There will be no increase in salaries to cope with the levying of the value added tax (VAT), Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, State Minister for Financial Affairs, told the Federal National Council on Tuesday.
Al Tayer said the tax will have minimal socio-economic impact on people and investments. “The Impact on current, future investments in the country is expected at 0.68%,” Al Tayer said, adding VAT aimed at “achieving financial sustainability” for government. read here &  more is here

VAT IMPLEMENTATION IN UAE

Prepare ahead to meet the challenges of VAT accounting environment in UAE

The Government of UAE is implementing VAT with effect from 1st January 2018 and has commenced active engagement with business groups on the need to be ready for VAT in 2018.

UAE is implementing VAT chargeable at the rate of 5% w.e.f. 1st January 2018

WHAT IS VAT (VALUE ADDED TAX)?

▪ VAT is an indirect tax applied upon the consumption of most goods and services.

▪ It is levied by VAT registered businesses which make supplies of goods and services in the course or furtherance of their business. It will also apply on import of goods.

▪ VAT is levied at each stage in the supply and is collected by the business on behalf of the Government and it will be ultimately incurred and paid by the end consumer.

▪ For levying of the tax under VAT, products and services are broadly classified into three categories i.e., Zero-Rated Supplies, Tax-Exempt Supplies and products with standard rates.

REGISTRATION AND LEVY OF TAX:

Registration applicability for VAT:

▪ Businesses with annual revenue of over OF AED 375,000 (USS 100,000) will be required to register for VAT purposes.

▪ Businesses with annual revenue between AED 187,500 (USSS 50, 000) and Dh 375,000 will have the option to register for VAT purposes voluntarily

▪ Registration started on October 1st, 2017 and registration deadline for all businesses is December 4th, 2017.

LEVY OF TAX

▪ Registered businesses to charge and add VAT to the value of Goods and Services they supply.

▪ Businesses can also reclaim VAT incurred on goods and services acquired for business purpose (subject to some restriction) such as purchase of raw materials and other consumables used for the business.

▪ Services exempted from VAT: Residential property, Rental Income, Local transport services such as Bus, Taxis & trains etc.

▪ Zero-rated VAT will be applied to healthcare and education services.

▪ No VAT will be imposed on Life Insurance, but all non-life insurance products will be subject to the standard VAT rate.

VAT IMPACT ASSESSMENT ON BUSINESS OPERATIONS

Businesses operating in the UAE need to take immediate steps to become compliant in accordance to UAE Federal Law No. (7) of 2017.

It follows that, UAE businesses should initiate VAT impact assessment immediately in order to determine the impact that VAT will have across their operations.

This assessment should consider the VAT impact on the following key areas:

▪ Finance and Accounting

▪ IT and Systems

▪ Tax and Compliance

▪ Supply Chain – Goods and Services

▪ Contracts

▪ Sales and Marketing

▪ Legal Structure

The impact assessment should be used to develop clear plan as per the steps that must be taken to be ready for VAT by the go-live date of 1 January.2018

The introduction of VAT will put the onus on businesses to ensure that they keep proper records and ore assessed as to the VAT liability based on those accounting records.

Officially On Web

WASHINGTON — The conundrum was simple enough. An employee of a company in the United Arab Emirates, while on vacation outside the country, received a job offer in India that was too good to pass up. He sent a resignation letter to his UAE employer, and upon their acceptance of his resignation, started up a new gig.

Ten years later, he had an opportunity come up in Dubai. With plans to take it, his future Dubai employer tried to get him a work visa. But as they prepared to bring their new employee back to the UAE, they found they couldn’t. The man’s former employer from 10 years earlier had filed a case against him, accusing him of leaving……….. more here

The statement from UAE minister Anwer Gargash on Friday have given a new spin to UAE PAKISTAN relationship. The threatening statement sparked a wave unrest among expats.

Never said but silently known to all, UAE is being part & partner of ongoing instability & terror wave inside Pakistan. Gawader & Coastal belt of Balochistan is infested with terrorist. Funded & harbored by UAE. The world intellgensia knows about it in open.

UAE being tax free heaven for all kind of corrupt & criminal people of subcontinent is on verge of blackmailing the people in power. UAE shall never forget the terrorist they harbored the safe heaven they provide to criminals from Pakistan aka UZAIR Baloch may turn the tables against them anytime.

UAE must understand such threatening statements will damage UAE from within. The expat community is quiet resentful of statement by Dr. Gargash, to which no denile has been issued by the UAE Govt.

Look from within the UAE as whole & KSA in particular [ to which UAE has become loudspeaker issuing such venomous statements ], is suppressing human rights, silencing the people demanding more freedom of speech, more human rights, a system of local common men representative bodies , a feel of democracy which is totally absent. The UAE shall stop making noise for the foster father KSA and be part of dialogue campaign to resolve the YEMEN – KSA conflict which is turf war of tribal & sectarian clerics.

UAE & KSA shall acknowledge The decision of Pakistani Law makers – Elected Public representatives of People of Pakistan in Parliament. They have collectively decided not to be part of WAR campaign between KSA & YEMEN, and suggested a peaceful dialogue to end the sectarian and regional conflict of Tribes.

Pakistan shall not & must not be party to KSA & YEMEN conflict. Pakistan Army is not group of mercenaries.

Pakistan armed forces are most organized well trained well equipped well disciplined Armed forces in region, of a soverign democratic country.

If needed & if time close-by to protect MAKKAH & MADINAH The Pakistan Army Navy & Airforce will not need any invitation or request. it will act on will of its people & ummah collectively.

UAE must immediately call an OIC conference, get all players KSA YEMEN IRAN QATAR on one table for resolution of KSA – Yemen conflict. war is no solution to a problem, negotiations & discussion are. Pakistan & Turkey can play vital role for such discussion and UAE shall HOST the event sooner then later. The troika of UAE PAKISTAN TURKEY can play a positive decisive role to end such conflict without further loss of human life.

In the UAE, a severe absence of a savings culture, that’s been said and proven time and time again. The image of a tax-free salary and comfortable lifestyle continues to attract thousands of expatriates from all over the world to leave their homes, jobs and even families, to come to UAE for a better life.

But are we saving this ‘extra’ money we’re supposedly earning here? The results of yet another survey say otherwise.

Souqalmal.com, a leading price comparison site in the Middle East, says that 65 percent of their 900 respondents admit they want to be saving more than they actually are. So, on the bright side, at least there’s a desire to save, but half of them claim they save absolutely nothing at all, while 44 percent complain that they’re saving less than they did three years ago.

“The combination of high living costs, the perception of “being rich” due to no taxes and a lack of education on how to manage income and debt could explain the results of our survey,’ says Ambareen Musa, Souqalmal’s founder.

“While enjoying a good quality of life now is important, saving adequate amounts for the future is even more so, especially as people typically do not accrue social benefits while working in the UAE,” says Musa.

The next bit of the study groups the best savers in the country according to their nationality – and if you’d allow Kipp to slightly digress – we must say we aren’t completely fond of segregation by nationality. But here are the facts if you’re interested.

Apparently, western expats are the best savers; being able to put 10 to 30 percent of their monthly income away, followed by Asian expats, with one third of them saving within that same range. Thirty percent of nationals in the UAE do not save any money at all and, lastly, the study suggests that ‘Arab expats seem to find it harder to save’ with 12 percent admitting they don’t even know how to save and 32 percent claiming they save nothing at all.

Why people fail to save ? It is the Plastic money culture which is on boom again. Banks have smartly trapped people by allowing a limit of 1.5 times the actual pay cheque. means if a person is making AED 5000 the credit card limit is AED 7000. Such entrapment is the root cause of Zero-Savings culture across local & expatriates equally. While the locals manage to get a waiver for fees & markups, and can pay off in easy installments after settlement, while the expats end up in jails. Thats called Discriminated Economic Lynching ! :)

We end up having sleepless nights when the temperature mercilessly goes up. If keeping windows open for fresh air is one way to get good sleep, there are more you can do to sleep like a baby. a website has shared advice given by the Sleep Council on how to get perfect night’s sleep during summer season.

To keep the room cool during night, start from daytime by keeping curtains drawn.
Use cotton sheets instead of blankets.
Wear light cotton nightwear to absorb perspiration.
Take bath with cold water before bedtime to lower your body temperature.
Also drink cold water during evening and keep a bottle of water near your bed.
Stay away from heavy meal, caffeine, as these can make you feel hot in the middle of the night due to dehydration or over-active digestion.

To get relief from heat, you can put a tray of ice and water in front of the fan which will further cool the air.

What is indecent for men
Very short pants in public or commercial places like malls and public offices

Chest nudity
Ezar in public places (Ezar is the local Emirati male underwear)

What is indecent for women
Clothing that exposes the stomach and back Short clothing above the knee
Tight and transparent clothing that describes the body

Rules at public beaches
All swimmers should wear conservative swimwear that is acceptable to the culture in Sharjah
Do not wear swimwear in streets or other public places

Living together
It is not allowed for a man and woman who are not connected by a legally acceptable relationship to be alone in public places or in suspicious times or circumstances.

Enforcement

Police, designated employees, security officers, and building guards are ordered to observe, coordinate and ensure adherence to these rules of decency and public conduct.
Police only enforce these whenever a warning is not sufficient.
Public employees are to provide instructions, advice and clarification to the violator, keeping goodwill as the basis in the interaction. In case of negative response, the police may be called in.
When violators of this code seek service, it may be refused and they should be made aware of the regulations.
Source: Sharjah decency and public conduct rules and objectives official brochure

“We’re not talking about taxes,” Ahmed Humaid Al Tayer, Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre and part of the three-member Dubai Supreme Fiscal Committee (DSFC), said. “The local government doesn’t have the authority to impose taxes,” he said, adding that that was a decision to be taken by the federal government.

SOURCE

Gold chain snatchers and daylight robbers are haunting women, pedestrians and shop owners in residential pockets of Sharjah.

 This is funny or Ironic!

Dubai is the land of the biggest, tallest, longest, widest, richest, fanciest, fastest… everythingist… in the world. They have the tallest residential towers in the world, the tallest resturant in the world, the largest number of Malbaris in the world, the highest crane operator in the world.

If it does not grow in Dubai, they’ll make it artificially – artificial ski slopes, artificial islands, artificial oasis, coconut trees and lawns, artificial beaches, artificial economy.

Pakistani & Indians especially love it here because of the dirham-to-rupee value.The Filipinos come here because they have no choice; there’s nothing back home, not even dogs – they’ve been eaten up. The Egyptians come here because there is nothing to do in Egypt. No more pyramids to build either. The Lebanese come here to buy cars, dress to kill, wear Peter Pan shoes 10 sizes bigger than their feet, put 1 kg of gel on their heads and give everyone ball talk. They’ll buy a 1980’s Merc or BMW for 10k dirhams and drive the car like they’re sitting in the rear passenger seat, stretching their arms all the way to the steering wheel, giving you the piercing bald eagle look.

The Bangladeshis come here to build the tallest buildings in the world.

Now according to the government, Dubai is tax free. Of course, that is true. Only, there is a Pay and Park scheme with 5000 parking lots, and 500,000 cars in the city, so where the hell do you park? And you’re fined for wrong parking. Toll has been introduced on many roads. You can avoid the toll tax by using alternative routes, but you’ll end up in a traffic jam because everyone is trying to avoid the toll tax.

If you have any government related work like medicals for visa or immigration, you have 2 options- Standard and Urgent Procedure. Standard takes 15 days and Urgent takes 2 days. The difference is 30 to 40-odd dirhams. Everyone goes for the urgent option and the Dubai government makes money, urgently.

If you switch jobs you get a work ban and to lift the ban you pay a huge penalty.

In Dubai, without a car you’re paralyzed (you don’t even get jobs if you don’t have a car). But you’ll get your license in attempts ranging from 2 to 20. Each time you fail you have paid fees for Driving Classes & Driving Tests, which are 1000-odd dirhams. Imagine the money RTA makes.

Most of the expats live alone with families back home. So they spend much on phone calls. And call charges from Dubai are high. Another odd thing about Dubai – no matter where you go or who you meet, you take down phone numbers. Everybody has everybody’s number in Dubai. And everyone has a Visiting Card, whether you’re a bootlegger, a masseuse, a hooker, a car cleaner, a watchman or a pizza delivery boy. Everyone knocks around with lots of cards in his or her wallet and one card in the palm. So whenever you shake hands with anyone in Dubai and let go, you end up with a visiting card in your palm.

If you’re walking on the road and you ask someone the time, he’ll tell you “10:30”, give you his card and say, “I have new and second-hand watches”.

At a restaurant when you’re leaving they’ll say “Here’s my card, call us for home delivery.”

If you’re below your building, you’ll meet those Chinese chicks giving you their cards, saying, “Call us if you want DVDs”.
If you’re standing at a bus stop, a Malbari will pull over in his 1980 Toyota Corolla, give you his card and say, “If you want Pick-up & Drop Service, call me”.

Dubai has amusing-looking buildings. Some have holes in them, some have giant balls on them, some look like aeroplanes, some look like sail boats, and, all of them reach into space with your window right in front of the moon.

Everyone in Dubai goes to malls. Not necessarily to shop. To beat the heat, go to a mall; business meeting, go to a mall; getting bored, go to a mall; want to take a leak or dump, go to a mall; want to do eye-warming (little in your pocket & women in your mind), go to a mall. If you want to go for a picnic go to a mall.
Some Pakistani & Indian go home, get married, and then come to a Dubai Mall for their honeymoon

fines for running to catch Dubai Metro, how funny ! :)

age 22 to 45, you stay focused how to survive Dubai, 46 onwards, you get ready to butted outta here as Govt ask your employer retire him & send back, – You remain expatriate after xx number of years and have no previlages ! :) You have to go home or to country you choose to migrate when in Dubai.

In any case, UAE is for Emiratis ONLY., all others are aliens forever.