VAT in the UAE

VAT came to the UAE on 1 January 2018 at a standard rate of 5%. For a company owned from abroad, the practical points are whether it has to register, how to invoice customers in the UAE and in other countries, and how often to file. Registration is mandatory above a turnover threshold, and the tax authority also sets a lower threshold for voluntary registration; the thresholds are on the authority’s page and a firm should quote them to you with the date they apply.

Ask the firm how it decides on the place of supply for services sold across borders, which sectors it files for, what it does when a customer disputes an invoice and how it communicates when the authority asks a question. A trading company with imports, a free zone company and a service business can all have different VAT positions, so describe your own model when you ask for a quote. The UAE country guide covers the licence choice that comes before VAT.

352 firms offer VAT in the UAE: 183 accounting firms and 168 corporate services providers and 1 law firms. English is the working language of 223 of them, with Arabic and Russian next. Real estate, e-commerce and healthcare are the sectors they name most often. See the emirate pages: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman.

Firms offering VAT in the UAE

Avyanco

Corporate services provider · Medium-sized firm

Dubai

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +7 more

Languages: English

View profile of Avyanco

Incorpyfy

Corporate services provider · Medium-sized firm

Dubai

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +4 more

Languages: English · Arabic · Hindi

View profile of Incorpyfy

328 more firms offering VAT in the UAE

Frequently asked questions

What is the VAT rate in the UAE?

The standard rate is 5%, in force since 1 January 2018 according to the Ministry of Finance. Some supplies are zero rated or exempt, so ask an adviser how your own products or services are treated.

Do foreign businesses have to register for UAE VAT?

The tax authority states that the mandatory registration threshold does not apply to foreign businesses, so a foreign business that makes taxable supplies in the UAE should seek advice on registration from the start. A firm can check your case.

How often are VAT returns filed?

The filing period is set by the tax authority when you register. Ask your adviser which period applies to your company and who prepares, approves and submits each return.

Other services in the UAE

Accountants by city in the UAE

Setting up a company in the UAE: the guide and every firm

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules, rates and fees change: check them with the official sources linked on this page or with a qualified adviser before you act.