UAE Corporate Tax:
From compliance to controversy
What businesses need to get right in 2027

As the UAE Corporate Tax regime continues to mature, the focus for businesses is increasingly moving beyond implementation and filing compliance towards managing areas of technical uncertainty, FTA scrutiny and potential tax controversy.

The session will provide a practical discussion of some of the key Corporate Tax issues that UAE businesses and multinational groups should be considering as they prepare for 2027.

Key Focus Areas

• Lessons from Corporate Tax implementation so far, and the practical challenges of applying the legislation within the business
• Transfer Pricing, related-party transactions and the increasing importance of robust documentation and defensible intercompany arrangements
• Free Zone taxation and the practical challenges associated with maintaining Qualifying Free Zone Person status
• Corporate restructurings, available reliefs and common tax considerations arising from reorganisations
• FTA challenges, supporting evidence, tax governance and practical approaches to managing disputes

Seats are limited – secure your place now!

Programme

* Topics and timings are subject to change

Speakers

	Asmae Bazani Counsel, Tax, Galadari Advocates & Legal Consultants (Moderator) Asmae is a Counsel in the Tax practice at Galadari Advocates and Legal Consultants. She advises clients on corporate tax, international tax structuring, transfer pricing, and complex cross border transactions. Her practice focuses on assisting multinational groups, investment platforms, private equity investors, and family offices with tax efficient structuring strategies that align with UAE and international regulatory frameworks. Asmae brings extensive international tax advisory and legal experience gained across leading professional services firms and international law firms in the UAE and Luxembourg. Her background combines Big Four advisory experience with strong legal training, enabling her to approach tax matters from both a strategic structuring perspective and a regulatory risk management standpoint.
	Charbel Fadel Partner and Head of Corporate and Commercial, Galadari Advocates & Legal Consultants (Panelist) Charbel is a Partner and the Head of Corporate and Commercial at Galadari Advocates & Legal Consultants. He focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, financial transactions, restructurings, insolvency, liquidation and security and facility agreements. Charbel has extensive expertise in matters governed by UAE law and the wider MENA region and represents a diverse range of clients, including banks, funds, international and domestic companies, and family businesses.
	Chiara Furfari Vice President, Senior Manager Corporate & International Tax I Corporate Tax, Mashreq (Panelist) Chiara is an international tax professional with a legal background and strong expertise in cross‑border taxation, transfer pricing, tax treaties, and OECD initiatives, including Pillar Two. Chiara currently covers the role of Vice President – Corporate & International Tax at Mashreqbank in Dubai. She has significant experience advising on complex international tax structures, and global tax governance across multiple jurisdictions. She holds the Advance Diploma in International Taxation (ADIT) from the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) and has completed the MBA Essentials at the London School of Economics, combining technical tax expertise with a strong business and leadership perspective.
	Keyur Dave Group Chief Financial Officer, Alfred Holdings (Panelist) Keyur is a Chartered Accountant with over 25 years of experience in banking, financial services, and Big Four advisory, including roles at EY, PwC, GT, and BDO. His expertise covers IFRS and Ind AS reporting, fundraising, IPO readiness, and M&A, having worked on over 100 IPOs and M&A mandates at GT and BDO, as well as leading a USD 2 billion fundraise at ICICI Bank. Additionally, he have served on the Accounting Standards Board of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), the Ind AS Implementation Committee, and SEBI’s Ind AS committee. His background also includes contributing to ICAI guidance notes, speaking at the Reserve Bank of India’s IFRS sessions, serving as a faculty member at the National Institute of Banking Management, and publishing various technical articles and media pieces. Currently, He is the Group CFO at Alfred Holdings in Dubai, overseeing finance across multiple legal entities including InsuranceMarket.ae, CreditMarket.ae, and HolidayMarket.ae. His focus is on financial governance, regulatory engagement, and supporting sustainable growth.
	Okky Dellarossi Kempinski – Senior Manager – Group Tax (Panelist) Okky serves as Senior Manager of Group Tax at Kempinski Hotels, directing the Group’s global tax strategy, governance, and compliance framework. Operating at the intersection of technical tax advisory and commercial strategy, she leads cross-border tax planning, intellectual property (IP) and entity structuring, transfer pricing, technology implementation, and all direct and indirect tax affairs across more than 30 jurisdictions. Through proactive tax risk management and continuous operational alignment across corporate, OpCo, PropCo, hotel owners, and other relevant stakeholders, Okky safeguards organizational value while enabling sustainable international growth. She collaborates closely with executive leadership, regional stakeholders, and local authorities to streamline cross-border transactions, mitigate fiscal exposure, and maintain seamless adherence to evolving international tax standards. By integrating robust compliance mechanisms with commercially astute solutions, she ensures regulatory integrity and drives long-term efficiency across Kempinski’s luxury hospitality portfolio.

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