UAE Issues Cabinet Decision on Exchange of Tax Information

The MoF (Ministry of Finance) has announced Cabinet Decision No. 209 of 2025, which establishes a unified legal framework for the EOIR (Exchange of Information on Request) for tax purposes. For businesses, individuals, and legal arrangements operating in the UAE, this decision brings clearer rules on what information must be maintained and how it will be shared with foreign tax authorities.

Here is what the decision covers and what it means in practice.

What Does the Decision Address?

Cabinet Decision No. 209 of 2025 consolidates the UAE’s approach to exchanging tax-related information with partner jurisdictions into a single piece of legislation. Until now, the UAE’s obligations under the EOIR Standard were supported by a combination of international agreements and regulatory practice. This decision brings all of that under one clear legislative framework.

The decision sets out requirements across several areas. It defines the categories of information that must be maintained and made available. These include ownership and identity information, banking information, accounting records, and information relating to legal persons and legal arrangements. It also clarifies which government entities and regulatory authorities are responsible for collecting and providing this information to the MoF.

Beyond that, the decision introduces proportionate administrative measures to support compliance and outlines grievance procedures for those affected by information requests.

Why This Matters

The UAE has been an active participant in international tax transparency efforts for over a decade. It joined the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes in 2010 and became a signatory to the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters in 2017. The country has also concluded more than 140 bilateral double taxation agreements.

Cabinet Decision No. 209 of 2025 is the latest step in that trajectory. It is designed to ensure that the UAE’s handling of information requests from foreign tax authorities is consistent, predictable, and aligned with international standards.

For businesses, this means that the expectation to maintain accurate and complete records, particularly around ownership structures, accounting, and banking, is now grounded in a single legislative text.

What Businesses and Individuals Should Do

If you are a business owner, a beneficial owner of a legal entity, or involved in any legal arrangement registered in the UAE, there are practical steps worth considering.

1. Review your record-keeping practices. The decision explicitly identifies ownership and identity information, banking details, and accounting records as categories that must be maintained. Make sure your records are accurate, up to date, and accessible.
2. Understand your reporting chain. The decision clarifies which authorities are responsible for collecting and forwarding information. Knowing where your entity sits in that chain will help you respond efficiently if a request is made.
3. Be aware of the grievance procedures. The decision includes provisions for addressing disputes or concerns arising from information requests. If you receive a request or are affected by one, there is now a defined process for raising objections.