UAE Says it Seeks to Commit to Int’l Standards, Prevent Malicious Practices via Corporate Tax

The agreement of the UAE and Kuwait aims to encourage and facilitate cooperation in data and legislative regulations with the aim of enhancing the financial acumen of investors in both countries.  Asharq Al-Awsat
The agreement of the UAE and Kuwait aims to encourage and facilitate cooperation in data and legislative regulations with the aim of enhancing the financial acumen of investors in both countries. Asharq Al-Awsat
TT

UAE Says it Seeks to Commit to Int’l Standards, Prevent Malicious Practices via Corporate Tax

The agreement of the UAE and Kuwait aims to encourage and facilitate cooperation in data and legislative regulations with the aim of enhancing the financial acumen of investors in both countries.  Asharq Al-Awsat
The agreement of the UAE and Kuwait aims to encourage and facilitate cooperation in data and legislative regulations with the aim of enhancing the financial acumen of investors in both countries. Asharq Al-Awsat

Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Finance Younis Al-Khoori said that the use of federal tax on companies as of June 2023 strengthens the UAE’s commitment to meet international standards for tax transparency and the prevention of harmful tax practices.

It is also an integral part in encouraging economic growth, attracting investment, and supporting fifty projects.

The total revenue collected from fees for services provided by the central government last year was 26 billion dirhams ($7 billion), while the value of revenues and amounts collected through e-dirham for 2021 was more than 14.33 billion dirhams ($3.9 billion), according to the Emirati official.

Commenting on the announcement of the introduction of the Central Corporate Tax, he explained that the announcement was a result of the Government strategy led by the Ministry of Finance to strengthen the state.

The purpose of the strategy is to reinforce the state’s commitment to meet international standards for tax transparency and the prevention of malicious tax practices, he continued.

Corporate taxation is based on international best practices that aim to strengthen the UAE’s position as a leading global hub for trade and investment, and to accelerate the country’s growth and strategic goals’ achievement.

In support of the state’s direction in improving and diversifying non-oil revenue sources, the corporate tax policy aims to diversify the state government’s revenue resources needed to create jobs, finance public spending, and improve capital infrastructure projects and the infrastructure for social services.

Al-Khoori added that corporate tax is an integral part of economic policies that support economic growth and attract investment, leading to the promotion of the country’s economic growth and support for fifty projects and other strategic goals.

He pointed out that the Finance Ministry had announced at the end of January 2022 that it would introduce a federal tax on business profits for the fiscal years beginning on or after June 1, 2023.

The corporate tax system used in the country is one of the most competitive in the world.

There the tax will be levied at a base rate of 9 percent and a profit of zero percent on taxable profits not exceeding 375,000 dirhams ($100,000) to support the SMEs.

Moreover, Boursa Kuwait and Kuwait Clearing Company signed a joint agreement of understanding with Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) to standardize and define operational, administrative, and technical procedures.

The MoU also seeks to achieve effective cooperation with regards to listing, trading and joint central depository operations.

Under the terms of the agreement, the parties agreed to take necessary measures to encourage and facilitate cooperation in the areas of data exchange, the standardization of legislative regulations, and enhancing the financial acumen of investors in both countries.



Lebanon's Bonds Rally as Parliament Elects 1st President since 2022

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri shakes hands with Lebanon’s army chief Joseph Aoun after he is elected as the country’s president at the parliament building in Beirut, Lebanon, Jan. 9, 2025. Reuters/Mohamed Azakir
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri shakes hands with Lebanon’s army chief Joseph Aoun after he is elected as the country’s president at the parliament building in Beirut, Lebanon, Jan. 9, 2025. Reuters/Mohamed Azakir
TT

Lebanon's Bonds Rally as Parliament Elects 1st President since 2022

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri shakes hands with Lebanon’s army chief Joseph Aoun after he is elected as the country’s president at the parliament building in Beirut, Lebanon, Jan. 9, 2025. Reuters/Mohamed Azakir
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri shakes hands with Lebanon’s army chief Joseph Aoun after he is elected as the country’s president at the parliament building in Beirut, Lebanon, Jan. 9, 2025. Reuters/Mohamed Azakir

Lebanese government bonds extended their three-month-long rally on Thursday as the crisis-ravaged country's parliament voted in a new head of state for the first time since 2022.

Lebanese lawmakers elected army chief Joseph Aoun as president. It came after the failure of 12 previous attempts to pick a president and boosts hopes that Lebanon might finally be able to start addressing its dire economic woes.

The country's battered bonds have almost trebled in value since September, when the regional conflict with Israel weakened Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, long viewed as an obstacle to overcoming its political paralysis.

According to Reuters, most of Lebanon's international bonds, which have been in default since 2020, rallied after Aoun's victory was announced to stand 1.3 to 1.7 cents higher on the day and at just over 16 cents on the dollar.

They have risen almost every day since late December, although they remain some of the lowest-priced government bonds in the world, reflecting the scale of Lebanon's difficulties.

With its economy and financial system still reeling from a collapse in 2019, Lebanon is in dire need of international support to rebuild from the conflict, which the World Bank estimates to have cost the country $8.5 billion.

Hasnain Malik, an analyst at financial research firm Tellimer said Aoun's victory was "the first necessary step on a very long road to recovery".

Malik said Aoun now needs to appoint a prime minister and assemble a cabinet that can retain the support of parliament, resuscitate long-delayed reforms and help Lebanon secure international financial support.

The 61-year old Aoun fell short of the required support in Thursday's first round of parliamentary voting and only succeeded in a second round, reportedly after a meeting with Hezbollah and Amal party MPs.

"That presents significant ongoing risk to any new PM and cabinet, which need to maintain the confidence of a majority of parliament," Malik said.