Clarity has been provided by the UAE Ministry of Finance on income generated by a UAE Free Zone Person that could be eligible for a 0% tax rate In brief Since the release of the UAE corporate tax law on 9 December 2022, UAE Free Zone Persons have been eagerly awaiting the release of the definition of ‘Qualifying Income’. The release of this information now enables UAE Free Zone Persons to determine if they are…
In a much anticipated development, the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) has recently issued Chairman of the Board of Director’s Resolution No. (22/RM) of 2023 regulating securitization and all parties to securitization transactions or operations in the UAE (the “Securitization Regulations”). The Securitization Regulations should have been issued a long time ago to support efforts to promote the economic development of the UAE especially since it is a tax efficient jurisdiction. It was largely…
In brief The Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA) opened its first office outside of Saudi Arabia in the DIFC. SCCA Dubai has started operating on 2 February 2023 and offers a comprehensive suite of ADR services to local and international businesses based in the UAE and/or operating in the Middle East.[1] In the latest developments, the SCCA has released its second edition of the SCCA Arbitration Rules (SCCA Rules), effective 1 May 2023. The…
In brief The United Arab Emirates’ (“UAE”) federal-level financial services regulator relevant to securities, commodities and now Virtual Assets Service Providers (“VASPs”), the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority (“SCA”), has just issued two new regulations relevant to Virtual Assets (“VAs”): SCA Chairman of the Board of Director’s Decision No. (26/RM) of 2023 in relation to Virtual Assets Platform Operators (the “SCA VA Exchange Regulations”); and SCA Chairman of the Board of Director’s Decision No. (27/RM)…
In brief The scope of the UAE’s mandatory employee unemployment insurance scheme has been extended. Effective immediately, all employees in the UAE (except for employees employed by the local government) must register within the required timeline. This includes employees employed by free zone companies. You can view a summary of the scheme in our previous client alert. What’s next? Registration All employees in the UAE must enroll with the unemployment insurance scheme and commence paying insurance…