19. July 2022
KSA: Counter Concealment Campaign Saudi-Arabia’s Anti Concealment Legislation

On 13 June 2022, the Ministry of Commerce (“MC”) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (“KSA”) announced that inspectors from the National Program for…

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13. July 2022
Resolution 32 of 2022 on Cancellation of Fees on Airline Agents and Offices based in Dubai

The Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has recently issued…

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05. July 2022
KSA: New Companies Law

On Thursday 01/12/1443 H (23 June 2022) King Salman of Saudi Arabia gave the Royal assent to Royal Decree M/132 of 1443 H enacting the Kingdom’s new…

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04. July 2022
The biggest Legal Reforms in the 50-year History of the United Arab Emirates

On the occasion of the UAE's 50th anniversary, the largest legal reform in the country was launched. Over 40 laws were newly enacted or significantly…

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04. July 2022
UAE: ENACTING A NEW COMMERCIAL AGENCIES LAW

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) initiated the parliamentary process for enacting a new commercial agencies law. The new law is said to maintain the…

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29. June 2022
SAUDI ARABIA'S NEW COMPANIES LAW ADOPTED BY CABINET

In Saudi Arabia’s cabinet meeting on 28 June 2022, the resolution was adopted to enact the Kingdom's new Companies’ Law. It will be replacing the…

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21. June 2022
Oman: New Securities Law (Sultani Decree 2022/46)

By virtue of Sultani Decree 2022/46, the Sultanate of Oman enacted a new Securities Law (“Law”). The Law largely replaces the old securities law…

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17. June 2022
Pakistan accedes to Apostille Convention on legalisation of public documents

In a welcoming news, Pakistan has approved the accession to Apostille Convention (Hague) with the President's endorsement of the instrument of…

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23. May 2022
Abu Dhabi: Returns to 100% operating capacity across all commercial activities, tourist attractions and events

On 9 May 2022, in line with the maintained low Covid-19 infection rate, the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development has issued Circular No.…

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12. May 2022
UAE: MoF Consultation Paper on Corporate Income Tax

After the announcement regarding the introduction of a federal corporate income tax in the UAE (“CIT”) on 31 January 2022, the UAE Ministry of Finance…

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25. April 2022
DIFC Foundations Law and Protection of Assets

Since the introduction of the foundation regime in the Dubai International Financial Centre (“DIFC”), DIFC Foundations have become a potent tool for…

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15. April 2022
DIAC Arbitration Rules 2022

On 2 March 2022, the Dubai International Arbitration Center (“DIAC”) issued new arbitration rules (“DIAC Rules 2022”) which came into effect on 21st…

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14. April 2022
KSA: Draft Investment Law out for Public Consultation

On 5th April 2022, the Ministry of Investment in Saudi Arabia (MISA) presented a draft new investment law for public discussion. The draft is supposed…

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25. March 2022
KSA’s Law on Judicial Cost System

On 7 September 2021, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (“KSA”) issued a new law amending their judicial cost system (“Judicial Cost Law”), especially…

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24. March 2022
Enforcement of KSA’s Personal Data Protection Law postponed

On 24 September 2021, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had announced its first standalone personal data protection law (“DP Law”), promulgated by Royal…

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09. February 2022
Key Legal Aspects of E-commerce in KSA

On 26 July 2019, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (“KSA”) issued its E-Commerce Law, promulgated by Royal Decree No. M/126 (Cabinet Decision No. 628/1440…

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03. February 2022
UAE: Introduction of Federal Corporate Tax

The UAE Ministry of Finance (“MoF”) announced the introduction of a federal corporate tax (“CT”) on 31 January 2022. In this legal briefing we will…

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27. January 2022
New UAE Labor Law – Updates: Implementing Regulations, JAFZA Announcement and End-of-Service-Gratuity Calculation

The newly issued UAE labor law, i.e., Federal Decree-Law No. 33/2021 (“New Labor Law”) in the UAE will come into force on 2 February 2022, however, it…

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19. January 2022
KSA’s New Game Changing Personal Data Protection Law

On 24 September 2021, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (“KSA”) has announced its first standalone personal data protection law (“DP Law”), promulgated by…

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13. January 2022
UAE’s New Game Changing Federal Data Protection Law

On 20 September 2021, the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”) issued a new data protection law, Federal Decree-Law No. 45/2021 (“DP Law”). This long-awaited…

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20. December 2021
UAE: New Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021)

On 16 November 2021, the United Arab Emirates published the new Labour Law, i.e., Federal Labour Law No. 33 of 2021 (“New Labour Law”) which repealed…

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15. November 2021
UAE: New Federal Decree Law (33) of 2021 re. Labor Relations Announced

Federal Decree Law (33) of 2021 is to enter into force in February 2022. The comprehensive law is expected to bring about significant changes to the…

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24. October 2021
Oman: Company Law Regulations Issued - Decision of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry No. 2021/146

By virtue of the Decision of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (“MOCI”) No. 2021/146 the Sultanate of Oman approved its long-awaited regulations…

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07. October 2021
The German Supply Chain Act and its impact on businesses in the Gulf Region

The German Supply Chain Act (Lieferkettengesetz1) aims to protect the rights of people who produce goods for or deliver services to the German market.…

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26. May 2021
EAU: lmplementación De La Nueva Normativa De lnversión Extranjera En Las LLC (Federal Decree Law N.º 26 de 2020)

Tras nuestro informe legal sobre la “Implementación Práctica del Decreto Ley Federal No. 26 de 2020 para Sucursales de Empresas Extranjeras” de 22 de…

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26. May 2021
VAE: PRAKTISCHE UMSETZUNG DER NEUEN DIREKTINVESTITIONSBESTIMMUNGEN FÜR AUSLÄN-DISCHE INVESTOREN IN EMIRATISCHEN GESELLSCHAFTEN (BUNDESGESETZ NR. 26 AUS 2020)

Nach der Veröffentlichung unseres letzten Legal Briefing vom 29. April 2021, „Dubai: Praktische Umsetzung des Bundesgesetzes Nr. 26 aus 2020 für…

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26. May 2021
UAE: Practical Implementation of new Foreign Direct Investment rules for LLCs (Federal Decree Law No. 26 of 2020)

Following our legal briefing on the “Practical Implementation of Federal Decree Law No. 26 of 2020 for Branches of Foreign Companies” dated 22 April…

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02. May 2021
Neue gesellschaftsrechtliche Bestimmungen in der „Dubai Airport Free Zone“

Die Verwaltung der Dubai Airport Free Zone (“DAFZA”) hat kürzlich neue Bestimmungen (“Company Regulations 2021”) für alle Unternehmen, die in DAFZA…

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02. May 2021
The Draft New Companies Law in KSA

The changes in Saudi-Arabia’s (KSA) legal landscape have been frequent and meaningful over the last few years owing to the country’s appetite for…

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02. May 2021
DUBAI: PRAKTISCHE UMSETZUNG DES BUNDESGESETZES NR. 26 AUS 2020 FÜR NIEDERLASSUNGEN AUSL ÄNDISCHER UNTERNEHMEN

Wie bereits in einem unserer letzten Briefings beschrieben, hat die Regierung der Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate (VAE) das Handelsgesellschaftsrecht…

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22. April 2021
Dubai: Practical Implementation of Federal Decree Law No. 26 of 2020 for Branches of Foreign Companies

As previously announced, the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has amended the Commercial Companies Law (Federal Law No. 2 of 2015, “CCL”)…

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20. April 2021
New Company Regulations in the Dubai Airport Free Zone

The Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority (“DAFZA”) recently announced the issuance of new company regulations (“Company Regulations 2021”) for all…

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17. April 2021
Saudi Arabia: Judicial Reforms and Regional Headquarter Requirements Announced

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has recently undergone major changes in order to achieve the goals set for the Saudi Vision 2030 and in an effort to…

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31. March 2021
ABU DHABI: COVID 19 PCR Testpflicht für Unternehmen - Circular 12/2021

Die Lizensierungsbehörde in Abu Dhabi, das Department of Economic Development (“ADDED”), hat das Rundschreiben (sog. Circular) Nr. 12/2021…

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28. March 2021
COVID-19 PCR Tests for Businesses in Abu Dhabi – Circular 12/2021

The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (“ADDED”) has issued Circular No. 12/2021 (“Circular”) on the frequency of COVID-19 PCR tests for…

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18. February 2021
VAE: Änderung des Handelsgesellschaftsrechts durch Änderungsgesetz Nr. 26 / 2020, Abschaffung des Erfordernisses eines emiratischen Mehrheitsgesellschafters

Ende September 2020 kündigte die Regierung der Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate (VAE) eine grundlegende Änderung des Gesetzes betreffend…

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17. December 2020
UAE: FEDERAL DECREE LAW NO. 26 OF 2020 –AT A GLANCE

Recent discussions in the corporate space in the UAE have largely revolved around the Federal Decree Law 26 of 2020. This law has brought about…

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08. December 2020
Cambios en la Commercial Companies Law (Decreto Federal Nº 26 de 2020, por los que se deroga la norma “49-51” y la ley FDI

Tal y como anunciamos en el informe legal anterior, el gobierno de Emiratos Árabes Unidos (EAU) ha modificado la Ley de Sociedades (Ley Federal No. 2…

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07. December 2020
UAE: Amended Commercial Companies Law (Federal Decree Law No. 26 of 2020), 49-51 Rule and FDI Law abolished

As announced in our previous legal briefing from November 23, 2020, the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has amended the Commercial…

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25. November 2020
EAU anuncia cambios en la legislación mercantil para permitir el 100% de propiedad extranjera en las empresas

El 23 de noviembre de 2020 el gobierno de los Emiratos Árabes Unidos ("EAU") introdujeron cambios sustanciales en la Ley Federal No. 2 de 2015 sobre…

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23. November 2020
UAE announces Overhaul of Companies Law to Permit 100% Foreign Ownership in Mainland Companies

On 23 November 2020, through a Presidential Decree the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”) has introduced sweeping changes to Federal Law No. 2 of 2015 on…

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21. October 2020
EAU: Nueva Regulación Respecto a los Beneficiarios Reales / Ultimate Beneficial Owners (Decisión del Gabinete No. 58 of 2020)

A través de la Decisión del Gabinete No. 58 de 2020 ("Decisión"), los Emiratos Árabes Unidos ("EAU") actualizaron sus regulaciones de cumplimiento…

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06. October 2020
UAE: Corporate Compliance Update: New Provisions regarding Real Beneficiaries / Ultimate Beneficial Owners

Through Cabinet Decision No. 58 of 2020 (“Decision”) the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”) updated their corporate compliance regulations with regard to…

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31. May 2020
UAE: Updates on Economic Substance Reporting in the UAE Reporting Deadlines and MoF COVID 19 Clarification

In April 2019, the UAE published its first Economic Substance Regulations (ESR) with Cabinet Decision No. 31 of 2019. With the Introduction of ESR all…

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27. May 2020
DMCC: Implementation of Insurance Scheme - Update

In our Legal Briefing dated May 4, 2020 we provided an overview of legal updates introduced by the Dubai Multi Commodities Center Authority (“DMCCA”).…

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21. May 2020
UAE: The Impact of the Modern Slavery Act (2015) on UAE Entities

Slavery that had been effectively abolished or outlawed in the 19th century is still existent in many parts of the world in its modern form and…

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21. May 2020
UAE: Impact of COVID-19 on Mergers & Acquisitions in the UAE

The outbreak of COVID-19 has massively impacted the global economy. This economic impact has all the potential to have a profound effect on the…

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19. May 2020
Taking Your Annual General Assembly Virtual

COVID-19 not only disrupted the economy and financial markets but also the administration of companies around the world. As the financial year 2019…

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17. May 2020
KSA: Securing Saudi-Arabia’s New Financial Collateral Structure

Securing and collateralizing debts has been a significant legal issue in the Kingdom of Saudi-Arabia (KSA) for a long time. Covered by more prominent…

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14. May 2020
UAE: Overview of Free Zones’ Economic Relief Packages in Times of COVID-19

When COVID-19 hit the UAE in late January 2020, most businesses hoped that the restrictive measures implemented by the UAE government and especially…

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12. May 2020
UAE: Amendments to Guidelines for Reopening of Malls and other Businesses in Dubai

On 11 May 2020, the Dubai Department of Economic Development (“DED”) made amendments to the guidelines for the reopening of malls and other businesses…

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09. July 2019
UAE: DIFC Wills Service Center Enacts New Registry Rules

The DIFC Wills Service Centre (DIFC Registry), based in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), has been operating since 2014 and was…

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09. July 2019
UAE: Changes in Jebel Ali Free Zone's Administrative Practise

The Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZ) – the biggest and oldest free zone in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – has implemented two initiatives that were…

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09. July 2019
UAE: The Positive List-Opening the Floodgates to Full Ownership in the United Arab Emirates?

The UAE’s Foreign Direct Investment Law (Federal Decree Law No.19 of 2018) was issued on 23 September 2018. Less than one year after its introduction,…

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09. July 2019
UAE: New Resolution on Economic Substance Requirements in the United Arab Emirates

On 30 April 2019, the Cabinet of the United Arab Emirate (UAE) issued a Resolution regarding the economic substance requirements for mainland and free…

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27. June 2019
UAE: Emiratization – A New Approach

The majority of the workforce in the UAE consists of expatriates who are mostly working in the private sector. In order to increase the Emirati…

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27. June 2019
UAE: Is Dubai South a Designated Zone?

One of the numerous Free Zones in Dubai, Dubai World Central (DWC), now known as Dubai South, is an area partially under construction and projected to…

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16. June 2019
UAE: Nuevo programa de Dubai One Free Zone Passport

El Consejo de Zonas Francas de Dubái (Dubai Free Zone Council - DFZC) ha adoptado un acuerdo sobre una iniciativa que permitirá a las empresas en…

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29. May 2019
UAE: Tawazun Economic Program - The Tawazun Economic Council's New Policy Guidelines

The Tawazun Economic Council recently issued its new policy guidelines on the Tawazun Economic Program (formerly known as the UAE Offset Program). The…

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16. May 2019
UAE: Dubai's One Free Zone Passport Initiative

The Dubai Free Zones Council (DFZC) has recently adopted a preliminary agreement on an initiative allowing companies licensed in one of Dubai’s free…

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24. April 2019
UAE: Abu Dhabi Value (ADV) – The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development’s New Localisation Rules

A year after the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s “In-Country Value” Program (ICV) came into force, the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development…

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13. March 2019
Carrying out Business on ADNOC Facilities and CICPA Security Passes

The Critical Infrastructure & Coastal Protection Authority (CICPA) is the authority responsible for providing necessary security and protection…

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25. February 2019
Contract and Toll Manufacturing under ICV and IKTVA –The Easy Way Out?

The   Abu   Dhabi   NationalOil   Company   (ADNOC)   and   Saudi   Aramco   have   implemented localisation programs  (ADNOC:  In  Country  Value or…

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15. January 2019
GCC: Workforce Nationalisation and Localisation Programs - Key Considerations

Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Saudi Aramco have implemented localisation programs (PDO and ADNOC:…

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07. January 2019
KSA: Transfer Pricing in KSA

Transfer Pricing (TP) is a set of rules that govern intercompany transactions and how they are treated from a corporate income tax point of view. The…

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13. December 2018
GCC: Managing Localisation Programs - Is it time for a Chief Localisation Officer (CLO)?

Petroleum Development Oman (“PDO”), the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (“ADNOC”) and Saudi Aramco have implemented localisation programs (PDO and…

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27. November 2018
UAE : Service Providers and ICV

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has implemented its localisation program (In CountryValue or “ICV”) in November 2017, taking effect in…

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18. September 2018
UAE: Changing the Game Changer - Update on ADNOC's ICV

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has announced its own localisation programme (In Coun-try Value or “ICV”) in November 2017, taking effect…

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04. June 2018
Adequate Legal Measures in Times of Foreign Policy Conflicts

During the last year several political issues arose between Germany and some of its trading partners. Companies with a hub in Dubai carrying out…

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13. May 2018
UAE: ICV and its Impact on Doing Business with ADNOC

Similar to Saudi Aramco’s “In Kingdom Total Value Add” (“IKTVA”) programme the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has introduced its own…

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28. February 2018
UAE: VAT and Carrying out Projects without a Set-up in the UAE

The introduction of VAT in the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”) on 1 January 2018 has certainly added complexity to carrying out business as a foreign…

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18. February 2018
KSA: IKTVA and its Impact on Doing Business with Saudi Aramco

Much has been reported about the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) attempts to diversify its economy and become less dependent from oil and gas.…

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13. February 2018
UAE: VAT and doing Business in the UAE

The introduction of VAT in the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”) on 1 January 2018 is undoubtedly one the biggest exercises for both the governmental and…

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04. February 2018
UAE: VAT-Practical Considerations

The United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were the only GCC states that have implemented Value Added Tax (VAT) with effect of 1 January…

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