United Arab Emirates

Overview

Last reviewed - 28 July 2021

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), located in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula, is bordered by the Persian Gulf to the north, Oman to the east, and Saudi Arabia to the south and west. It is a constitutional federation of seven Emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, Ras Al-Khaimah, and Fujairah. The federation was formally established on 2 December 1971, and the capital is Abu Dhabi. Arabic is the official language of the United Arab Emirates, with English widely spoken and used in business, and the currency is the United Arab Emirates dirham (AED).

The United Arab Emirates has a well-established infrastructure, stable political system, and one of the most liberal trade regimes in the Gulf region. It continues to be increasingly important, relevant, and attractive to businesses from around the world as a place to do business and as a hub for the region and beyond. The United Arab Emirates is also one of the best examples in the region of an economy that has successfully moved away from reliance on the energy sector. A significant proportion of the gross domestic product (GDP) is being derived from non-oil revenues.

PwC has been practising in the United Arab Emirates for over a quarter of a century, and specialises in audit, assurance, business advisory services, and tax and legal services. Complementing our depth of industry expertise and breadth of skills is our sound knowledge of the local business and regulatory environments across the Middle East.

Quick rates and dates

Corporate income tax (CIT) rates
Headline CIT rate (%)	Up to 55% for upstream oil and gas activities, 20% for branches of foreign banks, and (in practice) 0% for most other companies and branches.

Corporate income tax (CIT) due dates
CIT return due date	NA for most industries/companies (except upstream oil and gas and branches of foreign banks). For upstream oil and gas foreign companies, the dates for filing and payments are on a case by case basis depending on the company’s fiscal year. Typically the dates should be agreed between the International Oil Companies (IOC) and Supreme Petroleum Council (SPC) by 30 November. In accordance with the banking tax decree, the deadline for filing and payments is the last day of the third month following year end (e.g. for year end 31 December, the deadline for filing and payment is 31 March the following year).
CIT final payment due date	NA for most industries/companies (except upstream oil and gas and branches of foreign banks). For upstream oil and gas foreign companies, the dates for filing and payments are on a case by case basis depending on the company’s fiscal year. Typically the dates should be agreed between the International Oil Companies (IOC) and Supreme Petroleum Council (SPC) by 30 November. In accordance with the banking tax decree, the deadline for filing and payments is the last day of the third month following year end (e.g. for year end 31 December, the deadline for filing and payment is 31 March the following year).
CIT estimated payment due dates	NA for most industries/companies (except upstream oil and gas and branches of foreign banks). For upstream oil and gas foreign companies, the dates for filing and payments are on a case by case basis depending on the company’s fiscal year. Typically the dates should be agreed between the International Oil Companies (IOC) and Supreme Petroleum Council (SPC) by 30 November. In accordance with the banking tax decree, the deadline for filing and payments is the last day of the third month following year end (e.g. for year end 31 December, the deadline for filing and payment is 31 March the following year).

Corporate income tax (CIT) due dates

CIT return due date

NA for most industries/companies (except upstream oil and gas and branches of foreign banks).

For upstream oil and gas foreign companies, the dates for filing and payments are on a case by case basis depending on the company’s fiscal year. Typically the dates should be agreed between the International Oil Companies (IOC) and Supreme Petroleum Council (SPC) by 30 November.

In accordance with the banking tax decree, the deadline for filing and payments is the last day of the third month following year end (e.g. for year end 31 December, the deadline for filing and payment is 31 March the following year).

CIT final payment due date

NA for most industries/companies (except upstream oil and gas and branches of foreign banks).

CIT estimated payment due dates

NA for most industries/companies (except upstream oil and gas and branches of foreign banks).

Personal income tax (PIT) rates
Headline PIT rate (%)	NA

Personal income tax (PIT) due dates
PIT return due date	NA
PIT final payment due date	NA
PIT estimated payment due dates	NA

Value-added tax (VAT) rates
Standard VAT rate (%)	5

Withholding tax (WHT) rates
WHT rates (%) (Dividends/Interest/Royalties)	NA - No WHT

Capital gains tax (CGT) rates
Headline corporate capital gains tax rate (%)	NA
Headline individual capital gains tax rate (%)	NA

Net wealth/worth tax rates
Headline net wealth/worth tax rate (%)	NA

Inheritance and gift tax rates
Headline inheritance tax rate (%)	NA
Headline gift tax rate (%)	NA