Insights
Practical, accurate guidance — on UAE Corporate Tax, VAT, transfer pricing, and business advisory — for companies across the UAE and the GCC.
All articles
VAT Return Filing in Dubai & the UAE: A Step-by-Step Guide
If you are VAT-registered in the UAE, you must file a VAT return for every tax period — usually within 28 days of it ending — and pay any VAT due by the same date. This guide walks through the VAT201 form on EmaraTax, how the figure you owe is worked out, the deadlines, and the penalties for getting it wrong.
How Much Does It Cost to Set Up a Company in Dubai & the UAE?
There is no single price to set up a company in Dubai — it depends on whether you go free zone or mainland, how many visas you need, and your office requirement. This guide breaks down what makes up the cost, how the two routes compare, indicative ranges, and the recurring and hidden costs people miss.
Free Zone 0% Corporate Tax: The QFZP Conditions Explained
The free zone 0% Corporate Tax rate is real but conditional — it applies only to a Qualifying Free Zone Person, only on qualifying income, and only while strict conditions are met. This guide explains the QFZP conditions, qualifying versus excluded activities, the de minimis rule, and the cost of getting it wrong.
Reverse Charge VAT in the UAE: How It Works and When It Applies
Under the reverse charge mechanism, the buyer — not the seller — accounts for the VAT. It is how the UAE taxes imported services and certain domestic supplies. This guide explains when reverse charge applies, how to report it on your VAT return, and the common mistakes that lead to penalties.
Input VAT Recovery in the UAE: The Time Limit You Can't Miss
Input VAT is not recoverable whenever you remember — UAE rules tie it to a specific window. Claim it in the first tax period you are eligible or the next, respect the six-month payment rule, and know which costs are blocked. Here is how the time limit works and how to avoid losing recovery.
Transfer Pricing Documentation in the UAE: What You Must Keep
If your business transacts with related parties, UAE Corporate Tax requires those dealings to be at arm's length — and to be documented. This guide explains the arm's length principle, who is caught, and the three layers of transfer pricing documentation: the disclosure form, the Master and Local File, and country-by-country reporting.
UAE Corporate Tax Deadline Calendar: Every Key Date in One Place
A scannable reference for every UAE Corporate Tax date: the full registration timetable, filing and payment due dates by year-end through 2027, the rules for new companies and individuals, and the penalties — all in one place.
UAE Small Business Relief: Do You Qualify for 0% Corporate Tax?
If your UAE business earns AED 3 million or less, Small Business Relief can let you be treated as having no taxable income — effectively 0% Corporate Tax, with simpler compliance. But it is a revenue test, not a profit test, it is not automatic, and free zone and large-group businesses are excluded. Here is exactly how it works.
How Much Does Accounting Cost in Dubai? (2026 Pricing Guide)
There is no single price for accounting in Dubai — it depends on your transaction volume, whether you are VAT-registered, and how much reporting you need. This guide explains the pricing models, indicative monthly ranges, and how outsourcing compares with an in-house hire, so you know what a fair quote looks like.
How to Apply for a UAE Tax Residency Certificate (Step-by-Step)
Applying for a UAE Tax Residency Certificate is now done through the FTA's EmaraTax portal. This guide walks through exactly what individuals and companies need, the steps to submit the application, the fees, and how long approval takes.
Outsourced Accounting & Bookkeeping in Dubai & the UAE: What It Covers & When to Switch
Outsourcing your accounting is no longer just about saving money — under Corporate Tax and VAT it is about getting books that are accurate, compliant, and decision-ready every month. Here is what an outsourced service covers, how it compares with hiring in-house, and the signs it is time to switch.
What Does an Outsourced CFO Do? When UAE Businesses Need One
An outsourced CFO gives a growing business board-level financial leadership without the cost of a full-time hire. Here is what the role actually covers, how it differs from your accountant, the signs your UAE business needs one, and how the engagement works.
Mainland vs Free Zone: Choosing the Right Company Setup in the UAE
Mainland or free zone is the first big decision when setting up in the UAE, and it shapes your market access, ownership, cost, and tax for years. This guide compares the two clearly, explains the Corporate Tax angle, and helps you choose the right structure.
Documents & Steps to Form a Company in Dubai & the UAE (Step-by-Step)
Forming a company in Dubai follows a clear sequence — choose your structure and activity, reserve a name, get approvals and your trade licence, then sort visas, banking, and tax registration. Here is the full process and the documents you need at each stage.
How to Register for Corporate Tax in the UAE (Step-by-Step 2026)
Every taxable person in the UAE must register for Corporate Tax and obtain a Tax Registration Number — even free zone companies and businesses below the AED 375,000 threshold. Here is exactly how to do it on EmaraTax, what you need, and the deadlines that matter.
UAE Corporate Tax Deadlines 2026: Registration, Filing & Payment
Your Corporate Tax deadlines all flow from one thing: your tax period. This guide lays out the registration, filing, and payment deadlines, shows how to work out your own dates with examples, and explains what happens if you miss them.
VAT Registration in Dubai & the UAE: Thresholds, Process & Deadlines (2026)
If your taxable turnover crosses AED 375,000, VAT registration is mandatory — and you only have 30 days to do it. Here are the thresholds, the documents, the EmaraTax steps, and the deadlines that decide when and how you register for VAT in Dubai and across the UAE.
VAT Refund in Dubai & the UAE: Who Qualifies & How to Claim
"VAT refund" means different things in the UAE. For a registered business it usually means reclaiming the excess when your input VAT is greater than your output VAT. Here is who qualifies, how to claim it on EmaraTax, how long it takes — and how the tourist and other schemes differ.
The Hidden Costs of Bad Bookkeeping: 7 Warning Signs for UAE Businesses
Bad bookkeeping rarely announces itself — it shows up as a VAT scramble, a year-end surprise, or a penalty you did not see coming. Here are seven warning signs that your books are costing you money, and how clean accounting protects your business.
UAE Tax Residency Certificate (TRC): Benefits & Who Needs One
A UAE Tax Residency Certificate proves your tax residency and unlocks the benefits of the UAE's extensive double-taxation treaty network — relief from being taxed twice and reduced withholding tax abroad. Here is what it does, who qualifies, and who should have one.
UAE Corporate Tax: What Every Business Needs to Know
A plain-language overview of the UAE's Corporate Tax regime and what it means for your business — rates, registration, free zones, reliefs, and filing.
Exempt Income Under UAE Corporate Tax: What Businesses Must Know
Certain income is exempt under UAE Corporate Tax — dividends, qualifying shareholding gains, and more. Here is what qualifies and the conditions that apply.
Understanding the UAE Corporate Tax Anti-Abuse Rule: Article 50
Article 50 lets the FTA counteract arrangements whose main purpose is a tax advantage. Here is what the anti-abuse rule means for legitimate planning.
Foreign Tax Credit Under UAE Corporate Tax: Overview & Practical Implications
The Foreign Tax Credit relieves double taxation on cross-border income under UAE Corporate Tax. Here is how the credit works and its limits.
Withholding Tax Credit Under Article 46: Overview & Practical Implications
Article 46 lets withholding tax be offset against Corporate Tax. With the domestic withholding rate currently 0%, here is what it means today and ahead.