VAT in UAE Designated Zones

Thinking about opening an import/export business in the UAE? Designated Zones allow you to save in many areas including taxes. Foreign investors usually go through very minimal documentation and straight forward registration process.

A Designated Zone is any specific area assigned by Cabinet Decision to be outside the UAE for Value Added Tax (VAT) purposes. Territories designated to offer incentives to businesses. For this to happen, a number of conditions need to be fulfilled.

Ras Al Khaimah RAK Free Trade Zone RAK Maritime City Free Zone RAK Airport Free Zone	Abu Dhabi Free Trade Zone of Khalifa Port Abu Dhabi Airport Free Zone Khalifa Industrial Zone
Sharjah Hamriyah Free Zone Sharjah Airport International Free Zone	Fujairah Fujairah Free Zone Fujairah Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ)
Dubai Jebel Ali Free Zone Dubai Cars and Automotive Zone (DUCAMZ) Dubai Textile City Free Zone Area in Al Quoz Free Zone Area in Al Qusais Dubai Aviation City Dubai Airport Free Zone	Umm Al Quwain Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone in Ahmed Bin Rashid Port Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road
Ajman Ajman Free Zone

Sale and/or lease of commercial and residential properties within UAE Designated Zones will be out of scope of VAT, according to the latest clarification issued by the Federal Tax Authority (FTA).

“Sale or lease of any real estate property – commercial or residential – will be considered as outside the scope of VAT. Hence, there will be no VAT applicable on sale or lease of commercial or residential real estate properties in designated zones.”

Cabinet Decision No. (59) of 2017 on Designated Zones for the purposes of the Federal Decree-Law No. (8) of 2017 on Value Added Tax, effective Jan 1, 2018.

Even if Designated Zones are located inside the territory of the UAE, for VAT purposes, they are dealt with as being outside the UAE for trading with goods.

A. Supply of Goods from and to the Rest of the World (out of the UAE).

• VAT is not applicable for sales and purchase of goods within or between UAE Designated Zones until these goods are exported or used to manufacture taxable supplies.

Example: Company A has purchased fruits from Company B (both companies are located in UAE Designated Zones). Company B produced jam out of these fruits. In case Company B decides to sell it to UAE Mainland the Company B will bear 5% VAT from the first transaction (purchase of fruits) and charge accordingly VAT on sale to Company or Individual located in Mainland. However, if Company B exports the jam to ROW (Rest of the World), VAT is not applicable neither on purchase or sale of fruits/jam.

B. Supply of Goods Between Designated Zones in the UAE.

• Supplies between the Designated Zones is out of scope of VAT, provided that:
  The Goods are not released during transfer between the Designated Zones
• Goods are not in any way used or altered during the transfer between the Designated Zones.
• The transfer of goods is undertaken in accordance with the rules for customs suspension according to GCC Common Customs Law.
• The owner of goods provides a monetary guarantee to the authority, if the conditions for movement of goods are not met.

C. Supply of Goods from and into UAE Mainland

• 5% VAT is applicable in both cases

Service is anything that can be supplied other than Goods. The Executive Regulation specifies that the place of supply of services is considered to be within the UAE if the place of supply is within the Designated Zone. This indicates, any services whether supplied from the mainland to Designated Zone or within the Designated Zone, the standard rate of VAT at 5% will be imposed.

*Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM) – when the obligation to pay tax is applicable on the beneficiary of the supply rather than the supplier. When the Reverse Charge is applied, the beneficiary of the goods or services makes the declaration of purchase (input VAT) and the supplier’s sale (output VAT) in their VAT return. That is how both entries cancel each other (5% PLUS and 5% MINUS).

VAT treatment for supply of goods and services related to Designated Zones are different. Tax free transactions are available only for the supply of goods within the Designated Zones, provided that conditions, as prescribed in UAE Executive Regulations are met. Therefore, for UAE businesses, it is certainly important to understand VAT treatment on supplies carried out by them, assess the impact of VAT on their business and accordingly apply.

My Business Consulting DMCC has over 18 years expertise in Tax Advisory, Accounting and Bookkeeping. We can help your business enjoy huge tax and business benefits offered by UAE Designated Zones. We understand the UAE foreign investment terrain, tax regime and accounting system very well.

Shall you require a customized VAT Consultation or an in-depth VAT Training to learn how to apply VAT for your business model – call us today.

Each one of the UAE Designated Zone offers wonderful schemes for foreign investors but they’re not all the same. To start business in these hugely beneficial Designated Zones, new investors particularly may get in touch with My Business Consulting DMCC to access the latest information on available facilities and to help them settle perfectly in UAE Designated Zones.

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