Middle East: Tax

Law No. 121 of 1982 regulates registration in the Importers Register and sets out the main requirements that natural and juristic persons must satisfy in order to import goods for trading purposes in Egypt. The law addresses key matters such as registration conditions, renewal procedures, amendment of registered data, deletion from the register, penalties, settlement of violations, and the role of the competent authority responsible for foreign trade affairs.

The Federal Tax Authority has issued an updated Corporate Tax Guide on the Taxation of Family Foundations for 2026, introducing important clarifications to the UAE Corporate Tax regime. The new guidance addresses previously uncovered areas including asset transfers, tax basis adjustments, fiscal transparency limitations, and multi-family ownership arrangements, providing greater certainty for family wealth structures operating under UAE tax law.

Egypt’s VAT amendments introduced under the proposed amendments to the Value Added Tax Law No. 67 of 2016 seek to improve tax collection, support economic growth, and provide new incentives for businesses. The draft amendments reveal a relatively different approach in tax policy.

The Federal Tax Authority has issued an updated Corporate Tax Guide on the Taxation of Family Foundations for 2026, introducing important clarifications to the UAE Corporate Tax regime. The new guidance addresses previously uncovered areas including asset transfers, tax basis adjustments, fiscal transparency limitations, and multi-family ownership arrangements, providing greater certainty for family wealth structures operating under UAE tax law.

In the UAE, the requirement for companies to undergo auditing is primarily influenced by their legal structure, size, and activity. While not all companies are required to be audited, there are specific regulations...

Most businesses operating in the UAE start managing their finances with a basic setup at the outset. They hire an accountant to work on invoices, payroll, VAT, vendor payments, reconciliations, and reporting. For the initial few months, the system works fine. However, as businesses grow, the department notices a surge in transactions. There are more employees, multiple bank accounts, and tighter deadlines to manage.

Qatar's General Tax Authority has introduced new clarifications on capital gains tax, featuring a targeted exemption for intra-group restructuring transactions. These measures aim to streamline corporate reorganisation, improve asset management efficiency, and strengthen the country's investment climate while maintaining transparency in tax obligations.

In recent years, the international tax system has witnessed significant developments in tools and mechanisms aimed at enhancing transparency and curbing base erosion and profit shifting practices. These challenges have compelled countries to seek more effective means of regulating cross-border transactions. In this context, Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) have emerged as an important mechanism that contributes to achieving greater tax certainty and reducing disputes between multinational enterprises and tax authorities regarding the arm’s length pricing of related-party transactions.

On 16 March 2026, Decision of the Council of Ministers No. 4 of 2026 entered into force. The Decision introduces a mechanism allowing the direct application of withholding tax rates under double tax treaties.

Law No. 121 of 1982 regulates registration in the Importers Register and sets out the main requirements that natural and juristic persons must satisfy in order to import goods for trading purposes in Egypt. The law addresses key matters such as registration conditions, renewal procedures, amendment of registered data, deletion from the register, penalties, settlement of violations, and the role of the competent authority responsible for foreign trade affairs.

The Federal Tax Authority has issued an updated Corporate Tax Guide on the Taxation of Family Foundations for 2026, introducing important clarifications to the UAE Corporate Tax regime. The new guidance addresses previously uncovered areas including asset transfers, tax basis adjustments, fiscal transparency limitations, and multi-family ownership arrangements, providing greater certainty for family wealth structures operating under UAE tax law.

Transfer pricing has become one of the key areas of tax audits in Egypt as the Egyptian Tax Authority (“ETA”) continues aligning the Egyptian tax framework with OECD standards and international tax transparency requirements.