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VAT Registration UAE Eligibility: Who Should Register for VAT?

Pratibha D

June 15, 2026

Mandatory VAT Registration in UAE

All the businesses who have a place of residence in the state of UAE and whose value of supplies in the member states in previous 12 months has exceeded AED 375,000 should mandatorily register under UAE VAT. Also, if the businesses anticipate that the total value of supplies will exceed the mandatory registration threshold of AED 375,000 in the next 30 days, then they too will have to register under UAE VAT.

Those businesses, who do not have a place of residence in the state of UAE, will have to compulsorily register under VAT irrespective of the registration threshold.

Mandatory Registration

Type of Business Registration Threshold Conditions
Resident Value of Supplies exceeds AED 375,000 In Previous 12 Months
Anticipated to exceed in next 30 days during the current financial year
Non Resident Threshold limit is not applicable Compulsorily registration under VAT irrespective of threshold
 

Voluntary VAT Registration in UAE

All the businesses having a place of residence in the state of UAE who are not required to mandatorily register under VAT, are given an option to voluntarily apply for VAT registration.This can be done, only if the annual supplies or taxable expenses incurred is not less than voluntary registration thresh¬old. The Voluntary Registration Threshold is AED 187,500 which is 50% of the mandatory registration threshold.

Voluntary VAT Registration in UAE
Value of Supplies/ Taxable Expenses exceeds AED 187,500 In Previous 12 Months
Anticipated to exceed in next 30 days during the current financial year

Here, the registrations are not mandatory, it is optional for business to decide whether they would want to register. The inclusion of taxable expenses as criteria to determine the eligibility for voluntary registration provides an opportunity for all the start-up business to register under UAE VAT. This is because, as a start-up, the turnover or value of supplies may be lesser but there is a high possibility that huge amount of taxable expenses would have been incurred in starting the business or during the initial stage of the business. As a result, the inclusion of taxable expenses as a criteria for voluntary registration would enable all the start-up business to register with zero turnover.

VAT Registration Exemption

The businesses whose value of supplies in the member states is below the voluntary registration threshold of AED 187,500 are not allowed to register under UAE VAT. Also, the businesses who are engaged in making only zero-rated supplies may request for VAT registration exemptions.

FAQs

Yes, businesses can voluntarily register if their supplies or taxable expenses exceed AED 187,500. This is especially useful for startups wanting to reclaim input VAT.

Yes, non-resident businesses must register for VAT regardless of turnover threshold. There is no minimum limit applicable to them.

The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) can impose a penalty of AED 20,000 for late registration. Businesses should register immediately once the threshold is crossed.

It depends on the nature of supplies, businesses in designated zones may be treated differently, but those supplying goods or services into mainland UAE must register.

Yes, deregistration is possible if the taxable supplies fall below the voluntary threshold or if the business ceases trading, subject to FTA approval.

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