VAT registration in Dubai · FTA filing
We process your VAT registration with the Federal Tax Authority, with Spanish-speaking guidance from the first call. Get your official TRN in 5 to 20 working days and stay compliant from the very first invoice.
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When do I need to register?
Mandatory registration
- Threshold
- You exceed AED 375,000 per year in taxable supplies and imports.
- Deadline
- 30 days from the moment you exceed the threshold or expect to exceed it.
- Calculation basis
- Last 12 months or forecast for the next 30 days.
- Consequence
- Penalties apply for late registration or failure to register.
Voluntary registration
- Threshold
- Supplies or expenses between AED 187,500 and AED 375,000.
- Benefit
- You can recover input VAT on purchases and supplier invoices.
- Commitment
- You take on the same filing obligations as a registered taxpayer.
- Ideal for
- Companies with UAE B2B clients and exporters.
Below AED 187,500
If your annual supplies are below AED 187,500, there is no obligation, and no possibility, of voluntary VAT registration.
How we process your VAT registration.
Five clear steps before the Federal Tax Authority, coordinated by our UAE-based tax team.
- 01
Obligation assessment
We analyse your turnover, activity and business plan to determine whether mandatory or voluntary registration applies.
- 02
Document collection
Trade licence, passport, visa, shareholding structure, banking information and a financial summary of the last 12 months.
- 03
Submission to the FTA
We upload the file to the FTA's EmaraTax portal, validate the data and submit it formally.
- 04
Review and approval
The FTA reviews your file and issues a response. If clarifications are requested, we reply on your behalf to avoid delays.
- 05
TRN issuance
You receive your official Tax Registration Number. From that moment you can charge VAT and recover input VAT.
Applicable rates in the UAE.
Rates and transactions
| Rate | Application | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 5% Standard | Most local commercial transactions | Sale of goods, consulting, local B2B |
| 0% Zero rate | Exports and certain international services | Export of goods, international transport, investment-grade gold/silver |
| 0% Specific sectors | Healthcare, education and first sale of residential property | Healthcare services, education, first home |
| Exempt | Operations outside the VAT system (non-deductible) | Financial services, residential leasing, local transport |
Structures we register.
Sole Establishment.
Sole proprietor registration with the FTA, addressing the specifics of single-owner setups and the corresponding DET licence.
Offshore Company.
JAFZA / RAK ICC offshore entities have specific obligations if they conduct local UAE operations. We assess scope on a case-by-case basis.
Free Zone Company.
FTA registration with QFZP considerations: distinguishing qualifying from non-qualifying income to optimise taxation.
Mainland LLC.
Standard FTA registration under Ministry of Economy supervision, with full coordination of local activity.
What we need for registration.
Corporate documentation
- Trade licence
- In force, with no pending renewals.
- MOA
- Memorandum of Association or articles of incorporation.
- Shareholding structure
- Org chart with UBO information.
- Activity
- Detailed description of the commercial operation.
Financial documentation
- Financial summary
- Last 12 months of revenues and expenses.
- Bank account
- UAE IBAN with full details.
- Passport and visa
- Of the majority shareholder or representative.
- Emirates ID
- Of the majority shareholder or authorised signatory.
- Forecast
- Projected turnover for the next 12 months.
Common mistakes when registering.
Many companies cross the mandatory threshold without realising. The result: an automatic late-registration fine.
The FTA requires standardised documentation. Incomplete files are returned and delay TRN issuance.
Choosing the wrong activity category creates deductibility issues and erroneous reporting.
Applying 5% where zero rate applies (or vice versa) can trigger retroactive adjustments with interest and penalties.
The EmaraTax portal is complex. Registration errors or lost credentials can block tax operations for days.
Holdings, VAT groups, reverse charge: structures that require specialist knowledge to register correctly.
VAT registration with LorcaBase.
We process your VAT registration with the FTA with technical precision and accompany the ongoing filing obligation: nothing ends with the TRN, that is where it begins.
Prior assessment
We determine whether mandatory or voluntary registration applies, or whether to wait. We avoid unnecessary registrations that complicate your operations.
Solid file
We prepare the full dossier before submission: no objections, no returns, no FTA delays.
EmaraTax portal
We handle the entire registration through EmaraTax, the FTA's official platform. You don't have to deal with the system.
Subsequent filings
After the TRN, we continue with quarterly VAT returns within deadline. Zero risk of automatic fines.
Holistic view
VAT coordinated with accounting, Corporate Tax and audit. One single point of contact for all your UAE taxation.
Native English & Spanish
Communication, training and documentation in your language. No technical barriers in tax matters.
Complement with these services.
Corporate taxation.
Corporate Tax, QFZP, Economic Substance and double taxation treaties with a holistic approach.
Discover → XX · AuditTax audit.
Preventive VAT audit, pre-FTA-inspection analysis and periodic internal review.
Discover → XVIII · AccountingFull accounting.
Monthly closings, IFRS, financial reporting and QFZP substance / FATCA / CRS compliance.
Discover → XII · CorporateCorporate solutions.
Visas, banking, licences and ongoing administrative management for companies in the UAE.
Discover →Key terms of VAT in Dubai.
Quick reference of the concepts you will encounter during VAT registration and operations with the FTA in the UAE.
VAT▸
Value Added Tax. UAE VAT at 5% on goods and services. Implemented in January 2018.
TRN▸
Tax Registration Number. Tax registration number assigned by the FTA upon VAT registration. Mandatory on invoices and returns to deduct input VAT.
Mandatory Registration Threshold▸
Mandatory registration threshold: 375,000 AED in taxable supplies in the last 12 months or expected in the next 30 days.
Voluntary Registration Threshold▸
Voluntary registration threshold: 187,500 AED in taxable supplies or expenses. Allows recovery of input VAT before exceeding the mandatory threshold.
Taxable Supplies▸
Taxable supplies. Goods and services subject to 5% (standard rate) or 0% (zero-rated). Count towards registration thresholds.
Zero-rated Supplies▸
Zero-rated supplies: exports, international transport, specific healthcare and education. Allow deduction of input VAT.
Exempt Supplies▸
Exempt supplies: specific financial services, residential leasing, local passenger transport. DO NOT allow deduction of input VAT.
Input VAT▸
VAT incurred on purchases and expenses. Deductible if linked to taxable activities and supported by a valid supplier invoice.
Output VAT▸
VAT charged on invoices issued to customers. Remitted quarterly to the FTA after deducting deductible Input VAT.
Reverse Charge▸
Mechanism whereby the buyer, not the seller, accounts for and pays the VAT. Applies to B2B imports in UAE.
VAT Return▸
Periodic VAT return filed with the FTA. Quarterly frequency by default, monthly for large taxpayers.
EmaraTax▸
Official FTA digital portal. Single platform for registration, return filing, payments and tax communications.
Designated Zone▸
VAT Designated Zone. Free Zone with special treatment: certain operations between designated zones are considered outside the scope of VAT.
VAT Deregistration▸
Cancellation of VAT registration with the FTA. Applies when taxable activity ceases or when income falls below the threshold for 12 months.
Tax Invoice▸
Tax invoice with mandatory formal requirements: TRN, date, amount, VAT, full customer data. Essential to deduct Input VAT.
AED▸
Emirati Dirham, official currency of UAE. Fixed exchange rate approximately 1 USD = 3.67 AED.
What people ask us most.
What is the mandatory VAT registration threshold in the UAE?
AED 375,000 in taxable supplies and imports per year. Once exceeded, registration with the FTA is mandatory within 30 days.
Can I register voluntarily for VAT if I do not reach the threshold?
Yes. Voluntary registration is available for companies whose supplies or expenses fall between AED 187,500 and AED 375,000 per year.
How long does VAT registration with the FTA take?
Between 5 and 20 working days from full submission of the application, depending on the FTA's case volume and the quality of the file.
What is the TRN?
Tax Registration Number: the official tax number issued by the FTA after registration. It must be included on every tax invoice and VAT return.
What is the standard VAT rate in the UAE?
5% on most local transactions. There are also zero-rated transactions (exports, international transport, certain healthcare and education) and exempt operations (financial services, residential property, etc.).
What obligations apply after registering for VAT?
Issuing tax invoices showing the TRN, filing quarterly or monthly returns depending on volume, keeping records for 5 years, and complying with the reverse charge regime where applicable.
The trust of those who already work with us
Your VAT registration, processed with precision before the FTA.
Book an initial consultation with no commitment. We will assess whether mandatory or voluntary registration applies, prepare the file and obtain your TRN in the shortest possible time.
Book a consultation →Dubai Marina, UAE