Dubai Chambers’ workshops focus on tax, employment law

Dubai Chambers recently organised two workshops focusing on key aspects of the UAE’s Corporate Tax regime and Employment Law.

The sessions were designed to ensure the local business community remains informed on the latest legal and regulatory developments across diverse sectors and attracted a total of 125 participants from the private sector.

The first workshop focused on the evolution of the UAE Corporate Tax and was organised in collaboration with Habib Al Mulla & Partners and Andersen. The session offered practical insights into corporate tax in the UAE. Participants gained a clear understanding of essential areas including the applicability of corporate tax, Free Zone taxation, tax grouping, calculation methods, transfer pricing compliance, and key legal considerations.

The workshop also addressed industry-specific expense deductions, corporate tax return readiness, recent legislative updates, and tax accounting considerations for current and deferred tax. This comprehensive session ensured participants were well-prepared for compliance in the evolving tax landscape.

The second workshop was organised in collaboration with Fragomen UAE and Gateley Middle East and explored the UAE’s employment laws and regulations. The session provided an overview of the legal framework governing the labour market and practical guidance on visa requirements, categories, and work permits.

The workshop also covered essential employment aspects such as probation, pay and benefits, performance management, grievance procedures, and end-of-service processes.

Meanwhile Dubai Chambers recently organised two legal workshops aimed at raising awareness among companies about shareholder agreement procedures and tax-related transactions, as well as the importance of participating in the Customer Councils workshops organised by the Federal Tax Authority.

The sessions were attended by 70 representatives from the private sector across diverse industries.

The first workshop, presented in collaboration with Clifford Chance, focused on key considerations of a Shareholders’ Agreements (SHA). The session delved into the intricacies of structuring, governance, investor protections, and international investment implications within SHAs.

Participants gained a comprehensive understanding of best practices and essential elements involved in the negotiation and implementation of SHAs.

Key areas covered included the stages of a transaction and the role of SHAs, essential elements of an SHA, structuring joint ventures, governance and key reserved matters, term and exit strategies, non-compete and exclusivity clauses, and considerations related to anti-trust, foreign direct investment, taxation, sanctions, and export controls.

The second workshop was hosted in partnership with the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) and focused on the importance of participating in the Authority’s Customer Councils. These councils fall under the UAE government’s Customer Councils initiative, which aims to enhance the quality of government services by involving stakeholders in co-designing innovative experiences based on their feedback and insights.

WAM