The UAE Ministry of Finance has proposed legislative adjustments to roll out an up to date excise tax on sugar-sweetened drinks beginning January 1, 2026, changing the present flat-rate mannequin with a tiered system primarily based on sugar content material.
In an announcement, the Ministry stated the transfer is a part of efforts to strengthen the effectivity of the tax system and align it with international greatest practices and unified Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) directives.
The transfer follows the GCC’s adoption of a tiered volumetric mannequin for taxing sugar-sweetened drinks, beneath which totally different ranges of tax are utilized relying on sugar content material or different sweeteners. The brand new system is scheduled to take impact on 1 January 2026.
In response to the Ministry, the adjustments intention to “set up a complete authorized and regulatory basis that ensures the graceful implementation of the up to date coverage on the nationwide degree.”
The assertion additionally stated the amendments embody “a transparent mechanism that permits taxable individuals who’ve imported or produced items topic to a 50 per cent excise tax previous to the amendments coming into impact, and whose tax legal responsibility decreased because of these amendments (earlier than promoting the products for which tax was beforehand paid), to deduct a part of the beforehand paid tax.”
The Ministry added that the up to date framework is meant to foster “a aggressive tax setting” and displays the UAE’s “dedication to updating its monetary system by a versatile and proactive strategy that helps financial stability, strengthens belief with taxpayers, and contributes to attaining the nation’s fiscal and public well being sustainability goals.”