Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which have long lured foreign workers with the promise of a tax-free lifestyle, plan to impose a 5% tax next year on most goods and services to boost revenue after oil prices collapsed three years ago.

The top UN humanitarian official today denounced the Israeli airstrikes that have devastated Beirut and southern Lebanon and appealed for safe passage for aid, saying civilians were paying a ”disproportionate price” in the attacks targeting Hezbollah strongholds.