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The Role of DIFC in Empowering Family Offices in Dubai

July 10, 2024

Family businesses and family offices have emerged as a fundamental element in the progressive economy of Dubai. Internationally, they constitute 70% to 90% of gross domestic products, besides creating millions of jobs. In this edition, we present you the role of DIFC in empowering single family office in Dubai. DIFC is extensively recognized as a leader in private wealth advisory and asset management. It caters to families in Dubai with practicality and flexibility. With its robust regulatory framework and tailored support services, this globally recognized body is empowering family offices extensively.

Assisting Single Family Offices in Dubai

Globally, family businesses are thriving, growing faster than advanced and emerging economies. These businesses in the Middle East significantly contribute to the regional economy. The UAE hosts the vast majority of family offices, employing around 80% of the country’s workforce.

Opportunities for Family Offices in the Middle East

The DIFC has come up with its Family Arrangements Regulations, which have been effective since January 2023. It offers specialized provisions for family businesses. These regulations allow for a Family Business Register and a revamped Family Office and Multi-Family Office Regime, ensuring flexibility without stringent registration requirements. These initiatives are aligned with the federal UAE Family Business Law and facilitate long-term wealth planning across generations. Thus, the DIFC has opened up fresh opportunities for family offices in the Middle East.

To ensure the sustainability of family businesses, governance and succession are among the most crucial elements. DIFC supports these efforts through robust legal frameworks such as trust and will arrangements, foundations, and prescribed company structures. The body operates under English common law principles and ensures legal stability and transparency. It also ensures that dispute resolution mechanisms in the country remain efficient.

Empowering the Family Wealth Ecosystem with DFWC

The DIFC has established the Family Wealth Centre (DFWC) to strengthen its family wealth ecosystem with practical tools and additional initiatives. The core objective of this entity is to successfully preserve the wealth of affluent families. With nearly 6,000 registered firms and over 42,000 professionals benefiting from these offerings, DIFC continues to be a preferred hub for family offices looking for growth opportunities in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa.

The IMC Group provides comprehensive assistance and counselling services during the formation of a single family office in Dubai. With professional insights, single family offices can confidently stride ahead to success and make the most of the opportunities that the DIFC presents them with.

Strategic Location and Potential for Business Environment

The tactical location of Dubai between the East and the West, along with its world-class infrastructure makes it an ideal base for Indian FMCG companies. These firms also benefit from the business-friendly environment in the UAE while expanding globally. The free trade zones in the city, like the Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), offer lucrative incentives to these firms. Some of these perks include 100% foreign ownership and tax exemptions, which streamline business operations and make processes cost-effective.

Dubai serves as a gateway to lucrative markets in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. Thanks to its extensive network of free trade agreements and strategic partnerships, Indian FMCG companies can capitalize on these trade corridors while expanding their customer base globally.

Trade and Logistics Advantage

Dubai boasts a robust logistics ecosystem, with the Jebel Ali Port and Al Maktoum International Airport connecting more than 150 maritime destinations and 300 cities worldwide. This logistical advantage boosts supply chain management and helps FMCG firms in their importing and exporting endeavours.

Bharat Mart Initiative

The upcoming Bharat Mart in Jafza is all set to revolutionize the trading landscape for Indian businesses in Dubai. The mega warehousing facility is likely to become operational by 2025 and will serve as a dedicated platform for Indian companies to distribute and re-export their products regionally and globally. Covering a massive space of more than 700,000 square feet, the warehousing facility will offer advanced facilities customized to meet the needs of different businesses.

Supportive Legal Framework and Incentives

The legal framework in the UAE is supportive to Indian FMCG companies. The Commercial Agencies Law and the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (IPPAs) make the business environment stable and transparent. These measures protect the rights and interests of the investors while minimizing investment risks, fostering a conducive atmosphere for the growth and sustainability of businesses.

Cultural Aspects

The presence of a significant Indian population in the UAE nurtures a healthy cultural affinity with the country. This goes a long way in facilitating market entry and engaging consumers, particularly for FMCG companies. These firms understand the local preferences and customer behaviour and are coming up with tailored products. This is one of the reasons why the sale of FMCG goods is gaining traction in the Gulf market.

Ease of Setting up Business

With the UAE streamlining the process of setting up a business in Dubai through online platforms, foreign businesses can incorporate their companies in Dubai in a quick time. Besides, entrepreneurs enjoy the flexibility to choose from a wide range of business licenses and legal structures based on their operational needs.

Professional Assistance for Setting Up a Business in Dubai

The emergence of Dubai as a global business hub presents tremendous opportunities for Indian FMCG companies to scale their operations internationally. Entrepreneurs wondering as Indian how to start a Business in Dubai can reach out to the IMC Group for professional support and comprehensive consultation. Leading FMCG firms in India seek expert assistance to ensure legal compliance during their company incorporation in Dubai and capitalize on the facilities offered by the UAE government. With professionals on their side, forward-thinking FMCG companies can confidently expand overseas and tap fresh customer bases in global markets.

Strategic Significance and Economic Outlook

The surge in the number of M&A activities is not only about the number of deals but also their strategic significance. With these large transactions, Singapore further consolidates its position as a key business hub in Southeast Asia. The country is attracting an impressive volume of foreign investment directly from international corporations. Notable transactions include the KKR-led STT data centre deal and the sale of a majority stake in Singapore’s Fullerton Health.

According to experts, many of these deals have been taking shape since mid- to late-2023. This reflects the long-term confidence of investors in the macroeconomic environment in the country. They are keen to invest in promising assets in Singapore, eyeing a strong growth trajectory in the country. The latest survey of the Monetary Authority of Singapore reveals that the economy of the country is projected to expand by 2.4% in 2024. Besides, the benchmark Straits Times Index has risen over 8% since it hit its low last October, which further reflects the confidence among investors.

Notable M&A Deals in Singapore

Some of the recent M&A transactions in Singapore include:

OCBC Bank moving closer to taking full control of Great Eastern Holdings with a $1.4 billion offer
Shell acquiring liquefied natural gas trader Pavilion Energy from Temasek
French industrial group Seche Environment announcing its acquisition of hazardous industrial waste collector ECO Industrial Environmental Engineering for $605 million

The strategic importance of Singapore in the global M&A landscape is evident from these high-profile deals. As investor sentiment improves and economic indicators remain favorable, Singapore is poised to maintain its position as a leading destination for M&A activities in Southeast Asia.

For successful global players, the IMC Group continues to be the first choice as a leading consultant offering transaction advisory services in Singapore. With professionals on the side, global businesses can confidently engage in M&A activities.

Enhancing Decision-Making With AI

CFO AI gives us unmatched benefits when we look at data. Traditionally, planning and making financial predictions have relied on past data and straight-line estimates. AI systems, on the other hand, can handle vast amounts of data from many sources. They can find trends and make very accurate predictions based on those patterns. This feature gives CFOs more information to help them make choices. They can guess what the market will do and change their plans before they happen. One example is that AI-driven data can help find ways to save money. It helps make better predictions about future income and improves the performance of financial accounts.

Streamlining Financial Operations

AI for CFOs is automating regular financial tasks in a way that is changing the way businesses do business. AI can handle tasks like paying and receiving bills, keeping track of expenses, and making financial reports. They can cut down on the time and resources needed significantly. As a bonus, automation lowers the chance of human mistakes and makes things more efficient. It gives CFOs and their teams more time to work on critical tasks. And banking tools that use AI can make sure they follow the rules. They can keep an eye on deals and report any problems.

Enhancing Risk Management

In the role of Chief Financial Officer, risk control is significant. CFOs can find and reduce risks with the help of AI’s improved tools. Algorithms for machine learning can look at data right now. They can find signs of possible scams, problems with money, and market risks. AI can, for instance, keep an eye on financial deals to spot any odd behavior. Then, it can let the CFO know before a significant loss happens. AI can also make more accurate credit risk assessments by looking at more factors. It makes sure that risk estimates are more accurate.

Driving Strategic Planning

One of the main jobs of CFOs is to plan strategically. AI can improve this process by giving us more information about market trends, how customers act, and how competitors work. Tools that use AI can model different business situations. Before implementing different plans, it lets CFOs see how they might affect the business. Guessing what will happen helps you make more robust and reliable business plans. AI can also help find new business possibilities and growing areas.

Better Financial Reporting

Financial reporting must be timely and accurate for shareholder confidence and government compliance. AI for CFO can change financial reports by collecting and analyzing data automatically. It helps in reducing the time and work needed. AI-powered systems can make real-time reports that show the company’s financial health clearly and thoroughly. It is possible to change these reports to fit the wants of different parties.

Conclusion

Using CFO Artificial Intelligence in financial tasks is necessary to make them run more smoothly. It can help people make better choices and grow in a planned way. Using AI, CFOs can deal with complexity, take advantage of chances, and stay ahead of the competition. One can check out specific CFO Advisory Services to get expert advice on how to use AI successfully.

How does AI streamline finance and accounting?

AI significantly automates processes involved in accounting and financial tasks. This liberates as much as 80% to 90% of the time for your workforce, as technology handles mundane operations. Automation not only significantly reduces the time spent on repetitive tasks, enhancing output quality by minimizing human error, but also provides a sense of relief to your team, allowing them to focus on more strategic and value-added activities, thereby reducing their workload and increasing their job satisfaction.

Almost all accounting functions have been automated by AI, from banking to audits and payroll to tax. This has significantly transformed business operations. AI not only enhances output and productivity but also ensures greater auditability and transparency. It reduces time-consuming tasks that were manually handled in traditional organizations. With the power of machine learning (ML), finance professionals can now accurately forecast financial statements based on historical data, providing a solid foundation for decision-making and potentially revolutionizing the way financial planning is done.

On the other hand, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is used by accounting heads to handle repetitive tasks efficiently. These include analyzing documents and vast amounts of data, eventually relieving your financial team from non-core tasks.

Crucial applications of Intelligent Automation and RPA in accounting

Have a look at the key applications of RPA and intelligent automation in accounting:

Processing documents in real-time: AI uses natural language processing and computer vision to process documents. Accounting professionals benefit from real-time reports, which help them to make proactive decisions.
Automated authorization: AI processes and automates document authorization, which improves different internal accounting processes. It streamlines tasks like invoicing, procurement, preparing expense reports, and accounts management.
Detecting fraud: Powerful ML algorithms have been designed to analyze vast amounts of data to identify potential fraud. These algorithms flag issues to be reviewed, thereby preventing loss of revenue.

7 Ways to Use AI in Accounting and Finance

Successful organizations are quickly adopting AI in their digital transformation processes to enhance operational efficiency, curtail costs, and maximize their ROI. Have a look at these seven strategies to incorporate AI in accounting and finance.

1. Processing payables and receivables

With AI-based invoice management systems, businesses can process larger volumes of information. Smart systems are capable of eliminating errors and improving the overall relationships with vendors.

2. Onboarding suppliers

AI significantly helps in expanding the reach of customers. Leveraging AI enables brands to increase their revenue and evaluate their suppliers with minimal human intervention.

3. Procurement processes

Thanks to AI-driven workflows, you can automatically manage governance and handle unstructured data to ensure compliance and mitigate risks.

4. The scope of auditing

With advanced data analytics techniques, organizations get a better scope for risk assessment and auditing. Leading brands are using predictive analytics and cognitive computing to track complex transactions.

5. Managing cash flow

AI tools help in quickly reconciling financial activities. Using AI in accounting and finance, you can streamline the process of historical cash flow analysis and accurately predict cash requirements in the future.

6. Expense management

While manual approaches to expense management are susceptible to data breaches and fraud, AI automates the process to reduce errors. Advanced systems have been developed to alert teams of fraudulent activities or data breaches.

7. Chatbot support

AI-driven chatbots handle account queries efficiently, automate invoice tracking, and provide customer support. This ensures timely account management, enhancing the operations in organizations.

Outsource finance and accounting services to experts

With most of your competitors embracing cloud accounting technologies, it’s time to streamline your operations. The most cost-effective approach is to outsource finance and accounting services to established service providers like the IMC Group. With outsourced accounting and financial services, you can entrust experts to streamline your process, reduce costs, and drive the growth of your business. While the professionals take care of your finance and accounting services, you can focus on your core competencies and achieve success. A professional team will leverage AI and other leading technologies to ensure a flawless accounting system for your organization. Seek expertise when it matters the most and embrace the growth trajectory.

Why Does AI Matter for Human Resource Leaders?

Across the globe, HR leaders are embracing AI since this technology emulates human intelligence through programmed machines or systems. Intelligent systems in the HR departments mimic the human thought processes. As these tools work on more data over time, they gain competence in solving problems, learning from their previous interactions. Thus, these tools are capable of making accurate predictive analyses.

AI significantly helps HR leaders curtail costs, automating routine tasks and evaluating extensive datasets. Sophisticated tools have been developed to extract insights to ensure informed decision-making across HR departments. AI leverages natural language processing (NLP), data analytics, and machine learning (ML) to carry out a wide range of tasks, ranging from acquiring talent to onboarding and assessing employee engagement to managing people.

Have a look at the four crucial applications of AI in HR operations.

1. Screening and recruitment tools

AI-based screening and recruitment tools streamline the process of sourcing candidates. These tools pacify the time-intensive process of analyzing resumes, scheduling interviews, and initial screenings. Thus, it filters top-quality talent efficiently with minimal human intervention.

2. Generative AI

Generative AI works on deep learning algorithms capable of distinguishing patterns and generating unique outputs based on inputs provided. This feature enables HR leaders to quickly create job descriptions, social media content for recruitment sites, training materials, and advertisements for jobs.

3. Chatbots and virtual assistants

Intelligent chatbots and virtual assistants powered by AI come with NLP capabilities. They significantly enhance employee engagement and satisfaction, handling time-off requests and addressing HR-related queries.

4. Performance management systems

AI tools also help in developing employees as they track and analyze KPIs. These tools offer customized recommendations to achieve individual goals efficiently.

How Do HR Leaders Strengthen The Hiring Process Through AI Integration?

The advent of AI has revolutionized the hiring process, as HR leaders use smart tools to enhance operations in the following ways.

Streamlining recruitment: AI tools are trained to identify qualified candidates quickly. Thus, these tools refine the pool of candidates and shortlist the best ones for specific roles.
Quality of resources: The quality of hires remains the most powerful asset for any organization. AI algorithms scrutinize the historical performances of employees to predict how successful an employee can be in a particular role. Smart tools also help HR leaders in sourcing passive candidates.
Applicant analysis: With AI tools, recruiters can speed up the hiring process as the technology quickly evaluates the profiles of candidates, their resumes, locations, salary expectations, and career aspirations.

The Role of AI In Employee Engagement And Talent Management

HR professionals can leverage AI-driven tools to enhance talent management and boost employee engagement initiatives—from promoting employee growth, engagement, and retention to sourcing and recruiting top candidates. Here’s how AI equips HR leaders to provide outstanding experiences for both candidates and employees:

AI-powered solutions help HR leaders improve talent management and employee engagement programs—from identifying and hiring top talent to fostering employee development, engagement, and retention. Employee engagement: AI is necessary to carry out surveys, collect feedback, and analyze the sentiments of employees. In this way, HR professionals detect retention risks and find out areas of improvement.
Talent management: Using AI, HR leaders design personalized career paths that align with the skills and goals of each employee. Thus, they identify opportunities for upskilling, provide feedback, and develop succession plans.

AI in Learning and Development

AI algorithms play a pivotal role in analyzing employee feedback, performance evaluations, and past learning engagements. This helps the organization in several ways, as presented below.

Developing customized learning experiences: AI helps HR leaders understand the uniqueness of each employee. Thus, these tools develop customized learning programs considering the learning style, career aspirations, and skill gaps of each individual.
Career progression through competency mapping: Intelligent algorithms provide accurate predictions of talent requirements in the future and identify upskilling opportunities. Thanks to AI-driven skills databases, talent acquisition and HR leaders craft career trajectories to optimize internal talent while visualizing the future needs of their organizations.

AI in Streamlining Payroll Management

Incorporating AI into HR reduces human errors in payroll management. AI automation streamlines routine tasks, relieving HR professionals to focus on their core competencies that need human expertise.

AI enhances precision by automating tasks like payroll processing and benefits administration, thereby minimizing human error. This accuracy guarantees correct compensation and benefits for employees while reducing mistakes. Moreover, intelligent systems automate compliance checks, mitigating risks of errors, penalties, and legal challenges.

According to research from a top firm, human errors in payroll are common, with missed or incorrect time punches being the most frequent. Fixing these errors incurs both direct and indirect costs, averaging $291 per incident. Some errors, such as those related to employee onboarding, can be even more expensive, averaging $635 per incident.

AI in Enhancing Employee Satisfaction and Retention

AI algorithms excel at data analysis, predictive modeling for employee turnover, and developing retention strategies based on the preferences of employees. Check out how AI strengthens employee retention efforts.

AI empowers employees to automate the scheduling of shifts to ensure proper work-life balance
HR leaders use AI to provide additional training to employees to combat new challenges and recommend growth strategies to boost engagement
AI helps in identifying behavioral patterns such as falling behind schedule to understand the needs of employees and address their pain points effectively

The transformative power of AI enables HR leaders to make faster decisions with accuracy. This goes a long way in refining the hiring process, tweaking strategies and enhancing the overall satisfaction of employees.

AI algorithms are trained to analyze market data trends and workforce data, forecasting future needs and making adjustments in real-time.

AI-Powered Decision-Making in HR

HR leaders highly value the ability to make quick and accurate decisions. AI offers enhanced data and insights, which HR professionals are increasingly using to save time, increase efficiency, optimize recruitment processes, and reduce costs.

AI-powered recruitment platforms provide real-time insights into job postings, candidate sourcing, and hiring processes. This capability allows HR teams to refine their strategies based on applicant feedback, improving the candidate experience and increasing conversion rates. Moreover, AI algorithms can analyze workforce data and market trends to predict future needs, allowing HR teams to adjust staffing levels and recruitment strategies in real-time.

According to SHRM research, the use of AI in HR is rapidly expanding, offering greater flexibility in various HR functions:

Recruitment and Hiring: With a 64% adoption rate, AI enhances talent acquisition by creating job descriptions, generating interview questions, and reviewing resumes.
Professional Development and Training: AI tools can suggest or customize educational opportunities, track learning progress, aid in upskilling or reskilling, and develop new training content.
Workforce Performance and Optimization: Although still emerging, AI in performance management aids in objective performance reviews, goal setting, workforce planning, and automating labor-intensive HR tasks.

Potential Obstacles and Key Considerations for AI Integration in HR

Although AI offers many advantages, integrating it into HR processes involves addressing several challenges and considerations, including:

Concerns about data protection and privacy due to the collection, storage, and analysis of personal information.
The risk of algorithmic bias if AI systems are trained on data that is not diverse, equitable, or inclusive.
The reliability of AI outputs, as there is potential for the provided information to be factually incorrect.
Issues of transparency, ensuring that applicants and employees understand how their information is being used and how decisions are made by AI systems.
The ongoing need for human oversight and input in the talent acquisition process.

Harmonizing AI with Human Efforts

Adopting the future of HR necessitates acknowledging the dynamic interaction between AI advancements and regulatory frameworks while committing to continuous learning and adaptation. HR leaders need to stay updated on AI innovations and regulatory requirements.

Engaging actively in industry forums, pursuing continuous professional development, and collaborating with regulatory bodies are essential for the responsible and ethical integration of AI into human resources. By taking this proactive approach, HR teams can effectively navigate challenges and seize opportunities, ensuring compliance and positioning HR as a driver for innovative organizational change.

IMC Group leads in future-of-work technologies, including AI, providing globally compliant employee benefit solutions, worker mobility solutions, and global payroll service. This allows both employees and employers to concentrate on their essential tasks while leaving the complexities of HR management to IMC Group.

What makes due diligence so crucial?

Due diligence services serve as a crucial mechanism to identify potential risks and opportunities within M&A transactions. Check out these four crucial functions of due diligence in this context.

It helps in the early detection of red flags, pinpointing deal-breaker issues that could significantly affect the viability of the transaction or require further negotiations
Due diligence is necessary to evaluate factors that impact price negotiations, like pending litigation, contractual obligations, or concerns related to regulatory compliance
Experts offering mergers & acquisitions advisory services prioritize due diligence since it helps in understanding and mitigating risks inherited by buyers after the acquisition
Through due diligence, business leaders can gain comprehensive insights into the financial health, operations, and potential business prospects of the target company

Involvement of the partner in due diligence

Partners play a critical role in driving effective due diligence practices.

Collaborating closely with clients, partners help them grasp strategic business goals and risk tolerance levels, thereby aligning their efforts with their priorities
Partners guide and direct companies through due diligence to streamline processes and carry out thorough investigations, besides advising them on intelligent resource allocation
Partners play a key role in assessing and communicating critical issues identified during due diligence. Thus, they help businesses make informed decisions and carry out discussions with transparency
Working with partners, companies can oversee the development of the due diligence reports and make sure that they reflect their client interests accurately. Thus, you gain a detailed insight into risk considerations and strategic objectives to make informed decisions

The Evolving Nature of Due Diligence Powered By AI

The integration of AI-powered tools has revolutionized due diligence practices. Intelligent technologies offer strategic benefits in reviewing documents and assessing risks.

With AI tools, enterprises can quickly and accurately review large volumes of documents like financial statements, contracts, and regulatory filings
AI algorithms are capable of detecting potential risks, patterns, and inconsistencies. Thus, these tools point out areas that require closer scrutiny
AI-powered platforms streamline due diligence processes, improve data organization, and foster better collaboration among diligence teams. This significantly strengthens your risk mitigation strategies
Business leaders and decision-makers count on AI-generated for valuable information and actionable recommendations to structure deals and negotiation tactics

The evolving nature of due diligence justifies why mastering Due diligence for effective M&A is crucial for companies eyeing rapid expansion.

Seek Professional Due Diligence Services

Advancements in AI technology are likely to further complicate due diligence. Successful businesses are likely to consult reputed partners like the IMC Group for due diligence services. With seasoned advisors on the side, global enterprises can effectively leverage AI tools and navigate complex deal landscapes effectively. The professionals can strengthen their approach to due diligence with better risk-mitigation strategies, leading to successful deal outcomes.

Federal Tax Authority Announces Decision No. 7 of 2024

On September 25, 2024, the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) issued Decision No. 7 of 2024, which grants an extension for filing the Corporate Tax Return and settling the tax liability for certain companies, as outlined in the Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 on Corporate Taxation.

Key Details of the Decision: The new deadline for filing and settling Corporate Tax has been extended to December 31, 2024, provided the following conditions are met:

The company was incorporated, established, or recognized on or after June 1, 2023.
The company’s tax period ends on or before February 29, 2024.

It is essential to comply with this new deadline to avoid penalties. Take action now and ensure your taxes are filed and settled on time to prevent last-minute rush and fines!

Under Article 51 of Federal Decree Law No. 47 of 2022, known as the “Taxation of Corporations and Businesses” (UAE CT Law), taxable entities are required to register. The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) is empowered to set the registration timelines for all taxable persons.

The FTA issued Decision No. 3 of 2024, outlining the necessary registration deadlines, which are likely to be effective from 1st March, 2024. On 4th June 2024, the FTA released a ‘Corporate Tax Public Clarification’ titled “Registration Timelines for Taxable Persons for Corporate Tax”. It presents taxable persons with detailed timelines for submitting their tax registration applications. As a part of the clarification, the FTA has given examples to help taxpayers adhere to the prescribed timelines.

Every taxable individual, including those operating within a free zone, must secure a corporate tax registration number. Taxable individuals are required to retain all pertinent records and documentation for a duration of seven years after the end of the tax period. Upon request by the FTA, taxpayers are obligated to provide the financial statements that were used to calculate their income for the specified tax period. Corporate tax applies to all “taxable persons,” whether they are residents or non-residents.

For all taxable entities, it’s imperative to register with the FTA by the specified deadlines. In case of non-compliance, they need to shell out AED 10,000 as an administrative penalty for late submissions. Depending on the type of taxable person, the deadlines in FTA Decision No. 3 vary.

Natural Person
Non-Resident Juridical Person
Resident Juridical Person

Analysis

A. Resident Juridical Person

This includes Offshore Companies and Free Zone Persons recognized under UAE legislation.

Incorporated or Established Before 1st March 2024

A juridical person incorporated or recognized before 1st March 2024 must submit a Tax Registration application based on the month of the issuance of their license, within the deadlines specified in FTA Decision 3 of 2024, regardless of whether the license is valid or expired.

Example: Company X possessed a license that expired on 31 March 2022.

Company X, being a Resident Person incorporated in the UAE, must submit its Tax Registration application referencing the month of the issuance of its license. Although the license expired, the application for Corporate Tax registration must reference April, with a submission deadline of 30 June 2024.

Incorporated or Established on or After 1st March 2024

For juridical persons newly incorporated or recognized in the UAE on or after 1st March 2024, a Tax Registration application must be submitted within three months of their incorporation, establishment, or recognition.

Example: Company Y, incorporated on 16 June 2024 in Sharjah, is a Resident Person because it was established in the UAE. Since it was incorporated after 1st March 2024, the company must submit its Tax Registration application by September 16th, 2024, which is within three months of its date of incorporation.

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Juridical Person with POEM in the UAE Before 1st March 2024

A juridical person incorporated or recognized abroad but managed and controlled (POEM) in the UAE is considered a Resident juridical person under UAE CT Law. In case such a person doesn’t hold a license as of the effective date of FTA Decision 3 of 2024, it’s imperative to submit a Tax Registration application within three months from that date, which is by 31st May 2024.

Example: Company Z, incorporated on 1 April 2019 in the UK, has had its POEM in the UAE since 1 April 2022. It is a Resident Person as of 1 June 2023 due to its POEM in the UAE. Since it is a Resident Person before 1 March 2024, Company Z must submit a Tax Registration application referencing its date of license issuance.

Given that Company Z doesn’t hold a UAE licence since its board meetings are only conducted in the country, it needs to submit its application for Tax Registration within 3 months of the effective date of FTA Decision No. 3 of 2024, which is by 31 May 2024.

Juridical Person with POEM in the UAE After 1st March 2024

A juridical person incorporated, established, or recognized under foreign legislation but with POEM in the UAE on or after 1st March 2024, must submit a Tax Registration application within three months from the end of its financial year.

Example: Company A, incorporated on 1 April 2024 in Germany, follows a financial year from April to March. All its strategic decisions and board meetings and 2024 and 2025 are organized in the UAE.

Company A is a Resident Person due to its POEM in the UAE for the financial year that ends on 31 March 2025. Since Company A became a Resident Person in the UAE after 1 March 2024, it needs to submit a Tax Registration application within 3 months from the end of its financial year. This deadline has been fixed on 30 June 2025.

Key Considerations

If a juridical person holds an expired license which is not yet cancelled as of 1 March 2024, they should submit their Tax Registration application based on the month of the original license issuance.

If a juridical person holds multiple licenses as of 1 March 2024, they should use the license with the earliest issuance date to determine deadline of the Tax Registration application. The earliest issuance date should be based on the year of license issuance, but only the month of issuance is relevant for deciding the deadline.

Determining whether or not a juridical person is effectively managed and controlled in the UAE requires an assessment of the specific circumstances and facts of the entity and its activities.

B. Non-Resident Juridical Persons

For Non-Resident Juridical Persons, the deadline for submitting a CT Registration application depends on whether they have a Permanent Establishment (PE) or nexus in the UAE.

Non-Resident Juridical Person with a PE in the UAE Pre-1st March 2024

For a Non-Resident Juridical Person having a Permanent Establishment (PE) in the UAE before 1st March 2024, the CT Registration application deadline is within 9 months from the recognition of the PE for CT purposes in the UAE. This timeline may be extended if an International agreement on Double Taxation Avoidance (DTAA) stipulates a longer duration for PE recognition in the UAE, in which case the provision of the DTAA remains valid.

Example: Company B, established on 15th July 2008 in the UAE (FY from June to May), established a branch in Dubai on 01 May 2023. The company falls under CT regulations from 01 June 2023 (as per UAE CT Law, effective from this date).

Assuming all PE criteria are met, the permanence of PEs in the UAE is assessed over a six-month period, ending on 01 December 2023.

Non-Resident Person with a PE in the UAE On or After 1st March 2024

In case a Juridical Person has a Permanent Establishment (PE) in the UAE, the deadline to submit a CT Registration application is within 6 months from the recognition of the PE for UAE CT purposes. Also, if a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) extends the duration for recognizing a PE in the UAE, the provision of DTAA remains valid.

Example: Company C, incorporated on 22 October 2019 in Luxembourg, established a branch in Abu Dhabi on 01 July 2024. Considering that it met all other PE requirements, the permanence of the PE in the UAE is evaluated over a six-month period, concluding on 01 January 2025.

Therefore, the PE recognition date for Company C is 01 January 2025 (6 months from 01 July 2024). The company must submit its CT Registration application within 6 months from the recognition date of the PE, by 01 January 2025. Therefore, the due date for CT Registration is 01 July 2025.

Non Resident Person having nexus in the UAE prior to 01 March 2024

For a Non-Resident Juridical Person having a nexus in the UAE where it derives its income from Immovable Properties in the country, the due date to file the CT Registration application will be from 3 months from the effective date of FTA Decision no. 3 of 2024.

Example: Company D was incorporated on 3 January 2024 in Oman, and it purchased residential property for investment purposes in Dubai on 10 January 2024. On 15th February, the company rented out the property. Company D does not have a Permanent Establishment in the UAE. In this case, it will be considered as a Non-Resident Person because Company J is a Non-Resident Person because it is not a Resident Person and has a nexus in the UAE. Even though it purchased the property on 10th January 2024, it had no income from it till February 15th. Therefore, its nexus in the UAE is considered to be on 15th February 2024.

Company D, being a Non-Resident Person with a nexus in the UAE before 1st March 2024, should have submitted its Tax Registration application within 3 months from the effective date of FTA Decision No. 3 of 2024, on 31 May 2024.

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Non-Resident Person with Nexus in the UAE After 1st March 2024

For a Non-Resident Juridical Person with a nexus in the UAE, implying that it derives income from its immovable properties in the country, the deadline to file a CT Registration application is within 3 months from the date of establishing the nexus in the UAE.

C. Natural Person (Resident and Non-Resident)

For a Resident Natural Person with a business turnover exceeding AED 1 million during a Gregorian calendar year in the UAE, the deadline to submit a Tax Registration application is by 31 March of the subsequent Gregorian Calendar Year (starting from 1 January 2024).

A Non-Resident Natural Person with a business turnover from a Permanent Establishment (PE) in the UAE exceeding AED 1 million during a Gregorian calendar year needs to submit the application within 3 months of fulfilling the requirements for which the entity needs to pay Corporate Tax.

Example: Mr. X is considered a tax resident in Spain as per an international double taxation avoidance agreement between the two countries. However, he travels to the UAE from 27th January 2024 to carry out business as an independent IT consultant. Thus, he creates a PE in the country as per the applicable international agreement to avoid double taxation. The business turnover for Mr. X in the 2024 Gregorian calendar year amounts to AED 1.2 million, which exceeds the AED 1 million threshold on 10th November 2024.

As a Non-Resident Natural Person, Mr. B meets the requirements of being subject to Corporate Tax with a turnover of AED 1.2 million from a PE in the UAE. Thus, he needs to submit his Tax Registration application within 3 months of fulfilling the criteria of being subject to Corporate Tax. Calculating 3 months from 10th November 2024, this date comes to 10th February 2025.

Points to Remember

If a Non-Resident Juridical Person has both a PE and a nexus in the UAE, the due date of the CT registration application is the earlier of the two deadlines
If a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) extends the duration for recognizing a PE in the UAE, the DTAA provision remains valid

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New Extended Deadline 2024

The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) of the UAE has announced an extension for corporate tax filing and payment deadlines for certain businesses.

Entities with short tax periods ending on or before February 29, 2024, now have until December 31, 2024, to file their returns and complete tax payments. This applies to companies established, formed, or recognized on or after June 1, 2023, whose first corporate tax period is shorter than the standard 12-month cycle, according to the Federal Tax Authority.

Khaled Al Bustani, Director General of the FTA, explained that the extension is intended to provide businesses ample time to meet their tax obligations without incurring administrative penalties.

The UAE’s federal corporate tax system, introduced with a 9% rate for financial years starting on or after June 1, 2023, applies to companies with annual profits exceeding Dh375,000 ($102,100).

In May last year, the Ministry of Finance confirmed that businesses with turnover exceeding Dh1 million in a calendar year will be subject to corporate tax. The tax system is designed to apply only to income derived from business activities.

Earlier Deadlines in 2024

The Director General of FTA, AL Bustani stressed the importance of meeting deadlines in FTA decision No. 3 of 2024, which is likely to be effective from 1^st March 2024. Taxable Persons holding licenses issued in January and February, not considering the year of issuance, and juridical persons without holding a license as of 1^st March 2024 need to submit their Corporate Tax registration application by the deadline of 31^st May 2024. Besides, resident juridical persons holding licenses that were issued in March and April have a deadline of 30^th June 2024 to submit their applications, regardless of the year of issuance.

Businesses operating in the UAE can have a look at this corporate tax compliance guide and ensure adherence to the new regime.

Campaigns to Spread Awareness

The FTA carried out this campaign during the launch of a new awareness workshop in Dubai. This is a part of the second phase of the comprehensive campaign by the FTA to educate business sectors and stakeholders on Corporate Tax Compliance. The campaign was initiated last year and aims to enhance knowledge on taxation, besides encouraging Taxable Persons to voluntarily comply with tax regulations.

With an impressive attendance of 842 stakeholders, including 52 senior officials from public and private sectors, the workshop witnessed record participation. Currently, the FTA is intensifying its efforts to enhance direct communications with tax stakeholders and business sectors throughout the country through virtual and physical workshops. The authority is also engaging with business assemblies and economic councils in industrial and commercial areas to achieve this goal.

Importance of Free Zones

Al Bustani also explained the significance of Free Zones in the economy of the UAE. Recently, the FTA has issued a comprehensive Corporate Tax Guide for Free Zone Persons. This guide outlines the main features of the Free Zone regime that encourage innovation and investment within these areas. The FTA remains committed to ensuring that all Free Zone Persons clearly understand these guides and can access the information.

Highlights of the Workshop

The high turnout of the workshop reveals strong interest from businesses to understand their obligations under the Corporate Tax regime in the UAE. The representatives of the FTA provided a detailed overview of the law and strategies to deploy it. It covers different aspects like taxable income, identifying Taxable Persons, Permanent Establishments of Non-Resident Persons, business restructuring relief, conditions to establish a tax group, and transitional rules. The FTA also clarified the standard for applying corporate tax in Free Zones. It includes the conditions that qualified Free Zone Persons must follow to benefit from the 0% Corporate Tax rate.

Registration Process

One can register for Corporate Tax any time, which is available 24/7 through the digital tax services platform called ‘EmaraTax’. The registration process is fast and easy, and takes just a few steps to be completed. The FTA has also expanded its channels to submit Corporate Tax registration applications through government service centres across the UAE.

Professional Assistance to Ensure Tax Compliance

While FTA strives to ensure tax compliance through its comprehensive approach, businesses operating in the UAE must be well-informed and prepared to fulfil the new set of obligations. Trusted corporate tax consultants in Dubai like the IMC Group continue to play a vital role in this evolving ecosystem, offering expert guidance and support to businesses navigating the changing tax regime. Successful companies operating in the country habitually partner with these professionals for assistance in ensuring tax compliance. This approach proves effective in fostering a robust and compliant economic environment in the UAE.

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