Policy & Legal Updates

Salesforce and Innovation City Launch AI Business Registration Platform in Ras Al Khaimah

Ras Al Khaimah free zone Innovation City and Salesforce have introduced an AI-powered business registration platform designed to reduce corporate formation times to minutes. The system integrates Salesforce's Agentforce to automate intake, document verification, and compliance checks under established free zone rules. Human administrators will continue reviewing complex structures and discretionary legal exceptions.

Policy & Legal Updates

UAE Federal Tax Authority Sets October 30 Deadline for E-Invoicing Provider Appointments

The UAE Federal Tax Authority requires businesses with annual revenues of Dh50 million or more to appoint an Accredited Service Provider by October 30, 2026. Failure to meet the deadline will result in an administrative penalty of Dh5,000 per month of delay. The mandate and associated penalty framework also apply to businesses registered in UAE free zones.

China–UAE News

Luckin Coffee Appoints Mubadala Investment Executive Philip Yifei Bao to Board

Luckin Coffee Inc. has appointed Philip Yifei Bao, Director of Private Equity China at Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Investment Company, to its board of directors. The appointment expands the Chinese coffee chain's board to ten members and deepens governance ties with the UAE sovereign wealth fund.

Policy & Legal Updates

UAE Federal Tax Authority Issues Decision on Input Tax Recovery for Employee Expenses

The UAE Federal Tax Authority published Decision No. 17 of 2026 setting conditions for recovering input tax on employee expenses. Entities may recover VAT on goods or services provided to employees under contractual obligations or documented policies. The guidance requires formal documentation and approval mechanisms ahead of VAT Executive Regulation amendments taking effect October 1, 2026.