Insights

Clarity on UAE tax and business

Practical guidance on corporate tax, VAT, audit and company setup in the UAE. Written by our advisors and updated as the rules change.

All Corporate Tax VAT Audit & Assurance Accounting & Bookkeeping Company Setup RSS

Latest

Closed matte black padlock encircled by gold-edged tokens, one token outside the ring on black background.

Company Setup

Why a UAE trade licence only covers approved activities, and what risks arise

A UAE trade licence covers only the specific activities listed on your licence. Operating outside these approved activities, even unintentionally, can expose owners to penalties and licence issues.

Ratul Sharma27 October 20264 min read

More insights

Flat-lay with auditor's embosser, blank business licenses, black calculator, gold magnifying glass on sand surface.

Audit & Assurance

Which UAE companies need an audit?

Which UAE companies must have their accounts audited: mainland LLCs and joint stock companies, free zone rules such as DMCC and JAFZA, and the Corporate Tax tests. Also who can audit, what counts as audited financial statements, the steps and how the fee is set, from official sources.

Ratul Sharma26 October 20267 min read

Matte black nested boxes with gold rims representing VAT return components on warm white background.

VAT

What your VAT return actually covers: scope, periods and reporting

UAE VAT returns must capture both output and input tax for a defined tax period. Your reporting period depends on your annual turnover. Corrections and adjustments require different handling, depending on their size and timing.

Clarity on UAE tax and business

Why a UAE trade licence only covers approved activities, and what risks arise

More insights

Which UAE companies need an audit?

What your VAT return actually covers: scope, periods and reporting

How to get a UAE tax residency certificate

Essential UAE tax invoice checklist: what to include every time

How to file a VAT return in the UAE

How to file a corporate tax return in the UAE

How the reverse charge mechanism works for imported services in the UAE

Accounting and tax service costs in Dubai (2026)

Zero-rated VAT on export of services: core rules and practical examples

What is classified as excluded activity for a UAE free zone company

UAE VAT changes in 2026: what businesses need to know

E-invoicing in the UAE: who must comply and when

How to apply the qualifying income test for a free zone company

UAE tax glossary: Corporate Tax and VAT terms explained

How UAE corporate tax applies to branches of foreign companies

How UAE corporate tax loss carry forward works: eligibility, conditions and limits

When two UAE companies can form a corporate tax group

Corporate tax records in the UAE: what to keep and for how long

Determining your first UAE corporate tax period when your financial year end is not December

Which corporate tax penalties apply in the UAE and what triggers each one?

Fixing errors in a UAE corporate tax return: voluntary disclosure process

What the AED 375,000 corporate tax threshold means for taxable income

Small Business Relief extended to 2029: eligibility and continuing obligations

What UAE banks and authorities require when reviewing company audit reports

VAT return errors: Correction limits, deadlines and cost risks

When VAT registration is mandatory in the UAE—and what voluntary registration involves

What the FTA asks for in a UAE VAT review: records, formats and retention

From accounting profit to taxable profit: Key UAE Corporate Tax adjustments

Corporate tax registration deadlines: key dates, penalties, and why compliance matters

Have a question about your own position?