The UAE Federal Tax Authority issued Tax Public Clarification TAXP010 confirming that Free Zone and Designated Zone definitions differ across Corporate Tax, VAT, and Excise Tax. These definitions are not interchangeable, requiring companies to assess each tax regime independently. Certain zones like JAFZA, DAFZA, and KIZAD qualify as Corporate Tax Designated Zones, whereas ADGM, DIFC, and DMCC do not qualify as VAT Designated Zones.
In an interview with International Tax Review following the IFLR/ITR Middle East Awards 2026, Eptalex Global Chairman Ramy Torbey detailed major tax trends across the region. Torbey noted that the introduction of UAE corporate tax and free zone qualifying income rules has turned transfer pricing into a Gulf-wide compliance issue. He highlighted growing demand for restructuring cross-border family wealth and intercompany arrangements using Abu Dhabi Global Market and Dubai International Financial Centre foundations.
The Dubai International Financial Centre announced a partnership granting up to 6,000 Japanese startups direct access to its innovation ecosystem. The initiative enables firms to acquire licenses, establish operations, and raise venture capital in the free zone. DIFC also reported crossing 2,000 active innovation companies and introduced the Dubai FinTech Stack.
Dubai Future Finance Week commenced at Madinat Jumeirah anchored by the Dubai FinTech Summit. Key announcements included the tenfold physical expansion of the DIFC Academy, J.P. Morgan opening a private bank branch, and Central Bank guidance on dirham stablecoins coexisting with the digital dirham.
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