Multipolitan has released its 2025 Wealth Report, “The Taxed Generation,” marking a pivotal shift in how cities are measured for fiscal appeal. Alongside the report, the firm launched the world’s first Tax-Friendly Cities Index, comparing 164 global jurisdictions on tax policies and governance. 

The headline finding? Abu Dhabi and Dubai take the top two positions, a first for any Middle Eastern country, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a destination of choice for global investors and mobile wealth.

The 2025 edition of Multipolitan’s Wealth Report, titled The Taxed Generation, focuses on a growing reality: preserving wealth in an era of rising regulation is harder than ever.

With tax scrutiny intensifying, enforcement tightening, and rules shifting across jurisdictions, high-net-worth individuals and globally mobile entrepreneurs are being forced to rethink their strategies. The report dives into how they’re adapting — and where they’re turning.

At the center of this year’s findings is the debut of the Tax-Friendly Cities Index, a data-led benchmark that ranks 164 cities worldwide using a blend of fiscal, legal, and lifestyle metrics.

These include income tax rates, capital gains tax exposure, inheritance and wealth taxes, as well as the strength and breadth of bilateral tax treaties. Governance quality — covering transparency, consistency of enforcement, and regulatory ease — is also factored into the overall score.

The release comes at a time when global tax policy is tightening and mobility of wealth is accelerating. Governments are under pressure to widen tax bases, while families and founders alike are reassessing where and how their assets are structured. This year’s report responds to that shift with a new lens: not just where wealth is generated but where it’s safest to preserve.

DUBAI, July 22, 2025 — Dubai has just done what most cities can’t. 

With the launch of One Freezone Passport, companies can now operate across multiple free zones using just one license. This is a huge development in the business world. No more duplicate applications. No more back-and-forth. 

One setup, multiple zones, faster growth.

And the world is paying attention. Louis Vuitton just became the first corporate member under the scheme, completing its registration in just five working days.

Dubai, July 22, 2025 – The UAE has hit a major milestone. The ministry of  Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) confirms that more than 152,000 Emiratis are now employed in the private sector. The figure, recorded at the end of June 2025, marks a sharp rise in national workforce participation, with nearly 29,000 private companies now employing UAE nationals.

This is the highest number ever recorded. It is a strong indicator that Emiratisation policies are working just according to the planning that made them possible. 

Dubai is no longer announcing a change — it is now operating under it in 2026.

Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025 slashes the boundary between free zones and the mainland. Free zone companies excluding financial establishments licensed in the DIFC, can now operate onshore directly within mainland Dubai, after obtaining authorisation from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and for activities approved under its official eligibility framework. 

This is more than a tweak. It’s a major move under Dubai’s D33 agenda — not just expansion, but structural integration of the Free Zone and mainland commercial framework, with the mandate to double its economy by 2033.

Free zone businesses can now:

• Apply for a mainland branch license
• Get a hybrid license with headquarters kept in the free zone
• Or use a short‑term, activity‑specific permit (up to six months)

This opens the door to local clients, government contracts, and projects across the whole emirate — without duplicating structures.

(Important: this applies within the Emirate of Dubai only. Operating in other Emirates still requires separate local approvals.)

Corporate tax is here — and it’s serious business.

The UAE’s tax regime may be new, but the rules are firm. If you’re running a company, you’re expected to play by them.

Late filings? Mistakes in tax return? They’re not just paperwork issues anymore. They trigger penalties. And in some cases, big ones.

In today’s regulatory climate, being late or careless can cost you not just money but also credibility.

t’s important to note that penalties for Corporate Tax are governed by a separate set of rules under Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 and related decisions. The updates in Cabinet Decision No. 129 of 2025 apply specifically to VAT and Excise Tax penalties, not Corporate Tax.

This article breaks it all down.

The UAE flipped the script by rolling out a 9% tax in UAE on profits above AED 375,000, while still dangling that sweet 0% for qualifying free zone outfits — unless you’re a giant multinational, then the new 15% Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax jumps in. It’s a mix that keeps businesses guessing where they really stand. But even smaller players can’t just shrug this off.

Every registered company, from buzzing startups to total dormants, has a hard legal duty to file a tax return UAE, no matter if books show zero or heavy red. That’s why ADEPTS’ deep dive on compliance hits so hard. Staying sharp on UAE income tax means avoiding double costs later fixing slip-ups — and protecting yourself before the fines pile up.

UAE businesses used to cruise on tax-free status, but that’s changing fast. With the new tax in UAE regime under Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022, even companies that never worried about numbers now face real filings, actual rates, and stiff penalties. That means UAE income tax isn’t just a rumor anymore — it’s showing up on profit statements across the Emirates.

More than that, transfer pricing is rolling in hard, forcing both mainland setups and free zones to prove they aren’t shifting profits through slick invoices. ADEPTS breaks this down in their transfer pricing in UAE guide, showing why it matters right from day one. Whether you’re trading across Emirates or just wiring cash inside a group, ignoring it can cost way more than you’d ever guess.

Corporate tax is now part of doing business in the UAE. In 2025, it’s not just about profit — it’s about staying compliant. The new corporate tax regime was rolled out to keep the UAE in line with global standards. It aims to build a fair, transparent business environment that attracts investment and keeps the economy strong.

Most UAE businesses will have to file their tax returns for the 2025 tax period. Key point: your filing deadline is nine months after your financial year ends. For many, that means 30 September 2025. Payment is due on the same date.

So why does this matter?

Timely and accurate filing protects you from penalties and unnecessary costs. But it’s more than money — non-compliance can damage your reputation. And in a competitive market like the UAE, trust is everything.

This checklist will help you get it right. No last-minute panic. No costly mistakes. Just a clear plan to keep your business fully compliant.

The UAE used to be a no-tax paradise. Not anymore.

Since June 1, 2023, a 9% federal tax on corporate profits now applies to earnings over AED 375,000. If you’re running a business here, this isn’t just background noise — tax in the UAE has moved into an established 2026 enforcement cycle, and it’s here to stay. 

That means paperwork, rules, and deadlines. The UAE income tax is now a core compliance task for most companies based on the mainland or in a free zone,  with 2026 marking the shift from awareness-driven compliance to accuracy-led, data-validated filings monitored directly by the Federal Tax Authority.

The education and transition phase between 2023 and 2025 has effectively closed. In 2026, the FTA’s focus is no longer on whether businesses understand the law, but on whether filings are complete, internally consistent, and supported by verifiable data trails.

So here’s the big question: Do you actually need a tax agent to handle it all?

This article breaks it down: who needs one, who doesn’t, and how to avoid costly mistakes, in a regulatory environment where compliance errors are increasingly identified through automated reviews and targeted audits rather than manual checks, with or without professional help.

Running a business in the UAE? 

It’s not as simple as it used to be. 

Things move fast.

Expectations are high.

And if you’re running an SME, trust isn’t optional; it’s essential.

Forget the idea that governance is only for big corporations. In 2025, it’s what helps small businesses survive, grow, and stand out.

Corporate governance isn’t just for IPOs. It starts right at incubation—and grows with you.

Governance builds your business’s backbone. It keeps you on the right side of the law. It brings in investors, helps you sleep at night, and gives everyone; staff, customers and partners, confidence in how you work.

And that’s where corporate governance advisory companies in the UAE like ADEPTS come in. 

They turn complex rules into simple, tailored corporate governance solutions that match your business size and goals.