The Antwort Law team notes an important change in the United Arab Emirates' tax system—the launch of the first phase of the research and development (R&D) tax incentive program. This innovation reflects the country's strategic focus on developing an innovative economy and aligning tax policy with international standards.

Have you successfully scaled your business in your home country and are now thinking about international expansion? So, you are reading this article at the right time, because the right way to go abroad does not start with registering a foreign company, but much earlier - at the stage of planning and setting up a legal and tax strategy. At Antwort Law, we do this regularly and based on our experience, we can share with you our 10 key insights that we see again and again in our international practice.

On January 1, 2026, amendments to the value-added tax (VAT) legislation in effect in the United Arab Emirates since 2018 came into effect. The amendments clarify the rules for the system and introduce a new procedure for the refund of input VAT. The main change is a five-year period for the refund or offset of accumulated VAT. Companies can now apply for a tax credit refund only within five years of the end of the tax period. After this period, the refund is lost.

A second or third citizenship for entrepreneurs is no longer a luxury, but an everyday tool for mobility, asset protection, and personal security. It's not just a new document allowing visa-free travel to other countries, but also a new legal, tax, and banking profile for its holder. This is where potential applicants should be extremely cautious. At Antwort Law, thanks to our work in many jurisdictions, we encounter situations where entrepreneurs, without developing a comprehensive strategy, obtain a second passport and face account freezes, bank audits, and regulatory risks. We would like to substantiate these calls for caution with a real-life example from our practice and also warn you of two other less obvious risks:

Every day in our practice, we encounter a large amount of information, signals, and events from our clients' international businesses. Based on all the case studies, consultations, situational analyses, and structure building, we have identified key global trends for entrepreneurs and for us, as their partners, in building successful companies, even in multiple markets.

For over 8 years, Antwort Law has been helping companies overcome legal, tax, and banking issues, allowing owners to focus solely on their development strategy and scaling success. This is the second part, in which we, the consultants at the international law firm Antwort Law, discuss the most common legal mistakes we encounter among entrepreneurs. You can read the first part here (_____link___). No business grows without mistakes; how quickly you correct them and move on is far more important.

Amid news reports about developments in Iran, business owners and investors are naturally wondering how the current regional situation could impact the business and financial infrastructure of the United Arab Emirates. Given the heightened level of information, it's important to know the facts and rely on the real state of affairs.

Over eight years of consulting with entrepreneurs worldwide, Antwort Law has gained extensive experience in the legal and tax aspects of various businesses. While each business is unique, there are certain mistakes that many make, regardless of jurisdiction, industry, or current circumstances. In this article, we'll share the ten most common mistakes Antwort Law finds during legal audits in international and local structures.

Buying real estate in the UAE is not only an investment but also a legal liability. Many owners of apartments and villas in Dubai don't consider what happens to their assets upon their death. In practice, most foreign investors assume that the property will automatically pass to their spouse or children. In reality, things are much more complicated. If a will isn't drawn up, assets may be temporarily frozen, and property distribution will be determined by local law, possibly including Sharia law. This means court proceedings, travel expenses for relatives, additional legal fees, and the risk of property distribution not being as planned during their lifetime.

Many entrepreneurs appreciate fintech for its speed, flexibility, and simplicity. However, these platforms have a fair number of pitfalls that are unnoticeable from the very first moment of use. As lawyers at the international consulting firm Antwort Law, who work daily in the banking sector, we see where the risks of using such solutions grow disproportionately to the benefits they offer as alternatives to traditional banks.