VAT came into effect across the country at 7am today. Staff at supermarkets were seen hastily changing prices to include the 5 per cent added charge just as the deadline passed. > story coming soon, but find out how VAT will affect you here: <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/uae/how-vat-in-the-uae-will-affect-you-1.691864">How VAT in the UAE will affect you</a> In education, the number of students from the Middle East studying in a college or university in the United States dropped by 8.4 per cent, according to the latest data from the Institute of International Education (IIE). > story coming soon And finally, today is also the first day of the Year of Zayed. > <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/uae/year-of-zayed-marks-a-special-year-ahead-for-uae-1.691730">Year of Zayed marks a special year ahead for UAE</a>