Book an appointment with us, or search the directory to find the right lawyer for you directly through the app.
Find out moreAs a firm we have a strong commitment to our corporate sustainability principles, and this year we joined the United Nations Global Compact, an initiative dedicated to promoting responsible business practices and advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our goals include Education, gender equality, climate action, justice for all, and sustainable partnerships. You can learn about our actions plans and targets, here.
In this edition, we feature an entire section dedicated to COP28 where we share insights and intelligence through conversations we have had with leading experts from across the region. This includes articles and podcasts that delve into the most pertinent topics, such as COP28’s call to action for corporates, ESG reporting, and the UAE’s Net Zero vision.
Beyond the focus on Energy and Climate we feature articles covering important updates that look into a variety of areas, such as UAE consumer protection law, an overview of the Federal Civil Family Law for Non-Muslim Foreigners in the UAE, and from Kuwait we discuss the management of companies. As always, in our final section we continue to share with you real life judgements that provide context to the legal landscape in the region.
Read the full editionThe Ministry of Finance in the UAE recently published the much-awaited Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 on the Taxation of Corporations and Businesses (“CT Law“). The CT Law will apply to financial years commencing on or after 1 June 2023.
All businesses in the UAE, including in free zones and foreign businesses with permanent establishments, or that derive UAE sourced income, or have a nexus in the UAE will be impact by the CT Law.
The CT Law introduces corporation tax (“CT”) at a rate of 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000.
Whilst not prescribed in the CT Law, a different CT rate will apply to multinational corporations that fall within the scope of OECD’s BEPS Pillar Two project (i.e. where the group has consolidated global revenues in excess of EUR 750 million (approximately AED 3.15 billion)).
Qualifying free zone persons will be subject to 0% CT on qualifying income and 9% CT on non-qualifying income. The CT Law prescribes conditions that free zone entities must satisfy in order to be treated as qualifying free zone persons.
The CT Law requires that all related party transactions should be undertaken on arm’s length terms and establishes rules for determining arm’s length standard, as well as sets out the definitions for “related parties”, “control” and “connected persons”.
It is crucial for all UAE businesses to understand the CT rules and assess its implications in order to be compliant and ensure tax efficiency. Based on our experience, some of the key areas that pharmaceutical companies need to focus on to implement CT may be as follows:
As business models change, and regulations in the region become more elaborate, tax planning has become more complex. When implementing CT in heavily regulated industries, such as the life sciences industry, any changes to the business model should be evaluated against the laws and regulations governing the industry to avoid accidentally running afoul of such things as product pricing control and limitations on entities that can conduct pharmaceutical sales.
Whether pharmaceutical companies maintain their own trading entities in the region, use third party distributors, have established a representative office, or entered into toll manufacturing arrangements, such companies will be impacted by the introduction of CT.
Many pharmaceutical companies rely on third-party distributors, however, CT exposure may be triggered depending on how the distribution arrangement is structured. Further, where scientific offices / marketing firms (“SO”) are, strictly speaking, restricted to promotional activities, we are aware that some SO’s operate beyond these restrictions, potentially creating CT exposure.
We would be delighted to provide more information about this development, or support your entity in adapting to the new CT framework from a tax, legal, and regulatory perspective. Please let us know if we can assist by contacting healthcare@tamimi.com or by contacting one of the authors of this alert.
To learn more about our services and get the latest legal insights from across the Middle East and North Africa region, click on the link below.