Policy & Legal Updates

IMF Warns Debt-Financed Corporate Tax Cuts and Policy Spillovers Threaten Global Growth

The International Monetary Fund warned that corporate income tax policies generate cross-border spillovers through profit shifting, investment reallocation, and knowledge transfers. According to an analytical chapter of its October 2026 World Economic Outlook, debt-financed tax cuts raise global interest rates and crowd out investment abroad. The fund also found that a one percentage point corporate tax rate hike relative to foreign rates leads to a cumulative 0.5 percent of GDP drop in FDI inflows over three years.

Policy & Legal Updates

UAE Financial Intelligence Unit and VARA Sign Crypto Crime Information Sharing Pact

The UAE Financial Intelligence Unit and Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding on October 5 to enhance financial intelligence sharing. The agreement aims to strengthen joint efforts against virtual asset-related financial crime and cross-border risks. The initiative links regulatory supervision directly with financial intelligence analysis.

Policy & Legal Updates

Dubai Outlines Golden Visa Eligibility Rules for Private Sector Educators

Dubai has outlined the eligibility criteria for teachers and educators applying for the Golden Visa, confirming that over 835 applications have been submitted since the initiative began. The scheme applies to qualifying staff in private early childhood centres, schools, and higher education institutions under Dubai's Education 33 strategy. Applicants are evaluated on academic achievements, improvements to education quality, student outcomes, and community feedback.

Policy & Legal Updates

UAE Banks Defer AED2.3bn in Loans for Over 148,000 Retail Borrowers

The Central Bank of the UAE reported that 148,681 individual banking customers received AED 2.3 billion in loan repayment deferrals by the end of August 2026 under its Financial Institutions Resilience Package. Overall, the support programme covered 155,971 customers and extended AED 15.9 billion in relief across retail, SME, and private-sector borrowers. Banking sector indicators also recorded double-digit year-on-year growth across loans, assets, and deposits.