Grant Thornton UAE's Partner Insights series brings together the experience and expertise of our leadership team through a collection of short videos. Across a range of sectors and service lines, our partners share valuable perspectives on market developments, business challenges, emerging opportunities and the issues that matter most to organisations today.
Many businesses assume that Free Zones and Designated Zones have the same meaning across all UAE tax laws, but this is not the case. The FTA's Public Clarification TAXP010 brings together the definitions used under Corporate Tax, VAT and Excise Tax legislation, clarifying where they align and where they differ. This article explores the key takeaways and the practical implications for businesses operating in UAE free zones, including the need to evaluate their status independently under each tax regime.
Generative AI is becoming a key driver of business growth and customer engagement, yet many private companies remain behind larger organisations in adoption. This article examines the opportunities and challenges of AI adoption in the UAE, where businesses are increasingly leveraging AI to enhance personalisation, improve operational efficiency and support digital transformation strategies.
Fraud and money laundering are increasingly interconnected risks, with money mule activity acting as a key enabler of criminal networks. This report examines how fraud and AML teams can collaborate more effectively through intelligence sharing, enhanced detection capabilities and integrated financial crime risk management to combat emerging threats.
The UAE has introduced targeted amendments to its VAT Executive Regulations through Cabinet Decision No. 149 of 2026. This article examines the most commercially significant changes, including updates to input tax recovery, single composite supplies, employee-related expenses, high-value cash payments and input tax apportionment, alongside key clarificatory amendments that may require businesses to review their VAT policies, documentation and compliance processes.
09 Oct 2026
Explore insights from Grant Thornton UAE’s latest analysis of Ministerial Decision No. 96 of 2026, where Anuj Kapoor, Partner, International Tax, examines why this seemingly administrative update carries important implications for Pillar Two governance, highlighting the growing importance of interpretative readiness, ongoing OECD guidance, and the need for multinational groups to regularly reassess technical positions, documentation and compliance frameworks in an evolving global tax environment.
24 Sep 2026
A practical 90-day roadmap to help businesses prepare for the UAE's mandatory e-invoicing regime. It reinforces the need for organisations to take a structured approach to readiness, encompassing technology, data, processes and people. By acting early and addressing potential gaps ahead of go-live, businesses can strengthen compliance, reduce implementation risk and position themselves for a successful transition to the new e-invoicing framework .
18 Sep 2026
As the UAE progresses towards the implementation of its mandatory E-invoicing framework, businesses are preparing for a significant shift in how invoices are generated, exchanged and reported. The phased rollout is set to modernise tax administration, improve efficiency and enhance transparency across the business ecosystem. Speaking on Dubai Eye 103.8, Imran Mushtaq, Partner and Head of Indirect Tax, shared insights on the UAE's E-invoicing timeline and what businesses should be doing now to prepare. From assessing current finance and ERP systems to understanding compliance requirements and implementation roadmaps, the discussion explored the practical steps organisations can take ahead of the upcoming changes.
