Uae

The National News: UAE to offer corporate tax relief to small businesses earning $816,880 or less Read more

Emiratisation refers to a set of policies and initiatives in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that aim to increase the participation of Emirati nationals in the country's workforce and reduce the country's reliance on expatriate labour. The Emiratisation programme was first launched in 1998 by the UAE government, in response to concerns about the low level of participation of Emiratis in the private sector. It addresses these issues through a quota system that that ensures companies hire a minimum percentage of Emirati nationals relative to the number of employees that the company has. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation MOHRE) recently released amendments to company’s quota obligations, which took effect from 1 January 2023. This article provides information on the latest updates and guidance on how to determine your company’s quota requirements and how to register on the programme. Read more

Like other Middle Eastern countries, the UAE relies on the principles of Sharia Law to guide and dictate many government policies, laws, and regulations. For expats this can have major implications on certain areas of life. Within Sharia Law are provisions that address how one’s assets should be distributed upon their death in the form of an inheritance. Until recently, these inheritance laws applied to everyone including expats, Muslim and non-Muslim alike. In November 2020, President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan introduced changes to existing inheritance laws (Article 1 of Law No. 30 of 2020) that allow expats to better decide how their assets should be handled after their death. This article examines how expats can register a will in DIFC to ensure their assets are distributed according to their wishes. Read more

A guide to VAT Law in the UAE, the scope of the law and companies’ responsibilities with respect to compliance and how to register for VAT. Read more

People migrate to new countries for a multitude of reasons: better career prospects, improved safety and security, education opportunities, financial incentives and a more favourable climate are just a few of them. There are currently over 56.8 million expatriates living around the world and this number is expected to continue growing. The UAE’s residency programmes have helped the country’s economy benefit from an influx of foreign capital and for the recipients of the visas, they can be an amazing tax savings tool. However, if you want to obtain tax residency in the UAE and benefit from the country’s tax landscape, it’s important that you also free yourself from your tax obligations in your home country. Read more

Who is a natural or juridical tax resident? According to Libbie Burtinshaw, Head of Operations at Sovereign PPG, the Domestic Tax Residency regulation defines a UAE tax resident as either a natural person or a juridical person. A natural person is defined as an individual with a permanent place of residence in the UAE, or one that is employed, or has a business in, the UAE. It also refers to individuals who: have spent 183 days or more in the UAE over a consecutive 12-month period primarily reside in the UAE are based out of the UAE for financial and personal interest. =UAE nationals, valid Permanent Resident Permit holders, or GCC member of state nationalities must be physically present for 90 days, or more, over a 12-month period. A juridical person refers to a business or entity which is legally separated from its owners. Tax residency applies to businesses or entities established or recognised in the UAE. Read more

For employees, losing a source of income can be terrifying, especially for expat workers in a foreign country. Without a way to make money, it’s easy to fall behind on bills or take on unnecessary debt. For this reason, many industrialised countries have created policies and programmes to ensure workers are protected if they become unemployed through no fault of their own. Beginning this year, the UAE will join over 70 other countries that offer some form of unemployment insurance protection. This article explains everything you need to know to prepare for the upcoming implementation of the UAE’s new unemployment insurance scheme. Read more

The Saudi Arabian IT market is one of the largest in the Middle East and North Africa region. It has ranked in the top 10 globally for their robust information technology framework. In line with the Vision 2030 goal to digitally transform the nation, the opportunities in this sector have the potential to explode in every direction as every business requires IT solutions. The Saudi ICT strategy 2023 is looking to create more than 25,000 jobs in the sector. As society evolves from traditional to more digital processes, there is a demand for IT in all sectors from governments, as well as public and private businesses. This article provides more information on the IT industry as well as the steps and requirements for setting up an IT company in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Read more

The United Arab Emirates has a long history of attracting top global talent to work in its thriving business community. According to UAE law, anyone who lives in the UAE must hold a residence permit or visa at all times. For expats considering retirement and wanting to stay in the UAE, this has always presented a challenge. To remedy this problem, the UAE cabinet introduced a new retirement visa in 2018 to create a pathway to allow workers to remain in the country into retirement age. This article provides more information on the retirement visa as well as other retirement options and incentives available for expat residents such as the Golden Visa and the Golden Pension. Read more

Established in 1985, the Jebel Ali Free Zone (often referred to as JAFZA) is the world’s largest freezone, occupying an area of 3.85 million square meters, and comprising a variety of facility types including warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and office spaces. Its globally central location and proximity to the Port of Jebel Ali provides direct access to a market of over 1.5 billion people across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. For this reason, JAFZA is a preferred location for over 400 businesses that operate within the UAE’s logistics and supply chain industry. This article looks at the benefits of operating a company in JAFZA, the types of business activities permitted and the business registration process. Read more