I recently recalled something I learnt when attending law lectures at college. It related to the 600-page UK Companies Act of 1985.
Like most legislation, it was not an easy document to review. The language is turgid, it's filled with cross-references and is ultimately suited to certain professions that ensure its retention for advisory services.
But what struck me was one of its core purposes: to consolidate disparate British company law into a single act of Parliament. This combined its previous edition, court decisions, parliamentary amendments, departmental clarifications and any compliance with external bodies.
Critically, it meant the business community could put down their proverbial jigsaw pieces of law and begin with a single source. I have spoken regularly in these columns about why corporate tax law in the UAE is akin to trying to complete what often feels like a puzzle.
The UAE first announced the launch of corporate tax in early December 2022 and a flurry of legislation from the three authorised regulatory bodies has been and continues to be released since. Some court decisions have also appeared.
As an example, the recently gazetted Ministerial Decision No 230 of 2025 lists 13 organisations that are formally permitted to operate as recognised price-reporting agencies. Excluding legislative references that are part of any law’s preamble, what remains is only 97 words. Additionally, keep in mind that some recent releases have reversed or amended small elements of earlier legislation.
After three years, would it help to consolidate all the primary legislation, subsequent clarifications and court decisions into three updated laws? Why three? This recognises the UAE constitutional legal structure that sees cabinet decisions take priority over ministerial decisions, which, in turn, take priority over Federal Tax Authority decisions.
What would be the commercial benefits of such a move?
First and foremost, it would be a great leveller. All entities could come to one legislation, and, at a point in time, have confidence that all that one needs to know is contained in it.
Yes, there is still the matter of understanding the articles that apply to your entity and then implementing and managing ongoing compliance. That continues to be your responsibility as a registered taxable person.
Also, it helps in understanding certain rules. An amateur reader who finds what appear to be similar rules in two places could be confused as to whether they are meant to be instructions for different things. This can lead to inaction or the incorrect application of a rule.
Changes or deletions of specific elements of earlier laws are part of the normal evolution that one sees in all countries, but it leaves redundant clauses and wording that can accidentally be read as fact. Consolidation offers a chance to both clarify and simplify wording.
The Federal Tax Authority has done a stellar job for the last couple of years of releasing long form explanatory documents that explain often complex law with practical examples.
Having consolidated legislation could also support the courts to make quicker decisions. The entities that created the laws can refine them further, while also taking inputs from internal and external experts. I know the latter occurs both formally and informally, and assume protocols exist to support the former.
Having proved the business case, we can then move to a conversation about how often such an exercise should take place. I would suggest a level of legislative fragmentation would be the trigger.
But why stop with corporate tax? It’s been even more years since VAT and excise duty were introduced. Conducting the same exercise with these would be two more additional initiatives welcomed by the UAE’s business community.
UAE central contracts
Full time contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Usman, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid
Part time contracts
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
Mobile phone packages comparison
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
The story in numbers
18
This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens
450,000
More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps
1.5 million
There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m
73
The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association
18,000
The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme
77,400
The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study
4,926
This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee
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VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Company Profile
Company name: Yeepeey
Started: Soft launch in November, 2020
Founders: Sagar Chandiramani, Jatin Sharma and Monish Chandiramani
Based: Dubai
Industry: E-grocery
Initial investment: $150,000
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Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
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How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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1.
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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Sand storm
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- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
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- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
SPECS
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