Taxes in the UAE 2025
ALPINE GROUP provides support in the UAE on taxation issues for legal entities and individuals.
  • Tax structuring and tax planning
  • Tax accounting and tax reporting
  • Consulting on individual tax issues
Corporate tax


Value added tax (VAT)

Why is it important to pay attention to taxation issues in the UAE now?
Until 2017, the UAE was considered a tax-free jurisdiction, this advantage was utilised by many companies for the purpose of tax structuring. At that time the UAE had no tax legislation.

In 2018, the UAE signed the Convention on the Implementation of Measures Relating to Tax Treaties to counteract tax base erosion and profit shifting. The UAE has introduced a value added tax and, from 2023, a corporate tax.

Currently the UAE is developing fully-fledged tax legislation based on the global best practice.

This means that all individuals and legal entities operating in the UAE have responsibilities not only for calculating and paying taxes, but also for collecting and storing primary accounting documents and maintaining tax reports. Legislation provides the tax control procedures, and associated penalties for violation of these new procedures provided for by the laws on VAT and Corporate Tax.

Whilst these are significant changes, the UAE remains a very attractive jurisdiction due to its significantly lower tax rates compared to other locations.
Who is it important for?
For legal entities - UAE residents; foreign companies permanently established in the UAE; or for none-resident individuals when effective wealth management is carried out from the UAE.
Corporate tax

When exceeding the established financial thresholds, the payer can be either a UAE resident or a non-resident, a legal entity or an individual (exceptions are provided for certain types of income), companies registered in the Mainland UAE or Designated Freezones.
VAT

Tax arises for companies doing business in the UAE when financial thresholds are exceeded, and there are also provisions for charging and paying VAT on import and export transactions, and on conducting certain types of business.
Our experience
ALPINE GROUP experts have over 15 years of experience in tax planning and the structuring of multinational companies and organisations.

Many of our client relationships have lasted for over a decade, throughout which we have successfully completed tasks that have arisen in connection with the changing international legislation .

In the UAE, our team of specialists is led by Maria Vershinina, whose accreditations include ACCA, DipIFR Rus, IFA, and ATT.

Systematic approach to operations
Signing NDAs and conducting initial stage KYCs
Creating secure data rooms for storage of Client information
Efficient system of project timing and internal controls during implementation
Ongoing communication with the Client regarding progress of implementation
Continuous monitoring of legislative changes in the countries where business incorporation and advanced training of junior and mid-level personnel
Corporate Tax
Brief review
Payers
Corporate tax in the UAE applies to residents and non-residents, legal entities and individuals. The law provides for exemptions for certain types of income.
Fiscal Thresholds and Main Rates
If the company is registered in the Mainland:

  • income up to and including AED 375,000 per annum – 0%
  • income exceeding AED 375,000 per annum – 9%

If the company is registered in a Free Zone (Free Zone Person) and meets all the requirements (including de minimis) for a QFZP, it can apply the following corporate tax rates:

  • if earning Qualifying Income – 0%
  • on taxable profits if the income is not Qualifying Income – 9%
First Tax Period

within 9 months after the end of the fiscal year
  • If the company’s fiscal year is from 1 January to 31 December, the first tax period would be from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024. Accordingly, in this example the deadline for filing the first tax return would be 30 September 2025.

  • If a company's fiscal year runs from 1 June to 31 May, the first tax period would be from 1 June 2023 to 31 May 2024. So accordingly, in this example the first tax return would be due 28 February 2025.
Value-added tax
BRIEF OVERVIEW
Object of Taxation
Tax is levied on:

  • Supplies of goods and services made by a taxable person.
  • Importation of qualifying goods and services, except as otherwise provided in the Law.
Financial Thresholds and Rates
  • The threshold for mandatory registration is AED 375,000.
  • The threshold for voluntary registration is AED 187,500.

Basic VAT Rate in the UAE
The standard rate of 5% applies to any supply or import.
VAT Tax Period
The standard tax period applicable to a taxable person is a period of three calendar months ending on the date fixed by the tax authority
Our team
The ALPINE GROUP team works every day to provide the best service to our Clients
  • Maria Vershinina

    Director,

    Head of tax practice

  • Sergey Gerasimov

    Partner

  • Natalia Pushkina

    Partner

  • Maxim Klyuchnikov

    Partner

  • Daria Pushkina

    Business Development Manager

    GCC and African markets

  • Anastasia Markova
    Head of Accounting Practice
  • Rosalie Molala
    Accounting specialist
  • Feleine Endril
    Office Manager
Ask a question to an expert
Contacts
Phone:
+7 925 436 18 97 (WhatsApp Russian speaker)
+971 54 279 90 51 (WhatsApp English speaker)

Email:
pc@aigroup.ae

Office:
A215 Park Towers DIFC,
Dubai International Financial Centre,
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Контакты
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All rights reserved. 2025

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