FTA — the UAE tax administrator.
9% Corporate Tax + 5% VAT + Excise Tax. Created 2016. EmaraTax portal at eservices.tax.gov.ae. Registration mandatory for every UAE entity — penalties stack fast.
What the FTA is, in one paragraph.
The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) is the UAE's tax-administration authority, established under Federal Decree-Law No. 13 of 2016 and headquartered in Abu Dhabi. The FTA administers three taxes: UAE Value Added Tax (5%, effective 2018), UAE Corporate Tax (9% on taxable income exceeding AED 375,000, effective June 2023), and UAE Excise Tax (selective excise on tobacco, sugary drinks, energy drinks). All FTA registrations, returns, and assessments flow through the EmaraTax unified portal at eservices.tax.gov.ae which replaced the previous separate platforms in mid-2023. Corporate Tax registration is mandatory for every UAE-licensed entity regardless of profit; failure to register on time triggers AED 10,000 penalty. The FTA also publishes Public Clarifications, Guides, and Cabinet Decisions on technical interpretation.
Core scope.
- Corporate Tax (9%): Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022. Annual return filing within 9 months of year-end. Small Business Relief available under AED 3M revenue.
- Value Added Tax (5%): Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2017. Mandatory registration above AED 375,000 turnover. Quarterly returns.
- Excise Tax: Federal Decree-Law No. 7 of 2017. Selective tax on tobacco, sugary drinks, energy drinks.
- Tax disputes + objections: reconsideration mechanism + Tax Disputes Resolution Committees.
- FTA Public Clarifications: binding interpretive guidance on edge cases.
Where FTA comes up.
Connected concepts.
UAE business administration is a graph of overlapping authorities. Each term below intersects with the one you're reading.
Dubai DED
Dubai's mainland trade-licensing authority.
GDRFA
Dubai residency authority — entry permits + visa stamping.
ICP
UAE federal identity authority — Emirates ID + non-Dubai residency.
MOHRE
UAE federal labour ministry — work permits + employment contracts.
MoFAIC
UAE Foreign Affairs ministry — foreign-document attestation.
Tasheel
MOHRE labour-services delivery network.
Ejari
Dubai Land Department's tenancy registration system.
Amer
GDRFA Dubai residency-services delivery channel.
Frequently asked questions
What is the FTA?
The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) is the UAE's tax administrator. Created under Federal Decree-Law No. 13 of 2016, the FTA administers 9% Corporate Tax (effective June 2023), 5% Value Added Tax (effective 2018), and Excise Tax (selective excise on tobacco, sugary drinks, energy drinks). All FTA filings flow through the EmaraTax unified portal at eservices.tax.gov.ae.
What is EmaraTax?
EmaraTax is the FTA's single online platform for all tax services — Corporate Tax registration + filing, VAT registration + quarterly returns, Excise Tax for designated sectors, refunds. Replaced the previous separate FTA platforms in mid-2023. Access requires UAE Pass authentication; companies are registered against their licence + Establishment Card.
Do I need to register with FTA if I'm not making a profit?
Yes. Corporate Tax registration is mandatory for every UAE entity regardless of profit level — failure to register on time triggers AED 10,000 penalty. The 9% rate only applies to taxable income above AED 375,000, but the registration obligation applies regardless. Small Business Relief (SBR) is available for entities with annual revenue under AED 3 million but you still register first.
Get FTA-compliant
YABS compliance retainer (AED 12,000–24,000/yr) covers Corporate Tax registration, quarterly VAT, UBO, ESR — bundled below à la carte.
This page was last reviewed by the YABS compliance team in Q2 2026 and reflects current Dubai DED, Dubai Municipality, DHA, MOHRE, FTA, and DLD requirements.