Articles

Trading vs Distribution under MD 229: rethinking the 51% Limitation for Qualifying Commodity traders

On 28 August 2025, the UAE Ministry of Finance issued Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025 (“MD 229”) on Qualifying Activities and Excluded Activities under the Free Zone corporate tax

Quoted Price: Broad Legislative Design and Widened Scope of Qualifying Commodities

With the issuance of Ministerial Decision (‘MD’) No. 229 of 28 August 2025, the concept of “Quoted Price” has become a cornerstone in determining whether a commodity being traded qualifies

Bank interest and dividends under UAE VAT: why VATP010 matters beyond “just reporting”

On 19 March 2022, the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) issued Public Clarification VATP010, titled “Bank Interest and Dividends”. It addresses whether bank-deposit interest and dividend income are “consideration for a

The evolution of the interplay between Voluntary Disclosure and late payment penalties in UAE Tax Law

The jurisprudence on the interrelation between penalties for voluntary disclosure (“VD”) and late payment in UAE tax law has undergone a notable evolution since the enactment of Cabinet Resolution No.

VAT Treatment of Demurrage and Despatch: UAE and Beyond

Maritime Charter Parties have long addressed the risks of delay or efficiency in cargo operations through two reciprocal mechanisms: demurrage (the fee payable for exceeding agreed laytime) and despatch (the

Treatment of Pre-GloBE losses in a jurisdiction with a newly introduced Corporate (Income) Tax

Transitional relief for developers in the UAE: CTP009 project-level valuation

Ministerial Decision No. 120 of 16 May 2023 introduced transitional rules for immovable property. Article 2(2) permits a taxpayer to exclude the pre-commencement portion of the gain either by (a)

Structured Commodity Finance and the UAE Qualifying Activities Regime: Countertrade

The enactment of Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 28 August 2025 marks a significant evolution in the UAE Free Zone tax framework. For the first time, the Ministry of Finance

FTA clarifies Corporate Tax treatment of family wealth management structures

On 19 September 2025, the UAE Federal Tax Authority (FTA) issued Public Clarification No. CTP008 on the Corporate Tax treatment of family wealth management structures. This marks a significant step