UAE and Lebanon talk travel, and fires ravage Israel
The UAE and Lebanon are working on lifting travel restrictions, which include a UAE-imposed ban on Emiratis travelling to Lebanon, following a meeting of their Presidents. Washington has reportedly been planning deportations to Libya. Firefighters in Israel are battling what authorities said might be the largest wildfire in the country's history.
On this episode of Trending Middle East:
This episode features Mina Al-Oraibi, Editor-in-Chief, and Thomas Helm, Jerusalem correspondent.
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Sharjah 24
5 hours ago
- Sharjah 24
FNC, State Duma of Russian Federation discuss cooperation
The meeting explored ways to strengthen cooperation and partnership across various sectors, reflecting the growing strategic and friendly relations between the UAE and the Russian Federation, supported by the leadership and governments of both countries. Both sides emphasised the importance of further advancing and deepening these ties. At the start of the meeting, Saqr Ghobash welcomed Babakov and his accompanying delegation, reaffirming the depth of UAE-Russia relations and the shared commitment to expanding them. The two parties underscored the strength of the friendship between the UAE and Russia and highlighted the importance of developing parliamentary cooperation between the FNC and the State Duma. They emphasised the value of collaboration on issues of mutual interest in regional and international parliamentary forums, serving the interests of both nations and their peoples. The meeting was also attended by several FNC members. Ghobash noted that such meetings and reciprocal visits represent a continuation of active parliamentary cooperation. He referred to his recent official visit to the Russian Federation, where he led an FNC delegation to the Nevsky International Ecological Congress. That visit demonstrated the UAE's commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation in environmental and economic fields and marked a key step in expanding both parliamentary and environmental collaboration, reinforcing the strategic partnership between the two countries. He also affirmed the FNC's keenness to continue coordination with the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation to promote joint parliamentary action and to strengthen bilateral representation in international forums in support of peace, development, and global understanding. For his part, Babakov affirmed the depth of the strategic relations between the Russian Federation and the UAE. He praised the UAE's remarkable progress in areas such as sustainable development, innovation, artificial intelligence, space exploration, and the empowerment of women and youth. He also commended the UAE's role as a reliable partner in promoting regional and international security and stability, as well as its initiatives in mediation, humanitarian aid, and economic diplomacy.
The National
9 hours ago
- The National
UAE universities on the rise in world education rankings as Harvard leads way
UAE universities have risen up the rankings in a new global higher education league table, in which the US's under-fire Harvard cemented top spot for the 14th consecutive year. Abu Dhabi's Khalifa University led the way for the country, jumping up 30 places to 846th out of 21,462 higher education institutions assessed in the 2025 Centre for World University Rankings (CWUR), released on Monday morning. Khalifa University placed in the top 4 per cent of universities worldwide and was the 10th best in the Middle East in the annual list measured on quality of education, employability, quality of faculty and research. United Arab Emirates University climbed 91 places to 1,022 (in the top 4.8 per cent), ahead of the University of Sharjah – up 161 places to 1,092 (top 5.1 per cent) and New York University Abu Dhabi at 1,116 (top 5.2 per cent). The CWUR referred to the strong research performance of the universities as being central to their move up the rankings. Nadim Mahassen, president of the CWUR, hailed the significant progress being made by UAE universities. 'With four of its institutions in the rankings, the United Arab Emirates is well represented among the world's top universities," he said. "Further financial backing, and placing the development of education and science higher on its agenda, will allow the country to be even more competitive in the rapidly evolving global academic landscape." King Abdullah University of Science and Technology was the top performer in the region, moving up to 237th from 249th position last year. Fellow Saudi institution King Abdulaziz University broke into the 250, rising from 254th to 249th. UAE makes its mark Senthil Nathan, managing director and co-founder of Edu Alliance, a UAE-based higher education consultancy company, said it was significant that this particular ranking places an emphasis on the success of universities in preparing students for the world of work. 'Before reflecting on any world rankings, it is essential to understand their underlying methodologies. CWUR assesses rankings without relying on surveys and university data submissions,' Mr Nathan said. 'A significant weight [50 per cent] of this ranking is given to the success of the university's alumni.' Mr Nathan – a former deputy vice chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology in Abu Dhabi – said the CWUR considers the average number of former students who have held top positions at the world's largest 2,000 public companies since 2011. This performance indicator will frustrate some newer universities, such as those in the Emirates. 'The improvement in the rankings of four of the universities in the UAE is commendable," he said. "On a first glance, their CWUR ranking may seem lower as compared to their ranking in other systems. 'However, this is mainly because of the way CWUR measures success of the alumni. Khalifa University and NYUAD are relatively young universities and have been graduating students only for less than 15 years.' The UAE government has taken significant steps to drive up higher education standards in recent years in an effort to compete with the world's best seats of learning. In June 2024, the UAE set out plans for local universities to be subjected to regular assessments and clustered based on performance. Both public and private higher education institutions are included in the assessment, with rankings based on factors including teaching quality and student life, employability, scientific research and international collaboration. Recognition for troubled Harvard The Ivy League Harvard University, which is the subject of a controversial plan by the Trump administration to prevent it enrolling foreign students, topped the rankings once again. Washington has accused the Ivy League university of not doing enough to fight anti-Semitism and change its admissions practices – allegations the university has strongly denied. Harvard said the proposed ban is a 'blatant violation' of the law and free speech rights. Harvard was joined in the top three by two other US universities, MIT and Stanford, with the UK's world renowned Cambridge and Oxford making up the top five. While US universities make up the rest of the top 10, Mr Mahassen said this dominance was not reflected in the wider global top 2,000 and points to potential challenges ahead as academic competition hots up and universities face up to funding cuts. 'While the United States still boasts the top universities in the world, the decline of the vast majority of its higher education institutions should be of concern to US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and the wider Trump administration," he said. 'At a time when Chinese universities are reaping the rewards of years of generous financial support from their government, American institutions are grappling with slashed federal funding and disputes over academic freedom and free speech. 'With the United States surpassed by China as the country with the most representatives in the rankings, its reputation in the global higher education sector is under serious threat. 'The sharp decline of US universities parallels that of institutions in Japan, France, and Germany, while UK and Russian universities have fared only slightly better. With the extraordinary rise of Chinese institutions, universities in the Western world cannot afford to stand still and rest on their laurels.'
Khaleej Times
9 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
The global tax game: How UAE is winning while London forgets its own playbook
In any game, it's not just how you play — but how others play — that can work to your advantage. This perfectly captures the ongoing shift in global tax dynamics, particularly in the United Kingdom. According to the 2024 Global Migration Report, over 9,500 high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) have exited the UK — a number that is only expected to grow. One of the most significant catalysts for this exodus is the upcoming overhaul of the UK's non-domiciled (non-dom) tax regime, effective 6 April 2025. Let's break down what's changing—and why the UAE stands to gain the most. What Was the Non-Dom Regime? Until 5 April 2025, UK residents who were classified as non-domiciled could benefit from the remittance basis of taxation. This meant: They were only taxed on foreign income and gains (FIG) if these were brought into (remitted to) the UK. This allowed wealthy individuals to accumulate global income offshore without facing UK tax obligations - so long as they kept the money abroad. This system made the UK attractive to wealthy foreigners. But the landscape is about to shift. What's Changing from 6 April 2025? The UK government is abolishing the concept of domicile as a key factor in taxation and replacing it with a residence-based system. The key changes include: End of the Remittance Basis: All UK tax residents will be taxed on their worldwide income and gains, regardless of domicile status, after a transitional period. Transitional Relief: o For 2025–2026, only 50% of foreign income will be taxed if switching from the old to the new system. o A special 12% tax rate applies to foreign income earned before 6 April 2025 if remitted in the 2025–26 or 2026–27 tax years. Ultimately, after four years of UK tax residence, individuals will be taxed like any other UK resident—with no FIG exemptions. Who will this impact the most? These changes primarily affect HNWIs and global families who historically relied on the non-dom regime to protect their offshore wealth from UK taxation. The shift not only undermines long-standing tax planning structures but also reduces the UK's appeal as a global hub for mobile capital and top-tier talent. How the UAE stands to gain As capital chases efficiency, tax policy plays a decisive role in location selection. The UAE, with its 0% personal income tax regime, robust financial infrastructure, and world-class quality of life, emerges as a natural haven. Here's why the UAE is poised to gain the most: Strategic location: Needless to mention not just close to Europe - but at the crossroads of East and West, connecting global markets with ease. Stability and predictability: In a rapidly changing tax world, the UAE offers clarity, consistency, and long-term visibility for individuals and families. With a bold vision and cautious implementation of compliances, it emerges as a strong contender. Transparent and rules-based Golden Visa regime: Unlike jurisdictions such as Singapore - where the PR process is often seen as opaque and discretionary- the UAE has published its Golden Visa rules in black and white, creating a rules-based and inclusive system that welcomes both wealth and talent. Limited competition: With Hong Kong effectively out of the race due to political and regulatory concerns, and while traditionally leading in the race, Singapore, it's PR regime becoming increasingly restrictive, the UAE is among the very few jurisdictions offering competitive, clear, and welcoming advantages. The bigger picture: The global tax game The UK's tax reform is part of a larger pattern: nations are rewriting tax codes to balance fairness, revenue, and global competitiveness. But when one jurisdiction tightens its rules, others gain ground. For the UAE, this is not just a short-term win - it's a long-term opportunity to attract global talent and wealth. Follow us for more insights in our series: The Global Tax Game —where we explore how countries are competing to attract capital through smarter tax policies.
