Tax and VAT jobs in the UAE

About the role: Tax and VAT

Tax professionals help organisations meet their tax obligations and plan their affairs efficiently. In the UAE, this mainly means value added tax (VAT), corporate tax, excise tax and transfer pricing, along with advice on structuring, free zone rules and international tax.

The UAE has no personal income tax, but VAT at the standard rate of 5% has applied since 1 January 2018, and a federal corporate tax at 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000 applies for financial years starting on or after 1 June 2023. Both are administered by the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) through its EmaraTax platform. These reforms created strong demand for tax specialists in advisory firms and in-house finance teams.

Employers include tax advisory and accounting firms, law firms, multinational and regional groups, and government entities. Roles range from tax accountant handling returns to tax manager and transfer pricing specialist. Keeping up with the FTA's decisions and guides is a constant part of the job.

Main responsibilities

• Prepare and review VAT and corporate tax returns
• Register entities and manage FTA correspondence
• Advise on transactions, free zone status and structuring
• Prepare transfer pricing documentation
• Support tax audits and voluntary disclosures

Skills employers look for

• UAE VAT and corporate tax legislation
• Transfer pricing principles (OECD guidelines)
• Accounting and IFRS knowledge
• EmaraTax and ERP tax configuration
• Clear written advice

Qualifications in the UAE

Most tax specialists come from accounting or law. ACCA, CPA, chartered accountancy or a recognised tax qualification such as ADIT is valued. Tax agents who represent clients before the FTA must be registered with it.