T: +971 7 244 7676 | E: [email protected]
UAE Company Formation
and Corporate Services
FBS Kotsomitis International Network is one of the most reputable and well-established corporate service providers in the UAE. Our mission is to provide an impeccable and seamless services to our ever-increasing local and international client base at reasonable prices
Learn MoreThe main takeaway here is that after the deal of the UAE with the EU and the OECD, leading to its permanent removal from all international black lists, the UAE going forward offers something unique to investors not offered by mainstream jurisdictions:
Internationally acceptable problem-free regime of companies with officially assessed and real economic substance in a framework of certainty where investors can plan ahead albeit with higher expense within reasonable levels in return for enjoying the many advantages the UAE has to offer.
The Recently Adopted UAE Economic Substance Regulations: Your Company’s Obligations and Reporting Requirements and How they Affect Your UAE Company and You as its UBO
The New Substance Rules are, honestly speaking, absolutely great news for the UAE (and also for other no or low tax jurisdictions that now have adopted the same OECD/EU Mandatory Substance Rules) and globally in general as they end the period of uncertainty we lived during the last few years by having clear and enforceable rules of the game for proper business, whilst restricting abuse of entities by rogue parties. And enabling full acceptance of UAE corporate structures by the EU and internationally.
They elevate the status and acceptance of UAE entities, dispel the uncertainty, minimize banking and regulatory problems and allow you to enjoy with certainty going forward the unparalleled advantages the UAE offers to the international business.
All this on condition that you make sure you comply – with our assistance and guidance – with these new rules that apply internationally since this autumn to all low or no tax countries (like the UAE) globally as they are mandatory by the OECD and EU and non-compliance lands a country in ‘black-list territory” immediately.
So, pragmatically, going forward there is no other viable option open now to international businesses operating in low or no-tax jurisdictions like the UAE than either to comply by these rules in these countries or repatriate operations back home / the EU respecting local rules, laws and regulations there.
Operating in no or low tax countries without problems and sanctions/risks means complying with these rules in substance without artificial arrangements aimed at circumventing the rules (cheap providers – arrangements, low local expenditure to operate a high profit/asset business). It also means to be prepared – and obliged really as the regulations state that clearly – to expend a significantly higher but nonetheless reasonable budget for local operating expenses and arrangements in order to demonstrate qualify to the authorities your substance as appropriate and adequate for the nature and size of the business (quoting the regulations).
But you need our help here as these are complex rules and demand the use of internationally seasoned experts in this field, such as our firm. We stand by your side to help and make the transition as smooth as possible!
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UAE Economic Substance Services
CONTACT DETAILS
8th floor, Office 8F-3
Amenity Centre, Tower 2
P.O.Box 85674, Al Jazeera Al Hamra
Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
T: + (971) 7 244 7676
E: [email protected]

The New Economic Substance Regulations do and will affect in a significant way your UAE Company and yourself as a UBO whether it is a new or existing company or whether it is a RAK ICC company or a Free-Zone Company or a Local LLC Company with a Sponsor. And whether you dissolve or liquidate your existing company as the reporting for 2019 (retroactively) exists and has to be made even if the company ‘closed’ subsequently. Sanctions and penalties will apply in these cases also.
You need to ACT immediately in order to comply with these rules. Significant Monetary Penalties as Well as Sanctions such as Officially Informing Your Home Country Tax Authority may apply in case of non-compliance (no reporting outside the UAE if the entity is compliant, which we highly encourage).
As the economic substance regulations came into effect recently pursuant to the Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 31 of 2019 (“Regulations”), and the Ministry of Finance guidelines to the Regulations no. 215/2019, it is important for ALL (FZ, RAK ICC, Local LLC) businesses operating in the UAE to:
Notification and Economic Substance Report
The Regulations require entities holding a trade license in the UAE onshore or in a free zone or an offshore zone (RAK ICC) to:
The report will need to be submitted:
Key Obligations of a UAE Business to Demonstrate to the Authorities and Justify Appropriate and Adequate Economic Substance
The key obligations imposed on UAE companies under the Regulations are as follows:
Have Economic Substance: An entity holding a trade license in the UAE onshore or in a free zone (“Licensee”) must, in particular:
A number of significant sanctions will be imposed by the authorities against a business that fails to comply with the Regulations framework, e.g.:
What Should You Do Now?
Since we understand that UAE businesses soon (quarter 1 2020) will be required to advise the Relevant Authority of their economic substance in respect of their financial year commencing on or after 1 January 2019 and will need to file the report within 12 months of the end of the financial year, you should:
N.B. UAE having a mature infrastructure and being a bigger country is unique compared with other low or no tax countries (small or little infrastructure) in that substance can be obtained very easily (availability of premises, facilities, providers) AND can be evidenced without complications by official means. In my view UAE provides the only real alternative compared with similar jurisdictions.
(a) Assessment
(b) Implementation
(c) Ongoing Compliance
(d) Outsourcing of Your Substance Obligations – Functions to our UAE office as Permitted by The Regulations, given we fulfill all requirements to act as an approved Outsourcing Provider with Adequate Resources to continue doing so in the future (scalability capacity of our operations). In this way your Company will have real economic and commercial substance acceptable internationally going forward
The Key here is not what service relating to substance is done. It is that the Regulations stipulate it has to be actually done in the UAE and not outside by, satisfied by the Regulator to be and evidenced to be, UAE well-established and technically Competent Firms with adequate resources. And it would amount to circumvention to adopt short-cuts or artificial arrangements with low cost and of course the cost to relate to the volume/size of operations and revenues/profits/assets and specific nature of operations and related expertise demanded for that.

Essential Things You Must Know about the New UAE Economic Substance Rules and How they Affect Your Company and You as the UBO
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They do affect in a significant way your UAE Company weather a new or existing company or whether it is a RAK ICC company or a Free-Zone Company or a Local LLC Company with a Sponsor. You need to ACT immediately in order to comply with these rules. Significant Monetary Penalties as Well as Sanctions such as Officially Informing Your Home Country Tax Authority may apply in case of non-compliance (no reporting outside the UAE if the entity is compliant, which we highly encourage).
Sanctions for non-compliance (abusive structures): Most importantly non-compliance results in immediate full disclosure about the UBO and non-compliant entity to the home country of the UBO and the parent company if applicable.
Note: The new regulations, however, do allow outsourcing of substance obligations and functions to approved service providers so our local UAE Group Company (KOTSOMITIS CORPORATE AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES FZ-LLC) can assist you to fully comply with these regulations so you can continue ‘problem-free’ to enjoy the unique advantages of the UAE. We and our set-up expertise and resources are very well known to the local Authorities over here in RAK with who we are on a “first-name basis”. We operate for 7 years with significant substance, premises, staff, local expenditure as well as unmatched expertise and experience in these matters over many years being a top European origin firm with the most senior persons in the Group being residents locally. As such we fully comply with the “outsourcing requirement” of the regulations demanding outsourcing ONLY to providers that the Authorities are satisfied with their set up expertise and locally available resources being able to provide effective, adequate and appropriate outsourcing services to clients in order to comply with the regulations.
The UAE recently enacted (and are in force now) the Cabinet Decision No. 31/2019 and Guidance No. 215/2019 concerning the economic substance regulations (the “Regulations” or the “Economic Substance Regulations”) in response to the European Union (EU) adding the UAE to the blacklist of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes in March 2019 for the exact same reason: not having Economic Substance Rules in line with international standards (OECD & EU standards). As a result of the introduction of these rules in the UAE, the OECD and the EU removed the UAE from their black list.
So going forward no problems will be experienced by Banks or Authorities worldwide in conducting business with a UAE company transferring funds etc. without reporting outside the UAE. This however is on condition that your company is and remains fully compliant in the UAE with these rules. Heavy penalties apply if a company is not compliant and in addition non-compliant companies will immediately be reported by the UAE Authorities to the Tax Authorities of the home country of the UBO and the parent company. The aim of this communication is to guide you on how to do just that and continue to enjoy problem-free the unique and advantageous benefits of the UAE compared to other jurisdictions.
The Regulations primarily apply to companies carrying out a ‘Relevant Activity’, i.e., banking, insurance, investment find management, lease-finance, headquarters, shipping, holding company, intellectual property, and distribution and service centers. Such companies must satisfy the Economic Substance Test as specified in the Regulations.
All onshore and freezone companies (including those in the financial freezones, i.e., the DIFC and the ADGM) in the UAE (“UAE Companies”) are required to notify the Regulatory Authority, in quarter 1 2019 on an annual basis thereafter, as to whether their activities fall within the ambit of a Relevant Activity. Companies which carry on Relevant Activities have additional annual disclosure requirements which will be part of a very detailed annual report the aim of which is for the company to demonstrate and justify that it is compliant with the Regulations.
Penalties for non-compliance entails a fine ranging from AED 10,000 to AED 50,000. Subsequent breaches entail additional fines up to 300.000 AED.
Why did the UAE adopt the Economic Substance Regulations?
The EU Code of Conduct Group as well as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) which recently issued a new global standard on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) have been assessing the tax policies of jurisdictions with no or only nominal tax against the criterion of ‘economic substance’. As such, the objective of EU and the OECD is to prevent tax planning strategies used by entities that exploit loopholes in tax rules to avoid paying tax.
In line with the above, the EU has published a list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions which includes countries or territories that failed make sufficient commitments in response to EU concerns on tax fraud, evasion and avoidance.
In response to the regulatory developments, and to preserve reputation, governments of Bermuda, British Virgin Islands (BVI), Cayman Islands, Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, Mauritius, Bahamas, and Seychelles enacted legislation introducing enhanced economic substance requirements for tax purposes, bringing the rules into force as from 1 January 2019.
Given that the UAE did not enact economic substance regulations, it was included in the EU blacklist in March 2019. With a view to be removed from the EU blacklist, the UAE enacted the Economic Substance Regulations, in line with other international low to no tax jurisdictions and actually all are drafted after approval by the OECD and are following the OECD’s model legislation model/template almost word by word. So the same laws apply to all non-black listed no or low-tax non-EU countries.
So using black-listed countries (countries that do not adopt the OECD’s Substance Regulations) is not an option any more as it is now and going forward impossible to operate and maintain bank accounts effecting transfers or using them to transact with the rest of the world without sanctions and considerable risks. Also using no or low tax countries (UAE, BVI, Seychelles etc.) whilst not being compliant with the local Substance Rules is again not an option (heavy monitoring and obligations). Neither circumventing nor avoiding these Substance Rules is an option as they contain strict anti-avoidance clauses authority audits and detailed reporting to prove you are compliant. Put simply you cannot BUT be compliant to avoid sanctions.
The takeaway message is clear and covers all jurisdictions globally “without any available escape routes” and leaves no other viable options to international businesses than the following:
Who Do The Substance Regulations Apply To?
The following are considered ‘Relevant Activities’ (“Relevant Activities”) under the Regulations:
(i) Banking
(ii) Insurance
(iii) Investment Fund management
(iv) Lease-finance
(v) Headquarters
(vi) Shipping
(vii) Holding company
(viii) Intellectual property
(ix) Distribution and service center
Companies owned directly or indirectly by the government authorities, both federal and state, are excluded from the application of the Regulations.
Note that companies which do not carry out Relevant Activities are still obligated to provide annual notifications to that effect to the Regulatory Authority (please see answer to question 8).
What are the Key Compliance Requirements?
An entity carrying out Relevant Activities (the “Relevant Entity”) must (i) comply with the economic substance test (“Economic Substance Test”), and (ii) provide the requisite information to the Regulatory Authority under the Regulations to prove and demonstrate that it is compliant.
Key Obligations of a UAE Business
The key obligations imposed on UAE companies under the Regulations are as follows:
What if a UAE Company Does Not Comply With the Regulations?
Failing to meet the Economic Substance Test
Should a Licensee fail to meet the Economic Substance Test for a financial year, an administrative penalty of between AED 10,000 and AED 50,000 can be imposed by the Regulatory Authority. Repeated failure to meet the Economic Substance Test may lead to a penalty of up to AED 300,000.
Failing to provide information or providing inaccurate information:
Licensees who fail to provide information or provide inaccurate information under the Report may be subject to an administrative penalty of up to AED 50,000.
How Does a Relevant Entity Satisfy the Economic Substance Test?
An entity satisfies the Economic Substance Test by demonstrating that:
What are examples of CIGA’s for each relevant activity?
| Relevant Activity | CIGA |
|---|---|
| Insurance | (a) predicting and calculating risk (b) insuring or re-insuring against risk and providing insurance business services to clients (c) underwriting insurance and reinsurance. |
| Banking | (a) raising funds, managing risk, including credit, currency and interest risk (b) taking hedging positions (c) providing loans, credit or other financial services to customers (d) managing capital and preparing reports to investors or any government authority with functions (e) supervision or regulation of such businesses |
| Investment Fund Management Business | (a) taking decisions on the holding and selling of investments (b) calculating risk and reserves (c) taking decisions on currency or interest fluctuations and hedging positions (d) preparing reports to investors or any government authority with functions relating to the supervision or regulation of such business. |
| Lease-Finance Business | (a) agreeing funding terms (b) identifying and acquiring assets to be leased (in the case of leasing) (c) setting the terms and duration of any financing or leasing (d) monitoring and revising any agreements (e) managing any risks |
| Headquarters | (a) taking relevant management decisions (b) incurring operating expenditures on behalf of group entities (c) coordinating group activities |
| Shipping | (a) managing crew (including hiring, paying and overseeing crew members) (b) overhauling and maintaining ships (c) overseeing and tracking shipping (d) determining what goods to order and when to deliver them, organising and overseeing voyages |
| Holding company | (a) all activities related to that business (b) in respect of business that derives income from other sources other than dividends and capital gains from its equity interest, the CIGA will be those activities associated with the income generated |
| Intellectual property | (a) where the Intellectual Property Asset is a: 1. patent or an asset that is similar to a patent, research and development 2. non-trade intangible (including a trademark), branding, marketing and distribution (b) if the Relevant entity is regarded as a high-risk IP licensee (as defined under the Regulations), the CIGA must include any of the following additional activities: 1. taking strategic decisions and managing (as well as bearing) the principal risks related to development and subsequent exploitation of the intangible asset generating income 2. taking the strategic decisions and managing (as well as bearing) the principal risks relating to acquisition by third parties and subsequent exploitation and protection of the intangible asset 3. carrying on ancillary trading activities through which the intangible assets are exploited leading to the generation of income from third parties |
| Distribution and service center | (a) transporting and storing component parts, materials or goods ready for sale (b) managing inventories (c) taking orders (d) providing consulting or other administrative services |
Which is the Regulatory Authority in the UAE?
The Regulations has not specified the Regulatory Authority yet. The Regulatory Authority is likely to be indicated by the UAE Cabinet in it a later resolution but most probably will be your current Free Zone Authorities under supervision from the MOF.
What Information Must Be Provided to the Authorities?
Under Article 8 of the Regulations, UAE Companies are required to provide the Regulatory Authority with the following information on an annual basis:
(i) whether the company is engaged in a Relevant Activity;
(ii) If the entity is carrying out a Relevant Activity, whether or not its gross income from the Related Activity is subject to tax outside the UAE;
(iii) the date of the end of its financial year.
The format and the deadline for such notification will be specified by the Regulatory Authority.
Additionally, UAE Companies that are engaged in the Relevant Activities have to provide the following additional information in an annual report which has to be filed no later than 12 months from the financial year end of the company:
(i) the type of Relevant Activity the company is engaged in;
(ii) the value and type of income related to that Relevant Activity;
(iii) the value and type of operating expenses and assets of the Relevant Activity;
(iv) the location of the place of business and, if applicable, plant, property or equipment used for the Relevant Activity;
(v) the number of full-time employees, including their qualifications, and the number of those responsible for the exercise of the Relevant Activity;
(vi) information showing the CIGA in respect of the Relevant Activity;
(vii) declaration of whether the company has met the requirements of the Economic Substance Test.
Additional information must be provided for those entities carrying out a high-risk intellectual property business or outsourcing their Relevant Activity.
MOF Guidance (No.2015/2019) on the Economic Substance Regulations (no. 31/2019) sheds more light on the details of the provisions of the regulations and the Authorities’ practice to be followed.
In brief:
On 12 September 2019, the UAE published a guidance document (the “Guidance”) regarding the Economic Substance Regulations (“Regulations”) that were issued in April 2019 (Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No.31 of 2019). This “first level” Guidance clarifies certain aspects of the application of the Regulations, with further guidance expected to be issued in due course.
Importantly, the Guidance does not establish a “minimum” standard for what would be considered “adequate” or “appropriate” substance, which is consistent with the guidance issued by other jurisdictions that have introduced economic substance regulations.
In detail:
Who is within the scope of the Regulations?
The Guidance clarifies that a “Licence” includes “a commercial licence, certificate of incorporation, or other form of permit required to be procured prior to the Licensee being able to carry out a “Relevant Activity”. This means that any natural person registered with an onshore or free zone authority to carry out activities (e.g. sole proprietorships) and any juridical person established under UAE law (e.g. LLC, rep office, branches) is a “Licensee” and therefore within the scope of the Regulations (although not necessarily subject to the Economic Substance Test).
The Guidance clarifies that Licensees that are directly or indirectly at least 51% owned by the Federal or an Emirate Government, or a UAE Government body or authority, are exempt from the Regulations.
Whilst the Regulations were issued on 30 April 2019, the Guidance clarifies that the Regulations apply to Licensees with a financial year commencing on or after 1 January 2019.
Clarification regarding Core Income Generating Activities (“CIGAs”)
The Guidance clarifies that the CIGAs listed in the Regulations for each Relevant Activity do not comprise an exhaustive or definitive list. The CIGAs are meant as examples of core activities a Licensee may undertake in relation to a Relevant Activity, and it is not necessary for a Licensee to perform all of the CIGAs listed in the Regulations.
A Licensee should therefore consider what activities are important in the context of its Relevant Activity(ies), rather than focusing on the CIGAs listed in the Regulations.
A Licensee needs to derive income in order for the Regulations to apply
The Guidance includes a requirement for a Licensee to derive income from undertaking a Relevant Activity in order for the Regulations to apply. This ‘income derivation’ exemption is also included in the Economic Substance Regulations issued by some of the other jurisdictions (e.g. Jersey, Guernsey), and eliminates the requirement to meet the Economic Substance Test in years in which no income is earned from a Relevant Activity.
Meaning of ‘Directed and Controlled in the UAE”
In order for a Licensee to demonstrate that it is “directed and controlled” in the UAE, in addition to meeting the requirements listed in the Regulations (e.g. quorum of board members physically attend board meetings in the UAE, etc.), at least one board meeting in a financial year must be held in the UAE, and written board meeting minutes documenting all relevant decisions taken must be signed by the attendees and kept in the UAE.
No minimum standard for ‘Adequate or Appropriate’ Substance
The Guidance acknowledges that businesses vary in size and that there is no ‘bright-line’ test for determining what is “adequate” or “appropriate” substance (employees, expenditures and premises/assets). What is adequate and appropriate will depend on the nature and level of activities carried out, and the level of income earned, by the Licensee.
The Guidance provides that the Regulatory Authority shall take a pragmatic approach when assessing whether a Licensee has met the Economic Substance Test, recognising that CIGAs may fluctuate during the course of a financial year and from year to year. The Regulatory Authority shall consider various forms of documentary evidence (e.g. timesheets, sector statistics) and take into account that directors of a Licensee may also perform some of the CIGAs.
The approach of not including a “minimum” standard for what is considered “adequate” or “appropriate” is consistent with other jurisdictions that have introduced economic substance regulations.
Outsourcing to third-party service providers and related companies
The Guidance confirms that a Licensee can outsource CIGAs to a related company, which acknowledges the reality that many groups have centralised their resources and business infrastructure in one (or a few) company (ies) in the UAE. The Guidance also introduces an anti-avoidance provision which places the burden of proof on the Licensee to demonstrate that the outsourcing arrangement is not done for the purpose of circumventing the Regulations.
Annual Notification and Reporting
In addition to an annual reporting requirement for Licensees that undertake (and earn income from) a Relevant Activity, the Guidance confirms there is an annual notification requirement for all Licensees. No deadline has yet been set for the first notification which would be due after 1 January 2020. The prescribed form for both the notification and the annual economic substance return will be determined by the Regulatory Authorities.
Who are the Regulatory Authorities?
The Guidance does not confirm who are the Regulatory Authorities that will be tasked with administering the Regulations, but these are expected to include all Federal, Emirate and Free Zone authorities that issue business licenses.
Sector specific guidance for Holding Companies, Headquarter Businesses and High Risk IP
The Guidance includes additional commentary with respect to the above Relevant Activities. In particular, for Holding Company Businesses, the Guidance clarifies that a holding company that owns investments other than equity interests (e.g. real estate, bonds) does not benefit from the reduced Economic Substance requirements.
The Takeaway
The Guidance clarifies certain aspects of the scope and application of the Regulations, with further guidance expected to be issued in due course by the UAE Ministry of Finance (as the Competent Authority) and/or the Regulatory Authorities (in their own capacity as the first-line enforcer of the Regulations).
Importantly, the Guidance clarifies that the Regulations apply to Licensees with financial years commencing on or after 1 January 2019, that CIGAs can be outsourced, and that the Regulatory Authorities shall take a pragmatic approach when applying the Regulations. The Guidance does not provide transition rules, does not set a minimum standard for what is adequate or appropriate substance, and does not confirm who are the Regulatory Authorities. These areas may be clarified in subsequent guidance to be issued by the Ministry of Finance and/or the Regulatory Authorities.
All UAE entities will need to assess whether and which of their activities fall within the scope of the economic substance regulations, and how to ensure they meet the economic substance requirements in respect of each Relevant Activity. This is both a qualitative and quantitative assessment that would involve consideration of operational, financial, tax / transfer pricing, legal and governance matters.

Legal References – Click below:
(Useful for your advisors or for your OWN reference)
*** READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE COMPANY SUBSTANCE LEGISLATION ***
*** READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO THE UAE COMPANY SUBSTANCE LAW ***
+971 7 244 7676
7th floor, Office 7F-6A&6B,
Amenity Centre, Tower 2
Al Hamra Industrial Zone,
Ras Al Khaimah
United Arab Emirates
T: + (971) 7 244 7676
E: [email protected]