Understand the policies, laws and regulations shaping business across China and the UAE.
Business registration · Investment · Taxation · Customs · Trade · Financial regulation · Employment · Visas · Free-zone policies. Every update identifies the issuing authority, jurisdiction, publication date, effective date and official source.
Speaking at the Hubbis Wealth Planning & Structuring Forum in Dubai, Cone Marshall Group's UAE Managing Director Joy Lahoud highlighted the need for coordinated cross-border wealth structures. He noted that heightened global tax scrutiny and the introduction of UAE corporate tax require structures that satisfy regulatory review across multiple jurisdictions. Lahoud emphasized the importance of unified planning among bankers, lawyers, tax advisers, and fiduciaries.
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.
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.
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.
Federal Tax Authority
United Arab Emirates
Final rule
The UECN Brief
Policy updates, China–UAE business news and industry insights, delivered to your inbox.
Business relationships in both markets
Forums, delegations and events
Policy updates and market insights
Membership
Join a network with a shared purpose.
Tell us about your experience and connection to UAE–China business. UECN assesses your application and offers the right membership category — fees are shared privately with your offer.
We send you a one-time sign-in link — your answers are saved as you go.
