Policy & Legal Updates

UAE Family Office Planning Requires Clear Sequence and Operational Substance, Advises Shah

Speaking at the Hubbis Wealth Planning & Structuring Forum in Dubai, FAME Advisory DMCC founder Nirav Dinesh Kumar Shah emphasised that families must define their objectives before creating structures. Shah highlighted the transition from holding companies to full family offices, noting that UAE tax authorities are actively reviewing corporate returns and free-zone substance. He stressed that cross-border wealth structuring requires aligning residency, governance, and real operational substance with intended tax positions.

Policy & Legal Updates

UAE Amends E-Invoicing Rules With Tax Group Exclusion and Storage Changes

The UAE Ministry of Finance has introduced amendments to its electronic invoicing regulations under Ministerial Decision No. 197 of 2026, relaxing compliance rules ahead of an October 30 deadline. Transactions between members of the same tax group will be temporarily excluded from e-invoicing for 24 months starting January 1, 2027. The revisions also remove the requirement to store e-invoicing records physically within the UAE and abolish the mandatory two-day notification rule for system failures.

Policy & Legal Updates

Crowe Highlights UAE Transfer Pricing Focus and Federal Tax Authority Scrutiny

Crowe reports that the UAE Federal Tax Authority is expected to increase scrutiny on related-party transfer pricing transactions as corporate tax compliance cycles advance. The firm emphasizes that compliance requires demonstrating commercial rationale, economic substance, and alignment with OECD principles. Businesses are advised to review documentation quality, benchmarking, and cross-border intercompany arrangements.

China–UAE News

China Energy Wins Dubai Construction Contract for DAMAC Capri Towers

China Energy Engineering Group Construction Company has been awarded the general contracting contract for the DAMAC Capri Towers residential project in Dubai. Located in Dubai Investments Park 2 within the DAMAC Riverside waterfront community, the project features two residential buildings with ten tower sections and approximately 231,900 square meters of built-up area. The value of the construction contract was not disclosed.