UAE: Government Updates Free Zone Tax Rules and Price Reporting Guidelines

The Finance Ministry has issued two new ministerial decisions that revise regulations for corporate tax activities in free zones and establish official price reporting mechanisms.

The first decision, Ministerial Decision No. 229/2025, replaces previous legislation and broadens the definition of qualifying commodity trading. The updated rules now encompass industrial chemicals, associated by-products, and environmental commodities, whilst also clarifying treasury and financing services regulations for related parties.

Key changes include the removal of the phrase “in raw form” from commodity trading requirements, allowing for expanded trading of metals, minerals, industrial chemicals, energy and agricultural commodities. These items must maintain a quoted price from recognised exchanges or approved price reporting agencies.

Another decision, Ministerial Decision No. 230/2025, provides an official list of recognised price reporting agencies, offering greater clarity for tax compliance.

The legislation also introduces new provisions for self-investment activities and clarifies rules regarding the distribution of goods from designated zones, particularly concerning transactions with public benefit entities.

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UAE: Fake Consumer Protection Websites

Gulf News, 26 August 2025: The Emirates Society for Consumer Protection has warned of fake platforms charging consumers to resolve complaints.

The Society for Consumer Protection has issued a warning about suspicious and fraudulent websites, platforms, and social media pages which are misusing government logos and falsely claim to specialise in protecting consumers and safeguarding their rights. These fraudulent sites lure consumers into submitting complaints, then request fees for resolving them, or demand bank transfers and access to personal accounts.

The society has emphasised that it never charges any fees or accepts any payments for resolving consumer complaints. It has urged consumers if any entity that requests payment or asks for bank transfers to immediately refuse this, block the source, and report the matter to the relevant authorities.

The sites falsely claim to be official complaint-handling portals that help consumers recover their rights by reporting financial, commercial, or service-related violations.

According to the Society, these fake platforms have created counterfeit complaint forms resembling official ones, which require personal details such as name, phone number, and email address.

The Emirates Society for Consumer Protection is a recognised non-profit entity; its complaint services are completely free, and it never requests any payment or personal financial details from consumers.

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UAE: New Employment Guide Details Worker Leave and Benefit Rights

Gulf News, 17 August 2025: The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has released a detailed employer Guide outlining workers’ rights and leave entitlements under Federal Decree-Law No. 33/2021.

It specifies seven categories of leave available to private-sector employees: annual, sick, study, parental, bereavement, national service, and maternity leave. Workers are entitled to 30 days of paid annual leave for each year of service, while new parents can take five working days of leave within six months of their child’s birth.

Maternity provisions include 60 days of leave for female workers, with 45 days at full pay followed by 15 days at half pay. The guidance also details sick leave allowances of up to 90 days annually, structured as 15 days at full pay, 30 days at half pay, and the remainder unpaid.

Bereavement leave grants five days for the death of a spouse and three days for immediate family members. Educational support includes 10 working days of study leave for workers enrolled in UAE-accredited institutions.

The toolkit additionally clarifies end-of-service benefits, with expatriate workers entitled to 21 days’ basic wage for each of the first five years and 30 days for subsequent years, calculated on their final basic wage.

The document also addresses wage regulations, requiring payment in UAE dirhams unless otherwise specified, and outlines compensation requirements for public holiday work.

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UAE: New Safety Guidelines for Travellers

Gulf News, 11 August 2025: The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released comprehensive travel safety guidelines for citizens and residents travelling abroad, accompanied by the launch of a 24-hour emergency support service.

The new guidelines emphasise the importance of adhering to destination countries’ specific travel regulations and local laws. Travellers are specifically instructed to monitor weather and road conditions throughout their journeys.

The Ministry has established a dedicated emergency hotline (00971 800 24) operating round-the-clock for UAE nationals requiring urgent assistance whilst abroad.

The official guidance notably recommends air travel as the preferred mode of transport, citing safety and comfort considerations. For those planning to drive abroad, the Ministry has stressed the need for increased vigilance and strict compliance with local traffic regulations.

Additional measures include a recommendation to arrange travel through established international tour operators and vehicle hire firms to ensure appropriate standards of safety and service.

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UAE: Securities Authority Announces Major Regulatory Updates

Gulf News, 4 August 2025: The Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) of the UAE has unveiled four new regulatory initiatives to modernise the country’s financial markets, including frameworks for carbon credit trading and retail sukuk.

SCA Chief Executive announced that the authority is revising the Capital Market Authority Law to expand its oversight of emerging financial activities. The updates include new legislation for the public company division and standards for goodwill valuation in listed firms.

The authority has established a comprehensive framework for green bonds and sukuk issuance.

The regulatory package introduces specific requirements for carbon credit trading platforms, with operators required to develop their own operational rules within the prescribed framework. A draft regulation for retail sukuk is being finalised to enable fractional investment instruments.

The SCA has maintained its fee waiver for green bond and sukuk listings, whilst implementing new frameworks for tokenised securities and commodity contracts as part of its digital transformation agenda.

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