2Fa%3E%20followers%3A%203.1%20million%3Cbr%3EKusha%20Kapila%20is%20a%20fashion%20editor%20and%20actress%2C%20who%20has%20collaborated%20with%20brands%20including%20Google.%20She%20focuses%20on%20sharing%20light-hearted%20content%20and%20insights%20into%20her%20life%20as%20a%20rising%20celebrity.%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDiipa%20Khosla%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fdiipakhosla%2F%3Fhl%3Den%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EInstagram%3C%2Fa%3E%20followers%3A%201.8%20million%3Cbr%3EDiipa%20Khosla%20started%20out%20as%20a%20social%20media%20manager%20before%20branching%20out%20to%20become%20one%20of%20India&#8217;s%20biggest%20fashion%20influencers%2C%20with%20collaborations%20including%20MAC%20Cosmetics.%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EKomal%20Pandey%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fkomalpandeyofficial%2F%3Fhl%3Den%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EInstagram%3C%2Fa%3E%20followers%3A%201.8%20million%3Cbr%3EKomal%20Pandey%20is%20a%20fashion%20influencer%20who%20has%20partnered%20with%20more%20than%20100%20brands%2C%20including%20Olay%20and%20smartphone%20brand%20Vivo%20India.%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENikhil%20Sharma%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fnikkkhil%2F%3Fhl%3Den%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EInstagram%3C%2Fa%3E%20followers%3A%201.4%20million%3Cbr%3ENikhil%20Sharma%20from%20Mumbai%20began%20his%20online%20career%20through%20vlogs%20about%20his%20motorcycle%20trips.%20He%20has%20become%20a%20lifestyle%20influencer%20and%20has%20created%20his%20own%20clothing%20line.%3Cbr%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%20Hireinfluence%2C%20various%3C%2Fem%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n<p>Euro 2020<\/p>\n<p>Group A:\u00a0Italy,\u00a0Switzerland, Wales, Turkey\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Group B:\u00a0Belgium, Russia,\u00a0Denmark, Finland<\/p>\n<p>Group C: Netherlands,\u00a0Ukraine,\u00a0Austria,\u00a0<br \/>Georgia\/Kosovo\/Belarus\/North Macedonia<\/p>\n<p>Group D:\u00a0England,\u00a0Croatia,\u00a0Czech Republic,\u00a0<br \/>Scotland\/Israel\/Norway\/Serbia<\/p>\n<p>Group E:\u00a0Spain,\u00a0Poland,\u00a0Sweden,\u00a0<br \/>N.Ireland\/Bosnia\/Slovakia\/Ireland<\/p>\n<p>Group F:\u00a0Germany,\u00a0France,\u00a0Portugal,\u00a0<br \/>Iceland\/Romania\/Bulgaria\/Hungary<\/p>\n<p>How%20to%20avoid%20getting%20scammed<\/p>\n<p>%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3ENever%20click%20on%20links%20provided%20via%20app%20or%20SMS%2C%20even%20if%20they%20seem%20to%20come%20from%20authorised%20senders%20at%20first%20glance%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EAlways%20double-check%20the%20authenticity%20of%20websites%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EEnable%20Two-Factor%20Authentication%20(2FA)%20for%20all%20your%20working%20and%20personal%20services%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EOnly%20use%20official%20links%20published%20by%20the%20respective%20entity%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EDouble-check%20the%20web%20addresses%20to%20reduce%20exposure%20to%20fake%20sites%20created%20with%20domain%20names%20containing%20spelling%20errors%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A<\/p>\n<p>Sole survivors<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off<\/li>\n<li>George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane<\/li>\n<li>Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.<\/li>\n<li>Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>More from Neighbourhood WatchFederer&#8217;s 19 grand slam titles<\/p>\n<p><strong>Australian Open<\/strong> (5 titles) &#8211;\u00a0<strong>2004<\/strong> bt Marat Safin; <strong>2006<\/strong> bt Marcos Baghdatis; <strong>2007<\/strong> bt Fernando Gonzalez; <strong>2010<\/strong> bt Andy Murray; <strong>2017<\/strong> bt Rafael Nadal<\/p>\n<p><strong>French Open <\/strong>(1 title) &#8211;<strong>\u00a02009<\/strong> bt Robin Soderling<\/p>\n<p><strong>Wimbledon <\/strong>(8 titles) &#8211;<strong>\u00a02003\u00a0<\/strong>bt Mark Philippoussis; <strong>2004<\/strong> bt Andy Roddick; <strong>2005<\/strong>\u00a0bt Andy Roddick;\u00a0<strong>2006<\/strong>\u00a0bt Rafael Nadal;\u00a0<strong>2007<\/strong>\u00a0bt Rafael Nadal;\u00a0<strong>2009<\/strong>\u00a0bt Andy Roddick;\u00a0<strong>2012<\/strong>\u00a0bt Andy Murray;\u00a0<strong>2017<\/strong>\u00a0bt Marin Cilic<\/p>\n<p><strong>US Open <\/strong>(5 titles) &#8211;\u00a0<strong>2004<\/strong> bt Lleyton Hewitt; <strong>2005<\/strong> bt Andre Agassi; <strong>2006<\/strong> bt Andy Roddick; <strong>2007<\/strong> bt Novak Djokovic; <strong>2008<\/strong> bt Andy Murray<\/p>\n<p>TWISTERS<\/p>\n<p><strong>Director: <\/strong>Lee Isaac Chung<\/p>\n<p><strong>Starring: <\/strong>Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos<\/p>\n<p><strong>Rating: <\/strong>2.5\/5<\/p>\n<p>Fixtures (all times UAE)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Saturday <\/strong><br \/>Brescia v Atalanta (6pm)<br \/>Genoa v Torino (9pm)<br \/>Fiorentina v Lecce (11.45pm)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sunday <\/strong><br \/>Juventus v Sassuolo (3.30pm)<br \/>Inter Milan v SPAL\u00a0(6pm)<br \/>Lazio v Udinese\u00a0(6pm)<br \/>Parma v AC Milan\u00a0(6pm)<br \/>Napoli v Bologna (9pm)<br \/>Verona v AS Roma (11.45pm)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Monday <\/strong><br \/>Cagliari v Sampdoria (11.45pm)<\/p>\n<p>Key products and UAE prices<\/p>\n<p><strong>iPhone XS<\/strong><br \/>With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance\u00a0version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim\u00a0and comes with better battery life, a\u00a0faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.<br \/><strong>Price:\u00a0Dh4,229<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>iPhone XS\u00a0Max<\/strong><br \/>It is expected to be a grander version\u00a0of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen;\u00a0an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.<br \/><strong>Price:\u00a0Dh4,649<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>iPhone XR<\/strong><br \/>A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.<br \/><strong>Price:\u00a0Dh3,179<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Apple Watch Series 4<\/strong><br \/>More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that\u00a0are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A tiered beverage tax set to launch in the UAE from January 1 is being hailed by medical&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":660295,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4318],"tags":[105,725,4434,1715,1426,2722,117601,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-660294","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nutrition","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-health-news","10":"tag-nutrition","11":"tag-standard","12":"tag-story","13":"tag-uae","14":"tag-uae-desk-team","15":"tag-uk","16":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115803004725375988","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/660294","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=660294"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/660294\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/660295"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=660294"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=660294"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=660294"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}