GCC Tax Updates June 2026: What UAE and GCC Business Leaders Need to Act On Now
BLOGS
June 10, 2026
The GCC tax landscape doesn’t stop moving. Three countries have issued significant updates in the last few weeks and there’s a UAE Corporate Tax deadline landing at the end of this month that a specific group of businesses needs to have on their radar.
Here’s your breakdown of everything that matters, with clear guidance on what to do next.
UAE: E-Invoicing ASP Deadline Confirmed for 30 October 2026
The Ministry of State for Financial Affairs has issued Ministerial Decision No. 66 of 2026, formally confirming the amended deadline for businesses to appoint an Accredited Service Provider under the UAE’s Electronic Invoicing System.
Who this affects: All entities with annual revenue of AED 50 million or more.
What the deadline is: 30 October 2026. This is the date by which qualifying businesses must formally appoint their ASP through the MRI tax portal.
What hasn’t changed: The mandatory go-live date remains 1 January 2027. Appointing an ASP by October is the prerequisite the implementation, data preparation, systems integration, testing, and workflow redesign all need to happen in the months between appointment and go-live.
The practical implication here is straightforward: the extension from July to October gives businesses more time to select the right provider. It does not compress the preparation work. If anything, businesses that use the extension wisely, choosing their ASP carefully, assessing their data gaps thoroughly, and building a proper implementation programme, will be the ones that go live without disruption.
If you haven’t started your e-invoicing readiness assessment, the time to do it is now or speak to one of the team at Nishe
UAE: Corporate Tax Deadline Reminder — 30 June 2026
For UAE businesses with a financial year end in September, the Corporate Tax filing deadline falls on 30 June 2026.
If your business falls into this category, your CT return must be submitted within 9 months of your financial year end. For September year-end businesses, that means the deadline is this month.
If you haven’t started your CT return preparation or if you have outstanding questions about your taxable income calculation, related party transactions, or deductibility positions this is urgent.
The FTA is actively enforcing compliance and cross-referencing data across filings. Common areas that flag on CT returns include related party transactions without arm’s-length documentation, entertainment expenses claimed at 100% rather than the permitted 50%, and owner salary versus dividend structures that haven’t been reviewed against CT deductibility rules.
What to do: If your CT filing deadline is 30 June, contact your finance team or advisor today. Don’t leave this to the final week.
Saudi Arabia: Real Estate Transaction Tax, Comprehensive New Guidance Issued
ZATCA has released Version 6 of its Detailed Real Estate Transaction Tax Guideline. Its most comprehensive interpretation of the RETT Law introduced in April 2025. The guideline doesn’t change the law, but it clarifies in significant detail how ZATCA will apply it in practice.
This matters for real estate investors, developers, family-owned groups with property holdings, and businesses involved in Islamic finance transactions.
The key clarifications:
Indirect transfers of real estate companies are now clearly addressed. RETT applies when ownership reaches 30% or more and the transfer itself is 30% or more. A 3-year lookback rule means that smaller transactions can be aggregated, so a series of smaller transfers that individually fall below the threshold may collectively trigger RETT liability.
Capital increases are generally not taxable where ownership percentages remain unchanged. Where new investors are involved, pre-increase interests must typically be retained for 5 years to preserve the exemption. This is an important planning consideration for businesses bringing in new shareholders.
Islamic finance transactions receive important clarification: RETT is charged only once, on the initial transfer in Murabaha and finance lease structures. The transfer of title back to the customer at the end of the arrangement is not taxed again. This removes a significant uncertainty for Islamic finance transactions.
Valuation for BOOT projects is now confirmed to be based on Fair Market Value at the actual transfer date, not the contract signing date, which can differ significantly in long-term infrastructure projects.
More than 26 exemption categories are recognised, including family gifts, Waqf transfers, debt settlements, spousal transfers, government expropriations, and specific off-plan transactions. If you have a real estate transaction under consideration, checking the exemption list is a worthwhile first step.
What to do: If your business has KSA real estate holdings, is involved in property development or investment, or has indirect exposure through a corporate structure, review your position against the new RETT guidance. The 3-year lookback rule on indirect transfers means historical transactions may have ongoing implications.
Qatar: New Tiered Excise Tax on Sweetened Drinks, Effective 6 July 2026
Qatar’s General Tax Authority has issued guidance on a new Tiered Volumetric Excise Tax Model for sweetened drinks, effective 6 July 2026.
This is a material change for any business involved in the manufacture, import, or distribution of sweetened beverages in Qatar.
What’s changing: Tax rates will now vary based on the total sugar content of the beverage a tiered model replacing the previous flat-rate approach. Carbonated drinks are now brought within the broader sweetened drinks framework.
What’s in scope: Ready-to-drink beverages, concentrates, powders, and similar drink products containing added sugar or sweeteners.
What’s out of scope: Qualifying natural juices, specified dairy products, infant formula, and medical nutrition products.
The practical challenge: Product registration under the new regime requires supporting nutritional and laboratory documentation. This is not a quick administrative exercise — businesses need to assess their product classifications and ensure the documentation is in place before the effective date.
Transitional rules may apply to businesses holding a significant stock of sweetened drinks before 6 July. Reviewing your inventory position now could avoid an unintended tax liability on existing stock.
What to do: If your business manufactures, imports, or distributes sweetened beverages in Qatar, start your product classification review immediately. 6 July is close.
Bahrain: Tax Agent and VAT Representative Rules Updated
Bahrain’s National Bureau for Revenue has released Version 2.0 of its Tax Agent and VAT Representative Guide, updating the rules for taxpayer representation in relation to VAT and the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax.
The key practical updates:
Tax agents may now represent both resident and non-resident taxpayers for VAT and DMTT matters, including filings, inquiries, and appeals. This expands the scope of what a tax agent can do on a client’s behalf.
VAT representatives remain restricted to representing non-resident VAT registrants only. Importantly, VAT representatives are jointly liable for VAT obligations and penalties, meaning the representative takes on real financial exposure for the client’s compliance.
Authorisation is valid for three years, with a BHD 300 approval and renewal fee.
The inclusion of DMTT within the scope of tax agent services reflects Bahrain’s continued implementation of its Pillar Two framework. For multinational groups with Bahrain entities, ensuring your tax representation arrangements are current and cover DMTT is worth checking.
What to do: If you operate through a tax agent or VAT representative in Bahrain, verify that their authorization is current and that their scope of representation covers DMTT where relevant.
Saudi Arabia: KSA VAT Refund Deadline for Non-Resident Businesses — 30 June 2026
If your business is registered outside Saudi Arabia and incurred VAT on qualifying business expenses in KSA during 2025 you have until 30 June 2026 to claim a refund.
This is a relatively narrow window, and the requirements are specific:
Your business must have no establishment or VAT registration in Saudi Arabia. You must generally be VAT registered in your home jurisdiction. The reciprocity requirement must be satisfied, meaning Saudi Arabia must recognise refund eligibility for businesses from your jurisdiction. VAT on entertainment, non-business expenses, and other restricted items is not recoverable.
Applications must be supported by valid tax invoices, proof of payment, and supporting documentation. Given the documentary requirements, if you believe you may be eligible, start the review process now rather than attempting to pull everything together in the final days before the deadline.
What to do: If your business had KSA business expenses in 2025 and you’re not Saudi-registered, assess your eligibility and get your documentation together before 30 June.
Your Action List For This Month
Urgent (before 30 June): UAE September year-end businesses: file your CT return Non-resident businesses with 2025 KSA expenses, submit your VAT refund claim to ZATCA
Immediate (this week): Qatar sweetened drink businesses, start product classification review ahead of 6 July Bahrain tax agent/VAT representative, verify authorization covers DMTT
Before October: UAE businesses above AED 50M revenue, appoint your ASP by 30 October Begin or accelerate your e-invoicing readiness assessment, go-live is January 2027
Before December: Historical UAE VAT refund window, review 2018-2021 VAT positions before 31 December 2026 IFRS 18 gap assessment, capture 2026 comparative data in a restateable format
How Nishe Can Help
These updates span Corporate Tax, e-invoicing, VAT, real estate tax, and excise — across four GCC jurisdictions. If any of them raises questions about your current position, we’re happy to talk.
No lengthy process before we’ve understood your situation. Just a practical conversation about where you are and what you need.
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Demystifying UAE Corporate Tax
The Ministry of Finance (MoF), UAE recently issued Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 on the Taxation of Corporations and Businesses.
Are you wondering what it means for you practically?
Click on the link to watch the webinar where we attempt to demystify some of the most essential provisions of the UAE Corporate Tax Law.
