VAT on Free Zones in UAE

What is Free Zone in UAE?

Free Zone, also known as Free Trade Zone, is an area designed to promote the international business in UAE by providing 100% foreign enterprise ownership. Free Zones offer attractive incentives such as no requirement for a UAE national as a local partner/shareholder, tax exemptions on duties and taxes such as Corporate, Personal Income Tax, all import and export duties etc. The businesses in Free Zones are required to obtain the necessary licenses from the respective Free Zone authorities and comply with their guidelines when operating the business in this region.

Each emirate in UAE has a designated area as a Free Zone. There are more than 35 Free Zones operating in UAE such as Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai Internet City Free Zone, Dubai Airport Free Zone etc.

Free Trade Zone in VAT Regime

First and foremost point which businesses need to take note is that 'All Free Zone' may not be a 'VAT Free Zone'. This is evident from the definition and provisions defined in the UAE VAT Law and Executive Regulations. In UAE VAT law, VAT Free Zones are called 'Designated Zones' and the executive regulation prescribes the conditions which a Designated Zone needs to fulfil.

What is a Designated Zone?

Designated Zone refers to an area specified by a cabinet decision and that meets the conditions specified in the Executive Regulation. For the purpose of VAT, a Designated Zone will be treated as being outside the state and any supplies between Designated Zones will not attract VAT at 5%.

For example, Rose Traders located in Jebel Ali Free Zone supplied goods to A-One Traders, Dubai Airport Free Zone.

In the above illustration, Jebel Ali Free Zone and Dubai Airport Free Zone are assumed to be Designated Zones. The actual list of Designated Zones will be made available after the cabinet decision. The supply of goods from Rose Traders to A-one Traders will be VAT free since the supply is between Designated Zones.

What are the conditions for Designated Zone?

The Designated Zone specified by the cabinet decision should meet the following conditions in order to be considered as being outside the State and as well as implementation States:

• Designated Zone Should be within a specific fenced geographical area
• It should have security measures and customs controls in place to monitor the entry and exit of individuals and the movement of goods to and from the area
• It should have internal procedures regarding the method of keeping, storing and processing of Goods with the Designated Zone
• The operator of the Designated Zone should comply with the procedures set by the Authority

The above are conditions which a Designated Zone has to compulsorily comply. If there are any changes in the manner of operating or if businesses located in these areas no longer meet any of the conditions required to qualify as a Designated Zone, it shall be treated as being inside the State, and will be treated at par with the businesses located outside the Designated Zone.

List of Designated Zone in UAE