What this area covers: transfer pricing in the UAE
Transfer pricing is one of 6 parts of our “Tax & Accounting” practice. It covers the full cycle from initial scoping to operational launch, run by a single named partner from our UAE practice.
What it is in the UAE: documentation and economic analysis.
How we handle transfer pricing
The “Transfer pricing” project in the UAE is structured as a 4-stage process run by a single named partner.
Monthly compliance, annual filings, cross-border structuring and transfer pricing in every jurisdiction where INNOVA has representation or a partner.
The same desk that runs transfer pricing handles your banking, bookkeeping, compliance and — where needed — your wind-down.INNOVA · Operating model
Why the UAE
The UAE is a strategic hub with a 9% corporate tax, Free Zone relief on qualifying income, and residency tied to the company structure. We work with every key zone, know the real banking onboarding timeline, and know how to avoid getting stuck on KYC requests.
A reliable regulatory environment
Banking ecosystem
Corporate tax 9% (0% on qualifying Free Zone income)
INNOVA represented on the ground
Why INNOVA
Operational differences that hold up on the 2nd, 5th and 10th project — not just at first impression.
One partner — the whole cycle
Registration, banking, tax, compliance, immigration — run by one team from start to finish.
14 years of practice
Working since 2012 through several regulatory cycles — including FATCA/CRS, the tightening of banking, and the introduction of UAE CT.
Regulator-grade documentation
Every output document is ready for audit and investor scrutiny — whatever the size of the deal.
Multi-jurisdiction within the group
Cross-border work is handled inside the group — no chain of external subcontractors.
How the work is structured
A 4-stage process led by a single named partner — from the intro call to the operational hand-over.
Position audit
Audit of the current tax position and accounting system
Plan design
Restructuring or optimisation plan
Implementation
Filings, registrations and system setup
Ongoing support
Bookkeeping and recurring reporting
What we need from you · what you get from us
What we need from you to begin — and what you walk away with. We won't pester you with needless questions: we already have most of the answers.
- Prior-year financials (if any)scans
- Banking and invoicing accessread-only
- Intercompany agreementsif multi-entity
- IP ownership and licensingstructured
- Operating-entity diagramcurrent state
- Monthly bookkeeping cycle liveautomated
- VAT/GST registrations completedby market
- Tax-position memorandumdocumented
- Annual financial statements preparedregulator-grade
- Transfer-pricing documentation (if needed)master + local
Four ways to work together
We don't quote a fixed price without understanding your situation — cost depends on the complexity of your case. Start with an initial call, then we pick the right format.
Intro call
A 30-minute online consultation. We discuss your situation, define the project scope, and propose a structure and timeline.
Written analysis
A written consultation with a full review of the business — tax positioning, structure options, jurisdiction comparison, banking path. Turnaround: 5 business days.
Operating roadmap
For complex situations — multi-jurisdiction structures, regulated activity, founder relocation. A full plan with stages, dependencies, deliverables and timing.
Direct execution
You know what you need — we execute. No advisory mark-up and no discovery phase.
Fill in the questionnaire
Complete the online questionnaire: it creates your account on the portal, where your structure, renewal reminders and documents will live.
Fill in the questionnaire
4 steps · creates an INNOVA portal account · 24h review.
Once you submit the questionnaire we create a portal account. Inside: your live structure, a renewals calendar (annual returns, register updates, tax filings), a document vault (certificates, share register, bank letters), a partner chat and project status. A single place for your entire operational life.
From a client
A review from a client who went through a comparable project. Verified, the engagement is ongoing.
Frequently asked questions
The questions we're asked most often. If yours isn't here, an intro call is the fastest way to get an answer.
Most “Transfer pricing” projects in the UAE run 4–9 weeks start to finish. The fastest stage is document filing; the longest is post-registration onboarding (banking, tax registration). A single named partner runs the project throughout.
From US$ 600/mo · bookkeeping · scope by structure. The lower bound is for clean, standard profiles; the upper bound is for complex ownership structures, multi-jurisdiction projects or regulated activity. A fixed quote follows a 30-minute scoping call.
In most cases, no. The entire process runs remotely under a notarised power of attorney. A handful of jurisdictions require an in-person visit (typically biometrics for a residence permit) — we plan those as efficiently as possible.
The Federal Corporate Tax (CT), introduced by Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022, is charged at 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000; income up to AED 375,000 is taxed at 0%. It's paid by juridical persons incorporated in the UAE and foreign companies with a permanent establishment in the country. Financial years starting on or after 1 June 2023 fall in scope. The FTA administers it; the return is due within 9 months of year-end.
Qualifying Free Zone Persons (QFZPs) pay 0% on qualifying income — from transactions with other free zone entities and qualifying international activity. The 9% rate applies to non-qualifying income, such as mainland-sourced revenue. Holding QFZP status takes adequate economic substance in the UAE and qualifying activities under Ministerial Decision No. 139 of 2023. We pass the substance tests on the documents.
VAT registration is mandatory once taxable supplies and imports over the previous 12 months pass AED 375,000, or are set to pass the threshold within the next 30 days. Voluntary registration is available above AED 187,500 in turnover. VAT is 5% on standard supplies; exports of goods and international services are zero-rated. Registration runs through EmaraTax. The late-filing penalty starts at AED 10,000.
Transfer pricing in other countries
The same service — in every jurisdiction we run. One desk, one standard.
