GCC Tax Flash News – March 2025

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

• The Ministry of Finance (MoF) released FAQs on Domestic Minimum Top-up Tax (DMTT), which has been introduced effective from fiscal year starting from 1 January 2025

• The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) issued VAT Public Clarification on the amendments to the VAT Executive Regulation (ER) explaining the amendments with examples

• The MoF issued Ministerial Decision No. 64 of 2025 on the process and requirements for accreditation of E-Invoicing service provider

• The FTA issued revised Excise Tax Guide on administrative exceptions guide (EGAE01)

• Dubai issued a new regulation which allows the freezone registered companies in Dubai to operate anywhere within the emirates, provided a permit is obtained from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism
• The UAE issues national currency symbol for Dirhams in English

• The FTA issued Decision No. 2 of 2025 dated 19 Feb 2025 (effective from 1 March 2025) on the Authority’s Policy on Issuing Clarifications and Directives

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)

• The Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority (ZATCA) announced the criteria for selecting the taxpayers in the wave 22 phase of e-Invoicing integration. Wave 22 will include the taxpayers having taxable revenue exceeding SAR 1 million during 2022, 2023, or 2024 and the deadline for wave 22 integration is 31 December 2025

Kingdom of Bahrain

• The National Bureau for Revenue (NBR) released updated VAT general guide and Import and Export guide, and organized series of awareness workshops for 2025 on legislative and procedural aspects of VAT and Excise Tax

• Budget plans of Bahrain for 2025-2026 indicates increase in Excise Tax on energy drinks, sugary beverages, and tobacco

• Budget plans of Bahrain for 2025-2026 indicates introduction of Corporate Tax for Companies exceeding a certain revenue threshold. The country has also recently implemented Domestic Minimum Top-up Tax (DMTT) on certain multinational entities (MNEs) from the fiscal year beginning 1 January 2025
• An updated guide on DMTT registration has been released by the NBR

• Bahrain approved the DTA with Guernsey

Sultanate of Oman

• The Oman Tax Authority (OTA) reminds all the taxpayers who are subject to Corporate Tax, and obliged to submit their accounts with their returns, that these accounts shall be approved by an auditor legally licensed by the Financial Service Authority of Oman

• Oman ratified the DTAs with Cyprus and Tanzania

State of Qatar

• The General Tax Authority (GTA) of Qatar extends the deadline for filing of Corporate Tax return for the year ending 31 December 2024 to 31 August 2025 (from 31 April 2025)
• Qatar officially published the Law no. 22 of 2024 on introduction of Domestic Minimum Top-up Tax (DMTT) and income inclusion rule (IIR) in the Official Gazette which is effective from the fiscal year beginning 1 January 2025

State of Kuwait

• The Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued Ministerial Decision No. (16) of 2025 (amending the Decision no. 04 of 2023) introducing important amendments for Ultimate Beneficial Ownership (UBO) requirements to strengthen the regulatory compliance and bring transparency in the system