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Gulf technology firms and institutional investors are opening secondary operational bases in Hong Kong and Singapore amid regional tensions. A dual-hub model is being adopted to direct Middle Eastern capital into Asian AI data centres and multicurrency payment rails. Dubai-based trading platform xBratAI advanced its Hong Kong expansion to early 2026 due to regional conflict.
The UAE Federal Tax Authority announced Cabinet Decision No. 149 of 2026, introducing significant amendments to the Value-Added Tax Executive Regulations. The reforms revise default input tax apportionment methods, employee benefit tax recovery, cash transaction limits, and composite supply treatments. Most changes take effect on 1 October 2026, while the input tax apportionment rules apply from the tax year starting 1 October 2027.
UAE businesses are completing tax computations and documentation ahead of the September 30, 2026, corporate tax filing deadline for the tax year ending December 31, 2025. The deadline marks the second compliance cycle under Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022. Tax experts warn against common filing errors, unsupported deductions, and penalties for late submission and payment.
The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi brought together 11 member nations, including China and the UAE, under the theme of resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability. Eurasia Review reports that the bloc prioritised local-currency trade settlements and payment interoperability over creating a common currency. The New Development Bank, with 100 billion dollars in authorised capital, was highlighted as the central vehicle for infrastructure and local-currency financing.
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