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
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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.



Oil Prices Steady as Markets Weigh Demand against US Inventories

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
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Oil Prices Steady as Markets Weigh Demand against US Inventories

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)

Oil prices were little changed on Thursday as investors weighed firm winter fuel demand expectations against large US fuel inventories and macroeconomic concerns.

Brent crude futures were down 3 cents at $76.13 a barrel by 1003 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures dipped 10 cents to $73.22.

Both benchmarks fell more than 1% on Wednesday as a stronger dollar and a bigger than expected rise in US fuel stockpiles pressured prices.

"The oil market is still grappling with opposite forces - seasonal demand to support the bulls and macro data that supports a stronger US dollar in the medium term ... that can put a ceiling to prevent the bulls from advancing further," said OANDA senior market analyst Kelvin Wong.

JPMorgan analysts expect oil demand for January to expand by 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd) year on year to 101.4 million bpd, primarily driven by increased use of heating fuels in the Northern Hemisphere.

"Global oil demand is expected to remain strong throughout January, fuelled by colder than normal winter conditions that are boosting heating fuel consumption, as well as an earlier onset of travel activities in China for the Lunar New Year holidays," the analysts said.

The market structure in Brent futures is also indicating that traders are becoming more concerned about supply tightening at the same time demand is increasing.

The premium of the front-month Brent contract over the six-month contract reached its widest since August on Wednesday. A widening of this backwardation, when futures for prompt delivery are higher than for later delivery, typically indicates that supply is declining or demand is increasing.

Nevertheless, official Energy Information Administration (EIA) data showed rising gasoline and distillates stockpiles in the United States last week.

The dollar strengthened further on Thursday, underpinned by rising Treasury yields ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump's entrance into the White House on Jan. 20.

Looking ahead, WTI crude oil is expected to oscillate within a range of $67.55 to $77.95 into February as the market awaits more clarity on Trump's administration policies and fresh fiscal stimulus measures out of China, OANDA's Wong said.