FAME Advisory Highlights Tax Execution Risks for Cross-Border Businesses in UAE

Cross-border businesses and families face potential tax pitfalls when corporate service providers misexecute structural tax plans, FAME Advisory DMCC founder Nirav Dinesh Kumar Shah told Hubbis. The introduction of UAE corporate tax has made entity management and compliance adherence critical, as foreign-incorporated entities managed from the UAE can trigger local tax exposure. Shah noted that proper alignment may require reassessing offshore entities, redomiciling to the UAE, or using foundation structures.

Published October 16, 2026 Source: Hubbis Analysis

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Jurisdiction: United Arab Emirates
Official source: news.google.com

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A sound tax plan can be undermined by mistakes made during its practical implementation, Nirav Dinesh Kumar Shah, Founder and Managing Director of FAME Advisory DMCC, stated during the Hubbis Middle East Private Capital Forum 2026. Speaking in an interview session, Shah observed that cross-border families and corporate groups frequently encounter difficulties when moving from advisory concepts to legal and operational execution.

Shah explained that a recurring issue arises when clients receive sound tax guidance but entrust implementation to corporate service providers that lack an understanding of the underlying tax rationale. In such instances, minor procedural or administrative errors during setup can compromise the entity's intended tax status and result in unintended exposures.

According to Shah, the rollout of UAE corporate tax has made implementation and ongoing governance central to corporate planning. He pointed out that effective management exercised from within the UAE can create domestic corporate tax liability even if an entity is incorporated in a foreign jurisdiction. As a result, businesses and wealthy families are reassessing legacy offshore structures, exploring local foundation frameworks, and in some cases redomiciling foreign entities to the UAE.

Shah highlighted that corporate compliance across all relevant jurisdictions must accompany tax efficiency. FAME Advisory currently provides continuous compliance and indirect tax assistance, including value-added tax filings, to approximately 400 to 500 corporate entities. Shah also authored the book 'Law & Practice Relating to UAE Corporate Tax' to help practitioners and businesses interpret the evolving regulatory environment.