GTL Summary:

Article 11 defines who is considered a 'Taxable Person' under the UAE Corporate Tax Law, categorising them as either Resident or Non-Resident. A Resident Person includes juridical persons incorporated or recognised in the UAE (including Free Zone Persons), foreign juridical persons effectively managed and controlled in the UAE, and natural persons conducting a business in the State. A Non-Resident Person is anyone not meeting the resident criteria who either has a Permanent Establishment in the State, derives State Sourced Income, or has a nexus in the UAE as determined by the Cabinet.

Document Type: Tax Law Article
Law: CIT (FDL No 47 of 2022, as amended)
Article Number: 11
Country: 🇦🇪 UAE
Location: Chapter 4 - Taxable Person and Corporate Tax Base
Order: 11
Last updated at: 2025-11-04 11:19:40 UTC

Chapter 4 - Taxable Person and Corporate Tax Base

Article 11 - Taxable Person

  1. Corporate Tax shall be imposed on a Taxable Person at the rates determined under this Decree-Law.

  2. For the purposes of this Decree-Law, a Taxable Person shall be either a Resident Person or a Non-Resident Person.

  3. A Resident Person is any of the following Persons:

    1. A juridical person that is incorporated or otherwise established or recognised under the applicable legislation of the State, including a Free Zone Person.

    2. A juridical person that is incorporated or otherwise established or recognised under the applicable legislation of a foreign jurisdiction that is effectively managed and controlled in the State.

    3. A natural person who conducts a Business or Business Activity in the State.

    4. Any other Person as may be determined in a decision issued by the Cabinet at the suggestion of the Minister.

  4. A Non-Resident Person is a Person who is not considered a Resident Person under Clause 3 of this Article and that either:

    1. Has a Permanent Establishment in the State as under Article 14 of this Decree-Law.

    2. Derives State Sourced Income as under Article 13 of this Decree-Law.

    3. Has a nexus in the State as specified in a decision issued by the Cabinet at the suggestion of the Minister.

  5. A branch in the State of a Person referred to in Clause 3 of this Article, shall be treated as one and the same Taxable Person.

  6. The Cabinet shall, upon a suggestion of the Minister and in coordination with the relevant competent authorities, issue a decision specifying the categories of Business or Business Activity conducted by a resident or non-resident natural person that are subject to Corporate Tax under this Decree-Law.

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