Article 1
Personal Scope

This Agreement shall apply to persons who are residents of one or both of the Contracting States.

Article 2
Taxes Covered

1. This Agreement shall apply to taxes on income imposed on behalf of a Contracting State or of its political subdivisions or local authorities, irrespective of the manner in which they are levied.

2. There shall be regarded as taxes on income and on capital all taxes imposed on total income, on total capital or on elements of income or of capital, including taxes on gains from the alienation of movable or immovable property, taxes on the total amounts of wages or salaries paid by enterprises, as well as capital appreciation.

3. The existing taxes to which this Agreement shall apply are, in particular:

   1. in the case of UAE:

      1. the income tax;

      2. the corporate tax;

      (hereinafter referred to as 'UAE tax');

   2. in the case of Maldives:

      1. the business profit tax;

      (hereinafter referred to as Maldives tax')

4. This Agreement shall apply also to any identical or substantially similar taxes, which are imposed under the laws of a Contracting State after the date of signature of this Agreement in addition to, or in place of, the existing taxes. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall notify each other of any substantial changes, which have been made in their respective taxation laws.

Article 3
Income from Hydrocarbons

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, nothing shall affect the right of either one of the Contracting States, or of any of their local Governments or local authorities thereof to apply their domestic laws and regulations related to the taxation of income and profits derived from hydrocarbons and its associated activities situated in the territory of the respective Contracting State, as the case maybe.

Article 4
General Definitions

1. For the purposes of this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:

   1. the terms 'a Contracting State' and ' the other Contracting State' mean United Arab Emirates or Maldives, as the context requires;

   2. the term 'United Arab Emirates' when used in a geographical sense, means the territory of the United Arab Emirates which is under its sovereignty as well as the area outside the territorial water, airspace and submarine areas over which the United Arab Emirates exercises, sovereign and jurisdictional rights in respect of any activity carried on in its water, seabed, subsoil, in connection with the exploration for or the exploitation of natural resources by virtue of its law and international law;

   3. the term 'the Maldives' means the Republic of Maldives, and when used in a geographical sense, it means the territory of the Maldives and includes its territorial sea, continental shelf, seabed, subsoil, (and their natural resources) and airspace, as well as any maritime zone in which the Maldives has sovereign rights, other rights and jurisdiction, according to the law of the Maldives and in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea;

   4. the term 'person' includes an individual, a company and any other body of persons;

   5. the term 'national' in relation to a Contracting State means:

      1. any individual possessing the nationality or citizenship of that Contracting State; and

      2. any legal person, partnership or association deriving its status as such from the laws in force in that Contracting State;

   6. the term 'company' means any body corporate or any entity that is treated as a body corporate for tax purposes;

   7. a pension scheme means any plan, scheme, fund, trust, or other arrangement established in a Contracting State, is generally exempt from tax in that State and operated principally either to administer or provide pension or retirement benefit or to earn income for the benefit of one or more such arrangements;

   8. the terms 'enterprise of a Contracting State' and 'enterprise of the other Contracting State' mean respectively an enterprise carried on by a resident of a Contracting State and an enterprise carried on by a resident of the other Contracting State;

   9. the term 'international traffic' means any transport by a ship or aircraft operated by an enterprise of a contracting State that has its place of effective management in a Contracting State, except when the ship or aircraft is operated solely between places in the other Contracting State;

   10. the term 'business' includes the performance of professional services and of other activities of an independent character;

   11. the term 'qualified government entity' means, Central bank of a Contracting State and any person, agency, financial institution, authority, fund, enterprise, organization, or other entity wholly owned directly or indirectly by a contracting State or any political subdivision or local government thereof;

   12. the term 'tax' means UAE tax or Maldives tax, as the context requires;

   13. the term 'competent authority' means:

       1. in the case of the UAE, the Minister of Finance or his authorized representative;

       2. in the case of the Maldives, the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority or its authorised representative;

2. As regards the application of the Agreement at any time by a Contracting State, any term not defined therein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning that it has at that time under the law of that State for the purposes of the taxes to which the Agreement applies, any meaning under the applicable tax laws of that State prevailing over a meaning given to the term under other laws of that State.

Article 5
Resident

1. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term 'resident of a Contracting State' means:

   1. in the case of the UAE:

      1. an individual who, under the laws of the UAE is considered a resident of the UAE or is a UAE national;

      2. any person other than an individual that is incorporated or otherwise recognized under the laws of the UAE or any political subdivision or local government thereof.

   2. in the case of Maldives:

      1. any person who, under the laws of the Maldives, is liable to tax therein by reason of that person's domicile, residence, place of incorporation, place of management or any other criterion of a similar nature, and also includes the Maldives and any political subdivision or local authority thereof. This term, however, does not include any person who is liable to tax in the Maldives in respect only of income from sources in the Maldives or capital situated therein.

   3. For the purposes of paragraph 1, a resident of a Contracting State includes:

   1. the Government of that Contracting State and any political subdivision or local Government or local authority thereof;

   2. any person other than-an individual owned or controlled directly or indirectly by that State or any political subdivision or local government or local authority thereof;

   3. a qualified government entity;

   4. a pension fund;

   5. charities or religious, educational and cultural organizations;

2. Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1, an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then his status shall be determined as follows:

   1. he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the contracting State in which he has a permanent home available to him; if he has a permanent home available to him in both Contracting States, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the contracting State with which his personal and economic relations are closer (center of vital interests);

   2. if the Contracting State in which he has his center of vital interests cannot be determined, or if he has not a permanent home available to him in either Contracting State, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the Contracting State in which he has an habitual abode;

   3. if he has a habitual abode in both Contracting States or in neither of them, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the contracting State of which he is a national;

   4. if his status cannot be determined under the provisions of sub-paragraph c), the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall settle the question by mutual agreement.

3. Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1, a person other than an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then it shall be deemed to be a resident only of the Contracting State in which its place of effective management is situated.

Article 6
Permanent Establishment

1. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term 'permanent establishment' means a fixed place of business through which the business of an enterprise is wholly or partly carried on.

2. The term 'permanent establishment' includes especially:

   1. a place of management;

   2. a branch;

   3. an office;

   4. a factory;

   5. a workshop:

   6. a mine, an oil or gas well, a quarry or any other place of exploration extraction exploitation of natural resources or any activities related thereof including an offshore drilling site.

3. A building site, a construction, assembly or installation project or supervisory activities in connection therewith or drilling rig or ship used for the exploring or exploiting of natural resources constitute a permanent establishment only if such site; project or activities continue for a period of more than 12 months.

4. The furnishing of services, including consultancy, by an enterprise of a Contracting State through employees or other personnel engaged by the enterprise for such purpose, in the other Contracting State constitutes a permanent establishment only if activities of that nature continue for a period or periods aggregating more than 6 months within any twelve month period.

5. An enterprise of a Contracting State shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment in the other Contracting State if substantial, mechanical or scientific equipment or machinery is used for more than six months or installed, in that other contracting State by, for or under contract with the enterprise.

6. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, the term 'permanent establishment' shall be deemed not to include:

   1. the use of facilities solely for the purpose of storage, display or delivery of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise;

   2. the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of storage, display or delivery;

   3. the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of processing by another enterprise;

   4. the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of purchasing goods or merchandise or of collecting information, for the enterprise;

   5. the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of carrying on, for the enterprise, any other activity of a preparatory or auxiliary character;

   6. the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for any combination of activities mentioned in sub-paragraphs a) to e). provided that the overall activity of the fixed place of business resulting from this combination is of a preparatory or auxiliary character.

7. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, where a person-other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph 9 applies - is acting in a Contracting State on behalf of an enterprise of the other Contracting State, that enterprise shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment in the first mentioned Contracting State in respect of any activities which that person undertakes for the enterprise if such a person:

   1. has and habitually exercises in the first-mentioned Contracting State, an authority to conclude contracts in the name of the enterprise, unless the activities of such person are limited to those mentioned in paragraph 6 which, if exercised through a fixed place of business, would not make this fixed place of business a permanent establishment under the provisions of that paragraph; or

   2. has no such authority, but habitually maintains in the first-mentioned Contracting State a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to such enterprise from which he regularly delivers goods or merchandise on behalf of such enterprise;

   3. habitually secures orders in the first mentioned Contracting State, exclusively or almost exclusively for the enterprise itself or for such enterprise and other enterprises, which are controlled by it or have a controlling interest in it;

   4. in so acting, he manufactures or processes in that Contracting State for the enterprise goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise.

8. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, an insurance enterprise of a Contracting State shall, except in regard to re-insurance, be deemed to have a permanent establishment in the other Contracting State if it collects premiums in the territory of that other State or insures risks situated therein through a person other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph 9 applies.

9. An enterprise of a Contracting State shall not be deemed to have a permanent establishment in the other Contracting State merely because it carries on business in that other Contracting State through a broker, general commission agent or any other agent of an independent status, provided that such persons are acting in the ordinary course of their business. However, when the activities of such an agent are devoted wholly or almost wholly on behalf of that enterprise, and conditions are made or imposed between that enterprise and the agent in their commercial and financial relations which differ from those which would have been made between independent enterprises he will not be considered an agent of an independent status within the meaning of this paragraph.

10. Notwithstanding the provision of paragraph 9 of this Article, insurance companies wholly owned by a contracting State or its local Governments or local authorities, shall be treated differently for tax purposes and shall be subject to tax only in the state of residence.

11. The fact that a company which is a resident of a Contracting State controls or is controlled by a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State, or which carries on business in that other Contracting State (whether through a permanent establishment or otherwise), shall not of itself constitute either company a permanent establishment of the other.

Article 7
Income from Immovable Property

1. Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State from immovable property (including income from agriculture or forestry) situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other Contracting State.

2. The term 'immovable property' shall have the meaning, which it has under the laws of the Contracting State in which the property in question is situated. The term shall in any case include, property accessory to immovable property, livestock and equipment used in agriculture, forestry, rights to which the provisions of general law respecting landed property apply, usufruct of immovable property and rights to variable or fixed payments as consideration for working of, or the right of work, mineral deposits, sources and other natural resources; Ships, boats and aircraft shall not be regarded as immovable property.

3. The provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article shall apply to income derived from the direct use, letting, or use in any other form of immovable property.

4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 3 of this Article shall also apply to income from immovable property of an enterprise.

Article 8
Business Profits

1. The profits of an enterprise of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that Contracting State unless the enterprise carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated in that other Contracting State. If the enterprise carries on business in that manner, the profits of the enterprise may be taxed in the other Contracting State but only so much of them as is attributable to that permanent establishment.

2. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 3, where an enterprise of a Contracting State carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein, there shall in each Contracting State be attributed to that permanent establishment the profits which it might be expected to make if it were a distinct and separate enterprise engaged in the same or similar activities under the same or similar conditions and dealing wholly independently with the enterprise of which it is a permanent establishment.

3. In determining the profits of a permanent establishment, there shall be allowed as deductions those deductible expenses which are incurred for the purposes of the permanent establishment, including executive and general administrative expenses so incurred, whether in the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment is situated or elsewhere; taking into consideration any applicable laws or regulations in the concerned Contracting State. However, no such deduction shall be allowed in respect of amounts, if any paid (otherwise than towards reimbursement actual expenses) by the permanent establishment to the head office of the enterprise or any of its other offices, by way of royalties, fees or other similar payments in return for the use of patents or other rights, or by way of commission, for specific services performed or for management, or except in the case of a banking enterprise, by way of interest on moneys lent to the head office of the enterprise or any or its other offices.

4. No profits shall be attributed to a permanent establishment by reason of the mere purchase by that permanent establishment of goods or merchandise for the enterprise.

5. Insofar as it has been customary in a Contracting State to determine the profits to be attributed to a permanent establishment on the basis of an apportionment of the total profits of the enterprise to its various parts, nothing in paragraph 2 shall preclude that Contracting State from determining the profits to be taxed by such an apportionment as may be customary; the method of apportionment adopted shall, however, be such that the result shall be in accordance with the principles contained in this Article.

6. If the information available to the competent authority of a Contracting State is inadequate to determine the profits to be attributed to the permanent establishment of a person, nothing in this Article shall affect the application of any laws or regulations of that Contracting State relating to the determination of the tax liability of that permanent establishment by making of an estimate by the competent authority of that Contracting State of the profits to be subject to tax of that permanent establishment, provided that such laws or regulations shall be applied consistently with the principles of this Article, taking into account the information available to the competent authority.

7. For the purposes of the preceding paragraphs, the profits to be attributed to the permanent establishment shall be determined by the same method year by year unless there is good and sufficient reason to the contrary.

8. Where profits include items of income or gains which are dealt with separately in other Articles of this Agreement, then the provisions of those Articles shall not be affected by the provisions of this Article.

Article 9
Shipping and Air Transport

Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 7 of this Agreement:

1. Profits of an enterprise of a Contracting State from the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic shall be taxable only in that Contracting State.

2. For the purposes of this Article profits from the operation of ships or aircraft in international traffic include:

   1. profits from the rental on a bareboat basis of ships or aircraft;

   2. profits from the use, maintenance or rental of containers, including trailers and related equipment for the transport of containers, used for the transport of goods or merchandise;

3. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall also apply to profits derived from [GTL Notes - See Protocol 2]:

   1. the participation in a pool, a joint business or an international operating agency;

   2. selling of tickets on behalf of another enterprise;

   3. income derived from deposits at the Bank, bonds. Shares stocks and other debentures.

Article 10
Associated Enterprises

1. Where:

   1. an enterprise of a Contracting State participates directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of an enterprise of the other Contracting State,

   2. the same persons participate directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of an enterprise of a Contracting State and an enterprise of the other Contracting State,

   and in either case conditions are made or imposed between the two enterprises in their commercial or financial relations which differ from those which would be made between independent enterprises, then any profits which would, but for those conditions, have accrued to one of the enterprises, but, by reason of those conditions, have not so accrued, may be included in the profits of that enterprise and taxed accordingly.

2. Where a Contracting State includes in the profits of an enterprise of that Contracting State - and taxes accordingly - profits on which an enterprise of the other Contracting State has been charged to tax in that other Contracting State and the profits so included are profits which would have accrued to the enterprise of the first-mentioned Contracting State if the conditions made between the two enterprises had been those which would have been made between independent enterprises; then that other Contracting State shall make an appropriate adjustment to the amount of the tax charged therein on those profits. In determining such adjustment, due regard shall be had to the other provisions of this Agreement and the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall, if necessary, consult each other.

Article 11
Dividends

1. Dividends paid by a company which is a resident of a Contracting State, to a resident of the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in that other Contracting State.

2. The term 'dividends' as used in this Article means income from shares, 'jouissance' shares 'jouissance' rights, ruining shares, founders' shares or other rights, not being debt-claims, participating in profits, as well as income from other corporate rights which is subjected to the same taxation treatment as income from shares by the taxation laws of the Contracting State of which the company making the distribution is a resident.

3. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the dividends, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident, through a permanent establishment situated therein and the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 8 shall apply.

4. Where a company which is a resident of a Contracting State derives profits or income from the other Contracting State, that other Contracting State may not impose any tax on the dividends paid by the company, except insofar as such dividends are paid to a resident of that other Contracting State who is the beneficial owner of the dividends or insofar as the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with a permanent establishment or a fixed base situated in that other Contracting State, nor subject the company's undistributed profits to a tax on the company's undistributed profits, even if the dividends paid or the undistributed profits consist wholly or partly of profits or income arising in such other contracting State.

Article 12
Interest

1. Interest arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in that other Contracting State.

2. The term 'interest' as used in this Article means income from debt-claims of every kind, whether or not secured by mortgage and whether or not carrying a right to participate in the debtor's profits, and in particular, income from government securities and income from bonds or debentures, including premiums and prizes attaching to such securities, bonds or debentures, as well as income which is subjected to the same taxation treatment as income from money lent by the taxation laws of the Contracting State in which the income arises.

   However, penalty charges for late payment shall not be regarded as interest for the purpose of this Article.

3. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the interest, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the interest arises, through a permanent establishment situated in that other Contracting State, or performs in that other Contracting State, and the debt-claim in respect of which the interest is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case the provisions of Article 8 shall apply.

4. Interest shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is a resident of that Contracting State. Where, however, the person paying the interest, whether he is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment or a fixed base in connection with which the indebtedness on which the interest is paid was incurred, and such interest is borne by such permanent establishment or fixed base, then such interest shall be deemed to arise in the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is situated.

5. Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner, or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the interest, having regard to the debt-claim for which it is paid, exceeds the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In such case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Agreement.

Article 13
Royalties

1. Royalties arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State shall be taxable in that other Contracting State.

2. However, such royalties may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which they arise and according to the laws of that State, but if the beneficial owner of the royalties is a resident of the other Contracting State, the tax so charged shall not exceed 7 per cent of the gross amount of the royalties.

3. The term 'royalties' as used in this Article means payments of any kind received as a consideration for the use of, or the right to use, any copyright of literary, artistic or scientific work including cinematograph films and works on films, tapes or other means of reproduction for use in connection with television or radio broadcasting, any patent, trademark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, or for the use of, or the right to use information (know-how) concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience.

4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the royalties, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the royalties arise, through a permanent establishment situated in that other Contracting State, or performs in that other Contracting State independent personal services from a fixed base situated in that Contracting State and the right or property in respect of which the royalties are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or, in such case the provisions of Article 8 or Article 15; as the case may be, shall apply.

5. Royalties shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is a resident of that Contracting State. Where, however, the person paying the royalties, whether that person is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment in connection with which the liability to pay the royalties was incurred, and such royalties are borne by such permanent establishment or fixed base, then such royalties shall be deemed to arise in the Contracting State in which the permanent establishment is situated.

6. Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the royalties, having regard to the use, right or information for which they are paid, exceeds the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last mentioned amount. In such case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Agreement.

Article 14
Capital Gains

1. Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of immovable property referred to in Article 7 and situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other Contracting State.

2. Gains from the alienation of movable property forming part of the business property of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in that Contracting State.

3. Gains derived by an enterprise of a Contracting State from the alienation of ships or aircraft operated in international traffic and by boats engaged in inland waterways transport and movable property pertaining to the operation of such ships or aircraft and boats shall be taxable only in that Contracting State in which the place of effective management of the enterprise is situated.

4. Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of shares of a company whose capital stock is formed, directly or indirectly, in more than 50% by immovable property located in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other State, unless it is listed in a recognized stock market.

5. Gains from the alienation of any property including the alienation of shares and securities other than that referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 shall be taxable only in Contracting State of which the alienator is resident.

Article 15
Income from Employment

1. Subject to the provisions of Articles 17, 20, 21 and 22, salaries, wages and other similar remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment shall be taxable only in that Contracting State unless the employment is exercised in the other Contracting State. If the employment is so exercised, such remuneration as is derived there from may be taxed in that other Contracting State.

2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned Contracting State if all the following conditions are met:

   1. the recipient is present in the other Contracting State for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in 12 month period commencing or ending in the fiscal year concerned;

   2. the remuneration is paid by, or on behalf of an employer who is not a resident of the other Contracting State.

   3. the remuneration is not borne by a permanent establishment which the employer has in the other Contracting State.

3. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, remuneration derived in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship or aircraft operated in international traffic by an enterprise of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that Contracting State.

Article 16
Directors' Fees

Directors' fees and other similar payments derived by a resident of a Contracting State in that persons capacity as a member of the board of directors of a company, which is a resident of the other Contracting State, shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned Contracting State.

Article 17
Artists and Sportsmen

1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 9 and 15, income derived by a resident of a Contracting State as an entertainer, such as a theatre, motion picture, radio or television artist, or a musician, or as a sportsman, from his personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other Contracting State.

2. Where income in respect of personal activities exercised by an entertainer or a sportsman in that persons capacity as such accrues not to the entertainer or sportsman himself but to another person, that income may, notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 9 and 15 be taxed in the Contracting State in which the activities of the entertainer or sportsman are exercised.

3. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply to income derived by entertainers or sportsmen who are residents of a Contracting State from personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting State if their visit to that other Contracting State is substantially supported from the public funds of the first-mentioned Contracting State, including those of any political subdivision, a local authority or statutory body thereof, nor to income derived by a non-profit making organization in respect of such activities provided no part of its income is payable to or is otherwise available for the personal benefit of its proprietors, founders or members.

Article 18
Pensions and Annuities

1. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 22, pensions and other similar remuneration and annuities paid to an individual who is a resident of a Contracting State in consideration of past employment shall be taxable only in that Contracting State.

2. As used in this Article:

   1. the terms 'pensions and other similar remuneration' mean periodic payments made after retirement in consideration of past employment or by way of compensations for injuries received in connection with past employment;

   2. the terms 'annuity' means a stated sum payable to an individual periodically at stated times during life, or during a specified or ascertainable period of time, under an obligation to make the payments in return for adequate and full consideration in money or money's worth.

Article 19
Government Service

1. 1. Salaries, wages and other similar remuneration, other than a pension, paid by a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that Contracting State or subdivision or authority shall be taxable only in that Contracting State.

   2. However, such salaries, wages and other similar remuneration shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if the services are rendered in that Contracting State and the individual is a resident of that Contracting State who:

      1. is a national of that Contracting State;

      2. did not become a resident of that Contracting State solely for rendering the services.

2. 1. Any pension paid by, or out of funds created by, a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that Contracting State or subdivision or authority shall be taxable only in that Contracting State.

   2. However, such pension shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if the individual is a resident of, and a national of, that Contracting State.

3. The provisions of Articles 15, 19, 20 and 21 shall apply to salaries, wages and other similar remuneration and to pensions in respect of services rendered in connection with a business carried on by a Contracting State or a political subdivision or a local authority thereof.

Article 20
Teachers and Researchers

An individual who is or was immediately before visiting a Contracting State a resident of the other Contracting State and who at the invitation of the Government of the first-mentioned Contracting State or of a university college, school, museum or other cultural institution in that first-mentioned Contracting State or under an official programme of cultural exchange is present in that Contracting State for a period not exceeding two consecutive years solely for the purpose of teaching giving lectures or carrying out research at such institution shall be exempt from tax in that Contracting State on his remuneration for such activity.

Article 21
Students and Trainees

1. Payments which a student, apprentice or business trainee who is or was immediately before visiting a Contracting State a resident of the other Contracting State and who is present in the first-mentioned Contracting State solely for the purpose of his education or training receives for the purpose of his maintenance, education or training shall not be taxed in that Contracting State, provided that such payments arise from sources outside that Contracting State.

2. In respect of grants, scholarships and remuneration from employment exercised in the other Contracting State, by a student or business trainee described in paragraph 1, shall, in addition, be entitled during such education or training to the same exemptions, reliefs or reductions in respect of taxes available to residents of the Contracting State which he is visiting.

Article 22
Other Income

1. Items of income of a resident of a Contracting State, wherever arising, not dealt with in the foregoing Articles of this Agreement shall be taxable only in that Contracting State.

2. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply to income, other than income from immovable property as defined in paragraph 2 of Article 7, if the recipient of such income, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment and the right or property in respect of which the income is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case, the provisions of Article 7 shall apply.

Article 23
Elimination of Double Taxation

1. Double Taxation shall be eliminated in the Contracting States as follows:

   1. where a resident of a Contracting State derives income or owns capital which, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, may be taxed in the other Contracting State, the first-mentioned State shall allow;

   2. as a deduction from the tax on the income of that resident, an amount equal to the income tax paid in that other State;

   3. as a deduction from the tax on the capital of that resident, an amount equal to the capital tax paid in that other State.

   Such deduction in either case shall not however, exceed that part of the income tax or capital tax, as computed before the deduction is given, which is attributable, as the case may be, to the income or the capital, which may be taxed, in that other State.

2. Where in accordance with any provision of the Convention income derived or capital owned by a resident of a Contracting State is exempt from tax in that State, such State may nevertheless, in calculating the amount of tax on the remaining income or capital of that resident, take into account the exempted income or capital.

Article 24
Mutual Agreement Procedure

1. Where a person considers that the actions of one or both of the Contracting State result or will result for him in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, he may, irrespective of the remedies provided by the domestic law of those Contracting State, present his case to the competent authority of the Contracting State of which he is a resident or, if his case comes under paragraph 1 of Article 24, to that of the Contracting State of which he is a national. The case must be presented within three years from the first notification of the action resulting in taxation not in accordance with the provision of this Agreement.

2. The competent authority shall endeavour, if the objection appears to be justified and if it is not itself able to arrive at a satisfactory solution, to resolve the case by mutual agreement with the competent authority of the other Contracting State, with a view to the avoidance of taxation which is not in accordance with Agreement. Any agreement reached shall be implemented notwithstanding any time limits in the domestic law of the Contracting State.

3. The competent authorities of the Contracting State shall endeavour to resolve by mutual agreement any difficulties or doubts arising as to the interpretation or application of this Agreement. They may also consult together for the elimination of double taxation in cases not provided for in this Agreement.

4. The competent authorities of the Contracting State may communicate with each other directly including through a joint commission consisting of themselves or their representatives, for the purpose of reaching an agreement in the sense of the preceding paragraphs.

Article 25
Exchange of Information

1. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall exchange such information as is foreseeably relevant for carrying out the provisions of this Agreement or to the administration or enforcement of the domestic laws of the Contracting State concerning taxes covered by this Agreement imposed on behalf of a Contracting States, or of their political subdivisions or local authorities, insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to this Agreement.

2. Any information received under paragraph 1 by a Contracting State shall be treated as secret in: the same manner as information obtained under the domestic laws of that Contracting State and shall be disclosed only to persons or authorities (including courts and administrative bodies) concerned with the assessment or collection of, the enforcement or prosecution in respect of, or the determination of appeals in relation to, the taxes covered by this Agreement. Such persons or authorities shall use the information only for such purposes. They may disclose the information in public court proceedings or in judicial decisions.

3. In no case shall the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 be construed so as to impose on a Contracting State the obligation:

   1. to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws and administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting State;

   2. to supply information which is not obtainable under the laws or in the normal course of the administration of that or of the other Contracting State;

   3. to supply information which would disclose any trade, business, industrial, commercial or professional secret or trade process, or information, the disclosure of which would be contrary to public policy (order public).

4. If information is requested by a Contracting State in accordance with this Article, the other Contracting State shall use its information gathering measures to obtain the requested information, even though that other State may not need such information for its own tax purposes. The obligation contained in the preceding sentence is subject to the limitations of paragraph 3 but in no case shall such limitations be construed to permit a Contracting State to decline to supply information solely because it has no domestic interest in such information.

5. In no case shall the provisions of paragraph 3 be construed to permit a Contracting State to decline to supply information solely because the information is held by a bank, other financial institution, nominee or person acting in agency or a fiduciary capacity or because it relates to ownership interests in a person.

Article 26
Non Discrimination

1. Nationals of a Contracting State shall not be subjected in the other Contracting State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which nationals of that other State in the same circumstances, in particular with respect to residence, are or may be subjected. This provision shall, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 1, also apply to persons who are not residents of one or both of the Contracting States.

2. The taxation on a permanent establishment, which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State, shall not be less favourably levied in that other State than the taxation levied on enterprises of that other State carrying on the same activities. This provision shall not be construed as obliging a Contracting State to grant to residents of the other Contracting State any personal allowances, relieves and reductions for taxation purposes on account of civil status or family responsibilities which it grants to its own residents.

3. Except where the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 10, paragraph 7 of Article 12 or paragraph 5 of Article 13 apply, interest, royalties and other disbursements paid by an enterprise of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State shall, for the purpose of determining the taxable profits of such enterprise, be deductible under the same conditions as if they had been paid to a resident of the first-mentioned State. Similarly, any debts of an enterprise of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State shall, for the purpose of determining the taxable capital of such enterprise, be deductible under the same conditions as if they had been contracted to a resident of the first-mentioned State.

4. Enterprises of a Contracting State, the capital of which is wholly or partly owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by one or more residents of the other Contracting State, shall not be subjected in the first-mentioned State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which other similar enterprises of the first-mentioned State are or may be subjected.

5. Nothing in this agreement shall prevent a contracting state from granting exemption from tax or reduction to its own national companies in accordance to its domestic laws and regulations.

6. The provisions of this Article shall apply to taxes covered by this Agreement.

Article 27
Miscellaneous Rules

The provisions of this Agreement shall not be construed to restrict in any manner any exclusion, exemption, deduction, credit, or other allowance now or hereafter accorded:

1. by the laws of a Contracting State in the determination of the tax imposed by that Contracting State;

2. by any other special arrangement on taxation between the Contracting States or between one of the Contracting States and residents of the other Contracting State.

Article 28
Income of Government and their Financial Institutions
[GTL Notes - See Protocol 1]

Any income and profits derived by a Contracting State, its political subdivisions, local governments, or local authorities thereof, including their qualified government entities arising in the other Contracting State, including gains from the alienation of movable and immovable property situated in the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in the State of residence except from income from hydrocarbon as stated in Article 3.

Article 29
Members of Diplomatic Missions and Consular Posts

Nothing in this Agreement shall affect the fiscal privileges of members of diplomatic missions or consular posts under the general rules of international law or under the provisions of special agreements.

Article 30
Entry Into Force

1. Each of the Contracting States shall notify to the other, through diplomatic channels, the completion of the procedures required by its domestic law for the bringing into force of this Agreement. This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of the later of these notifications.

2. The provisions of this Agreement shall have effect:

   1. in respect of taxes withheld at source, for amounts paid or credited on or after the first day of January of the year in which this Agreement is signed;

   2. in respect of other taxes, for taxable periods beginning on or after the first day of January of the year in which this Agreement is signed.

Article 31
Termination

This Agreement shall remain in force until terminated by a Contracting State. Either Contracting State may terminate the Agreement, through diplomatic channels, by giving notice of termination on or before at least six months before the end of any calendar year beginning after the expiration of a period of five years from the date of its entry into force in such event the Agreement shall cease to have effect:

1. in respect of taxes withheld at source, for amounts paid or credited on or after the first day of January of the year next following that in which the notice of termination is given;

2. in respect of other taxes, for taxable periods beginning on or after the first day of January of the year next following that in which the notice of termination is given.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, duly authorized thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Agreement.

Done in duplicate at Dubai, on 17 of October 2017, in English and Arabic, and both texts being equally authentic. In the case of any divergence in interpretation, the English text shall prevail.

PROTOCOL

At the signing today of the Agreement between the Government of the United Arab Emirates and the Government of Republic of Maldives for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital, the undersigned have agreed upon the following provisions, which shall form an integral part of this Agreement:

1. With reference to Article 28 (Income of Government and their Financial Institutions) the following institutions are included:

   1. Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates;

   2. Abu Dhabi Investment Authority;

   3. Abu Dhabi Investment Council;

   4. Emirates Investment Authority;

   5. Mubadala Development Company;

   6. International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC);

   7. Dubai World;

   8. Investment Corporation of Dubai;

   9. Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA);

   10. MASDAR;

   11. Abu Dhabi Financial Group.

   Also, those institutions which from time to time will be created by the Federal or the local governments of the UAE which fulfill the requirements of this Article, subject prior notification by the competent authority of the United Arab Emirates to the competent authority of Maldives.

2. It is understood that paragraph 3 of Article 9 shall also include:

   1. income from training schemes;

   2. income from selling of technical engineering to a third party

In witness whereof the undersigned, duly authorized thereto, have signed this Protocol.

Done in duplicate at Dubai, on 17 of October 2017, in the Arabic and English languages, each text being equally authentic. In case of divergence of interpretation the English text shall prevail.

For The Government Of Republic of Maldives For The Government Of The United Arab Emirates

His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Asim. His Excellency Obaid Humaid Altayer Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister of State for Financial Affairs