Dubai Chambers has announced a new strategic partnership with the UAE’s Federal Tax Authority (FTA) to promote awareness of the country’s tax system.
The initiative, it was shared, is aimed at helping private sector companies, business owners, and investors make “smarter decisions” about how they work, comply with tax laws, and achieve business growth.
Speaking about the partnership, His Excellency Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, commented: “Our new partnership with the FTA will enhance awareness of tax laws and help to ensure companies in Dubai fulfil their tax obligations. This important initiative reflects our commitment to providing comprehensive support to the private sector by improving the business community’s ability to keep pace with the latest legislative developments. The UAE’s tax regime and administrative requirements have been tailored to the needs of diverse business sectors in a way that enables companies to drive sustainable economic growth, create job opportunities, and invest for the future while supporting society at large through tax revenues.”
Meanwhile, His Excellency Khalid Ali Al Bustani, Director General of the Federal Tax Authority (FTA), said: “Signing the Memorandum of Understanding between the Authority and Dubai Chambers reflects the deep-seated bilateral collaboration and distinguished relations between the two entities, and aligns with the FTA’s strategy to enhance
strategic partnerships with institutions involved with taxes in the government and private sectors. This contributes to the sustainable development of the tax system and maintains a tax environment that encourages compliance according to the best governance and transparency standards, ensuring the delivery of exceptional services to the business community, investors, and entrepreneurs.”
The partnership will see the two collaborate on multiple initiatives aimed at raising awareness about the various types of tax that apply to companies in the UAE, as well as the importance of tax registration and its role in diversifying the national economy.
Specialised conferences, forums, and workshops tailored to the needs of the business community, will be held, with an emphasis on educating entrepreneurs, SMEs, and investors to enhance their awareness of tax procedures and requirements.
Both parties are set to invite attendees and participants from business delegations to participate in economic events.
The FTA will host experts to deliver lectures addressing entrepreneurs and investors in the emirate’s private sector.
Dubai Chambers and the FTA will also support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through the FTA’s Muwafaq Package initiative.
This initiative offers solutions to help businesses meet their tax obligations and organise accounting records and financial statements.
Bookends, a preloved bookstore in Dubai, was founded back in 2020 and is the brainchild of Grace Karim and Somia Anwar.
Initially an online store and the largest marketplace for preloved books, its first physical location opened in July 2023.
Now, located at Dubai Digital Park, Building A3, Silicon Oasis, the bookstore has a zero-waste design.
“The zero waste design, in simple words, works on the principles of ‘nothing is a waste,” it was shared, and subsequently, the bookstore features discarded sheets of paper from tattered books on the walls and utilises pallets for shelves.
“On a few occasions, we came across books that weren’t in a condition to be sold or added to the shelves, and that’s where stemmed the idea of adorning the store with the bits and pieces of the ripped, in shreds books,” said Somia Anwar and Grace Karim, owners, Bookends.
Alongside distributing preloved books, the bookstore has also hosted various events, including author sessions, and book carnivals.
Local author Purva Grover, and Brand Ambassador for Bookends, said: “You don’t have to be an activist or environmentalist to save the planet, a storyteller would work just fine.”
The Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, one of three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, has shared that its App Olympics programme received more than 1,100 applications to participate.
The programme was launched last year as part of the ‘Create Apps in Dubai’Dubai’ initiative announced by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai.
Further, the App Olympics is part of the chamber’s efforts to support the local digital ecosystem, and accelerate the emirate’s transformation into one of the leading digital economies globally in line with the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33).
Encouraging digital talent to submit their ideas for mobile applications, the program sees participants supported by experts in the field and given the opportunity to win prizes to accelerate their businesses’ growth during the closing ceremony,
The ceremony will be hosted at the Museum of the Future in February.
It was shared that the App Olympics has gathered international participants from 64 countries, accounting for 31 per cent of applications.
Education-focused apps accounted for the largest share of ideas submitted, followed by healthcare, sustainability, and logistics.
Other entries received spanned diverse sectors, including financial services, tourism, travel, and food and beverage services.
Following a thorough evaluation of the ideas submitted, 247 entrants were selected to participate in the App Olympics and compete during the qualifying stages, which took place over six months.
Competitors participated in 90 training courses on topics related to mobile application development, as well as strategies to transform their initial ideas into working business models.
The programme’s first phase concluded in January when qualifying ideas advanced to the second stage of the competition, which includes training and guidance on topics including building prototypes and pitching app ideas.
A total of 24 participants will progress to the semi-final stage in February, after which 12 ideas will be shortlisted to compete in the final.
During the awards ceremony, the selected participants will compete in the award’s four categories:
- Best App of the Year – Advanced Level,
- Best Youth-Made App,
- Most Innovative App, and
- Social Impact.
The ideas will be evaluated by a panel of judges featuring industry experts representing areas including banking, venture capital, government, and the private sector.
The four winners will each be awarded a prize worth US$ 150,000 consisting of a comprehensive package of services delivered in cooperation with an international app development software company.
Each winner will also receive integrated support from the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy to launch their ideas as promising startups, including assistance with licensing and banking processes and identifying potential partners and customers.
Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, commented: “The high levels of local and international participation reflect the importance of this initiative as an opportunity for innovators in the field of app development to transform their ideas into digital startups using the emirate as a launchpad. The success of the App Olympics further strengthens Dubai’s position as a leading platform for creative minds and a magnet for pioneers from across the globe. Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy remains committed to supporting entrepreneurs and businesses in bringing their ideas to life and accelerating the growth of Dubai’s Digital Economy.”
Dubai-based – Dulsco Group teamed up with Dubai Municipality ahead of the UAE’s 27th National Environment Day on 4 February 2024 for Dubai Municipality’s “An Hour with the Cleaner” initiative.
A total of 170 volunteers came together for a clean-up of the Flamingo Lake in Al Qudra in support of Dubai Municipality’s ‘An Hour with the Cleaner’ initiative.
The volunteers represented nine entities, including Coca-Cola, Choithrams, Dow Chemical IMEA GmbH (Dubai Branch), Expo City Dubai, Pullman Hotel Sharjah, Slices Catering Services, and Next Generation School, who worked alongside 70 volunteers from Dulsco Group and Dubai Municipality.
More than 100 bags of waste, containing 20 per cent of general waste and 80 per cent of recyclables, were collected and picked up by Dulsco’s Recycling Bus before being sent to Dulsco Environment’s Material Recovery Facility for further sorting, treatment and processing.
“We are so proud that so many have joined the Dubai Municipality and Dulsco Group teams in our clean-up efforts in the Al Qudra area today. We are seeing an increasing number of people and organisations taking a keen interest in preserving the environment and donating their time to ensure its protection and preservation, so that people can enjoy the emirate’s flora and fauna and diversity of landscape,” said John Grainger, Chief Operating Officer of Dulsco Environment.
“Dulsco Group has been an active partner of the initiative, which continues to highlight the consistent attention and care placed by Dubai’s leadership on the environment, since 1997. Supported by like-minded entities, corporations and individuals who are dedicated to preserving the environment, initiatives like this help everybody to play their part, so the environment is protected today for the generations of tomorrow,” he added.
Regional multi-service app Careem and multi-brand restaurant Kitopi have partnered to cover a full year’s rent for one customer.
The campaign, the two outlined, was aimed at helping to tackle the challenge of rising rent prices in Dubai.
Running from December 8th to December 17th, through the campaign, customers ordering from over 50 Kitopi restaurants available on Careem Food had the opportunity to win a year’s rent coverage capped at AED 100,000.
Participating restaurants included Zaroob, Pizzaro, Chin Chin, and Right Bite.
The winning order was a ‘Thai Red Chicken Curry’ from UNDER500.
The winner secured AED 65,000 in rent coverage from Kitopi – the value of her lease agreement. Her rent, it was shared, had risen by AED 15,000 in 2023.
“I was in shock when I got the phone call telling me I’d won. It really is a life-changing opportunity. As with many others in Dubai, I have been feeling the strain of the recent rent hikes. Winning the prize has taken a huge amount of pressure off myself and definitely given me a sense of relief and security going into the new year”, said Sian, the campaign winner.
Speaking about the campaign, Jaskaran Singh, VP of Food at Careem, commented: “Dubai’s rising rent prices have been a frequent topic of conversation in 2023 and into 2024, with many residents forced to consider downsizing or moving to new neighborhoods. When our long-standing partner Kitopi approached us with an incredibly generous campaign to cover a customer’s rent for one year, we jumped on board immediately.”
“We’re grateful to Kitopi for giving us the opportunity to help make such a meaningful impact on the lives of one of our customers. We hope that Sian will be able to channel these savings into something truly meaningful for her and her family or friends.”
George Choufany, MD of Kitopi, UAE, added: “At Kitopi, we believe in the power of community support. Teaming up with Careem for this rent-relief campaign is a testament to our collective commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of our customers. Congratulations to Sian, the campaign winner, and we are thrilled to have played a part in
creating joy for Dubai residents. Kitopi remains dedicated to fostering initiatives that contribute to the well-being of our community, and we look forward to continuing to serve and support in innovative ways.”
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