Ministry of Economy

Failure to Notify: AED 10k to 50k Failure to provide accurate or complete information:   Penalty of AED 10k to 50k; and Deemed failure to demonstrate economic substance in the UAE Failure to demonstrate sufficient economic substance in the UAE for the relevant Financial Year: First failure Penalty of AED 10k to 50k; and Information exchange with foreign competent authority of: (1) parent company, (2) ultimate parent company, and (3) ultimate beneficial owner. Second consecutive instance of failure Information exchange with foreign competent authority of: (1) parent company, (2) ultimate parent company, and (3) ultimate beneficial owner; and Penalty of AED 100k to 300k; and Trade / commercial licence could be: suspended, withdrawn or not renewed.

Only Licensees that earn income from a Relevant Activity during the relevant financial period and that are not exempt from the Regulations are required to demonstrate economic substance in the UAE and file an economic substance return. Economic substance returns must be filed within 12 months from the end of the relevant financial period.

A Licensees that undertakes a Relevant Activity (irrespective of whether the Licensee qualifies for an exemption under the Regulations or has earned income from the Relevant Activity during the relevant financial period) need to submit a simple notification with its Regulatory Authority. Notifications for the financial period 2019 can be filed on or after 1 January 2020.

Yes, a UAE entity that makes a loan or provides any other form of credit to a UAE or foreign group company for consideration (e.g. interest) will be considered engaged in a Lease-Finance Business.