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.
Companies expanding operations in Abu Dhabi are being advised to allocate sufficient budgets for permanent local talent, regulatory compliance, and cybersecurity resilience for 2027. Financial data shows Abu Dhabi Global Market hosted over 190 asset and fund managers overseeing 276 funds in the first half of 2026, marking a 54 percent surge in assets under management year-on-year. Industry executives caution that operational expenses extend beyond office setup into human capital, compliance procedures, and cyber recovery systems.
The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority has opened a public consultation on proposed amendments to the Implementing Regulation of the Personal Data Protection Law. The proposed revisions include changes to breach notifications, data subject access requests, direct marketing consent, and record retention requirements. The consultation closes on 5 November 2026, with the revised rules entering into force 60 days after official gazette publication.
The UAE Ministry of Finance has issued Ministerial Decision No. 197 of 2026, granting businesses temporary exemptions and lifting local data storage mandates for electronic invoicing. The reforms include a 24-month waiver for intra-tax group transactions and retroactive application from October 1, 2026.
The UAE Ministry of Finance has introduced amendments to its electronic invoicing regulations governing value-added tax filings. Key changes include a two-year exemption for intra-tax group transactions starting January 1, 2027, and the removal of local data storage mandates. Businesses with annual revenue of AED 50 million or more must appoint an accredited service provider by October 30.
Ministry of Finance
United Arab Emirates
Effective January 1, 2027
Amendment
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