Maktoum Bin Mohammed Chairs FTA Board Meeting To Review Achievements And Future Development Plans

H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Federal Tax Authority (FTA), led a board meeting at the FTA headquarters in Dubai. The meeting focused on reviewing the Authority’s achievements and key performance indicators for the first quarter of 2025, as well as future development plans.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Maktoum highlighted the importance of sustainable tax system development. He stressed enhancing the FTA's global standing through improvements in technical, legislative, and procedural infrastructure. These enhancements aim to provide exceptional customer service while ensuring efficient tax administration and collection.

The FTA has made significant strides in implementing the Corporate Tax Law. Key achievements include launching core corporate tax services that cover registration, filing returns, tax payments, voluntary declarations, and refund requests. The Authority also finalised internal services to support customers better.

Efforts to improve customer experience were discussed, including issuing new publications and guidelines. These initiatives are part of a broader communication strategy to encourage registered taxpayers to complete their corporate tax registration.

A report presented at the meeting revealed a notable increase in tax registrants. Corporate tax registrants rose to 537,340, VAT registrants reached 510,940, and excise tax registrants increased to 1,756. Additionally, there was an increase in registered tax agents to 676 during this period.

The report also noted that 1,656 new applications for refunds on taxes paid by citizens constructing new residences were approved. This resulted in AED148 million being reclaimed in the first quarter of 2025.

Enhancing Digital Services

The FTA continues to enhance its digital services through upgrades to the EmaraTax platform. This is part of a broader digitisation strategy aimed at improving service quality and facilitating voluntary tax compliance by providing more convenient services to customers.

H.H. Sheikh Maktoum emphasised aligning FTA’s plans with UAE leadership directives to continuously upgrade the tax system. The focus remains on supporting financial sustainability while maintaining high standards of governance and transparency.

The meeting underscored ongoing efforts to develop policies that support effective tax enforcement aligned with global best practices. These efforts are crucial for strengthening voluntary compliance and boosting national economic growth.

With inputs from WAM