According to Property Finder Blog (UAE), a UAE-resident business must register for VAT once its taxable supplies and imports exceed AED 375,000, with voluntary registration available from AED 187,500.
According to Property Finder Blog (UAE), a UAE-resident business must register for VAT once its taxable supplies and imports exceed AED 375,000 over the past 12 months, or are expected to exceed that figure within the next 30 days. A new company does not need 12 months of trading history: signed contracts or purchase orders showing that the threshold will be passed within 30 days can trigger mandatory registration, and the application must be filed within 30 days of becoming required to register. Smaller businesses can opt in earlier. Voluntary registration is open to UAE-resident businesses above a lower threshold of AED 187,500, which is measured on taxable supplies, imports or taxable expenses. Non-resident businesses follow a separate rule: there is no threshold for them, and registration applies if they make any taxable supplies in the UAE. The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) classifies sales as standard-rated (5%), zero-rated (0%) or outside the scope of tax, and out-of-scope sales are recorded separately from the taxable ones. The guide lists the documents most new companies should prepare, although the exact set depends on the legal entity type: a certificate of incorporation or registration certificate (or partnership agreement), a valid trade licence, Emirates ID and passport copies for owners and authorised signatories, a power of attorney where applicable, a bank account letter, supporting invoices, contracts and tenancy contracts, and a signed and stamped turnover declaration letter. Registration is done online through the FTA's EmaraTax platform, with sign-in via UAEPass. The source states that registration is free, the application takes about 45 minutes, and the FTA processes a complete application within 20 business days. This article is a factual summary and not tax advice.