Cross-Border & International Tax Advisory — Clear guidance for cross-border business in the UAE
Strategic, compliance-focused international tax advice for UAE businesses and foreign investors. We help you manage treaty benefits, transfer pricing, permanent establishment exposure and cross-border VAT implications to reduce risk and support scalable growth.
Overview
AL SAHRAA provides pragmatic cross-border tax advisory tailored to companies operating in the UAE and abroad. We combine UAE tax rules, UAE double tax treaties and international standards to identify exposures and practical mitigation options. Our team assists with inbound and outbound structuring, permanent establishment analysis, transfer pricing documentation and treaty relief claims. We focus on documentation and process changes that align tax outcomes with commercial realities. We also advise on cross-border VAT and indirect tax consequences, import/export VAT recovery and interactions between VAT and corporate tax. Advice is scoped to your business objectives and risk tolerance. Where disputes or audits arise, we support responsive submissions and coordinate with local advisers and tax authorities to pursue pragmatic resolutions.
What to prepare
- Company incorporation documents and group structure chart
- Copies of intercompany agreements and material commercial contracts
- Recent financial statements and management accounts
- Details of business activities in each jurisdiction (invoices, service records)
- Existing transfer pricing documentation (if any) and pricing policies
- VAT registration certificates and VAT return summaries (where relevant)
- Tax residency certificates and relevant correspondence with tax authorities
How the process works
- Initial consultation to understand business model, jurisdictions and objectives
- Scope definition and engagement letter with deliverables and timeline
- Data collection: contracts, entity structure, intercompany agreements and financials
- Risk assessment: PE exposure, treaty positions, transfer pricing review and VAT impacts
- Deliver recommendations, implementation support and documentation
- Ongoing monitoring, updates and support for audits or treaty claims
Why clients choose AL SAHRAA
- Admin-reviewed quotations before you proceed.
- Document coordination and progress tracking in one portal.
- Support for business, compliance, visa, insurance, and IT-related requests.
- Clear request history, updates, and delivery follow-up.
Frequently asked questions
When do I need a permanent establishment (PE) review?
If your company has activities, staff, agents, or a fixed place of business in another jurisdiction or receives services across borders, a PE review helps determine whether taxable presence arises and how to manage exposure.
Can I claim tax treaty benefits for foreign income?
Potentially. Treaty entitlement depends on residency, beneficial ownership and the specific treaty terms. We assess eligibility, documentation requirements and help prepare treaty relief claims or documentation to support reduced withholding.
How does transfer pricing affect UAE companies?
UAE entities transacting with related parties should ensure pricing reflects arm’s-length principles. Proper documentation reduces audit risk and supports positions on profit allocation, management fees and financing arrangements.
Do cross-border VAT rules differ from corporate tax rules?
Yes. VAT is transactional and depends on place-of-supply rules, import/export treatment and registration obligations, while corporate tax focuses on profits and taxable presence. We coordinate both to avoid unexpected costs.
What support do you provide during tax audits or disputes?
We prepare technical position papers, supporting documentation, and liaise with local advisers and tax authorities. Our aim is to present clear, commercially grounded arguments and negotiate pragmatic outcomes.
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