GTL Summary:

Article 24 provides an elective exemption for Resident Persons on the income of their Foreign Permanent Establishments (FPEs). A taxpayer can choose not to include the profits or losses of its FPEs in its UAE Taxable Income calculation. This election applies to all FPEs of the resident person, provided the FPE is subject to a corporate tax (or similar) of at least 9% in its foreign jurisdiction. If the election is made, the taxpayer cannot claim a foreign tax credit for taxes paid by the FPE and must treat transfers between the head office and FPE at market value.

Document Type: Tax Law Article
Law: CIT (FDL No 47 of 2022, as amended)
Article Number: 24
Country: 🇦🇪 UAE
Location: Chapter 7 - Exempt Income
Order: 24
Last updated at: 2025-11-04 11:19:40 UTC

Chapter 7 - Exempt Income

Article 24 - Foreign Permanent Establishment Exemption

[GTL Notes]

  1. A Resident Person can make an election to not take into account the income, and associated expenditure, of its Foreign Permanent Establishments in determining its Taxable Income.

  2. Where Clause 1 of this Article applies, a Resident Person shall not take into account the following in determining its Taxable Income or Corporate Tax Payable for a Tax Period:

    1. losses in any of its Foreign Permanent Establishments, calculated as if the relevant Foreign Permanent Establishments were a Resident Person under this Decree-Law;

    2. positive income and associated expenditure in any of its Foreign Permanent Establishments, calculated as if the relevant Foreign Permanent Establishments were a Resident Person under this Decree-Law; and

    3. any Foreign Tax Credit that would have been available under Article 47 of this Decree-Law had the election under Clause 1 of this Article not been made.

  3. For the purposes of this Article, “income and associated expenditure” of a Taxable Person's Foreign Permanent Establishments for a Tax Period is the aggregate of the income and associated expenditure in each of the relevant foreign jurisdictions.

  4. In determining the income and associated expenditure of a Foreign Permanent Establishment, a Resident Person and each of its Foreign Permanent Establishments shall be treated as separate and independent Persons.

  5. For the purposes of Clause 4 of this Article, a transfer of assets or liabilities between a Resident Person and its Foreign Permanent Establishment shall be treated as having taken place at Market Value at the date of the transfer for the purposes of determining the Taxable Income of that Resident Person.

  6. The exemption under Clause 1 of this Article shall apply to all Foreign Permanent Establishments of the Resident Person that meet the condition specified in Clause 7 of this Article.

  7. The exemption under Clause 1 of this Article shall only apply to a Foreign Permanent Establishment that is subject to Corporate Tax or a tax of a similar character under the applicable legislation of the relevant foreign jurisdiction at a rate not less than the rate specified in paragraph (b) of Clause 1 of Article 3 of this Decree-Law.

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