UAE excise tax on sweetened beverages to vary by sugar content
The Ministry of Finance and the Federal Tax Authority have announced a new tiered tax system that links the tax rate per litre to the drink's sugar content per 100ml.
This means: the more sugar a drink contains, the higher the tax it will face — replacing the current flat-rate tax across all sugary drinks.
Set to take effect at the start of 2026, the change is part of a wider push to promote healthier lifestyles, reduce sugar consumption, and encourage manufacturers to cut back on sugar in their products.
Authorities say the updated model better reflects the health impact of sugar and gives consumers more power to make informed dietary choices.
The new system was developed in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Prevention and aligns with the UAE's sustainable development goals.
Officials have confirmed that businesses will be given ample time to adjust, with support and awareness campaigns planned to ensure a smooth transition.
This also includes updating internal systems, reviewing product formulations and ensuring that their records with the Federal Tax Authority are aligned with the requirements of the enhanced model.
More details are expected soon as the final legislation is prepared.
Ministry of Finance and Federal Tax Authority announced a change in how the Excise Tax on sweetened beverages is applied. pic.twitter.com/5Q7nHVYWGx
— وزارة المالية | الإمارات (@MOFUAE) July 18, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
2 days ago
- Zawya
Federal Tax Authority organises 'Innovation Retreat' on Taxes' 'Zero Digital Bureaucracy'
Dubai: The Federal Tax Authority's (FTA) 'FTA's Innovation Team', in collaboration with the '01Gov' platform, recently organised an employee retreat as part of the Authority's strategy to contribute to implementing the objectives of the second cycle of the Zero Government Bureaucracy programme. The aim being to expand digital integration with relevant entities to sustainably improve the FTA's digital services in support the business sector, while achieving high levels of customer satisfaction. The FTA highlighted that the purpose of the retreat was to evaluate current procedures and discuss ways to eliminate unnecessary steps, aiming to enhance the efficiency of government operations. The initiative seeks to provide streamlined services, facilitating tax and financial processes for both individuals and businesses, furthering the FTA's ongoing efforts to improve tax services. H.E. Khalid Ali Al Bustani, Director General of the FTA, emphasised that the retreat demonstrates the Authority's commitment to accelerating the implementation of the 'Zero Government Bureaucracy' programme, launched by the UAE's visionary leadership. This programme also aims to make procedures more convenient, achieve a qualitative shift in government transactions, and create a business-friendly environment that attracts talent and innovation. During the opening of the 'Zero Digital Bureaucracy' retreat at the FTA's headquarters in Dubai, His Excellency stated: "Since the launch of the 'Zero Government Bureaucracy' programme, in 2023, the FTA has intensified its efforts to streamline tax services, eliminate unnecessary procedures, and continuously improve service efficiency and quality. These efforts aim to build a pioneering future system in government operations." His Excellency added: "These efforts culminated in the Federal Tax Authority winning the 'Zero Government Bureaucracy' award in its inaugural edition in the 'Economic Impact' category. 'This achievement reflects our continuous pursuit of performance enhancement and the promotion of a culture of innovation across all sectors of the FTA, in alignment with our vision to become a world-leading tax authority. These accomplishments serve as motivation for launching additional initiatives and innovations that will streamline and accelerate service delivery – aiming for a tangible impact in a short period of time, and positioning UAE government services as the best in the world." For his part, Abdulla Al Bastaki, Chief Executive Officer of the Information Technology Sector at the FTA, headed up the 'Zero Government Bureaucracy' programme implementation team, and stressed the significance of this retreat. This initiative aligns with the Authority's efforts in the second cycle of the Zero Government Bureaucracy programme, launched this year. The retreat aims to eliminate 100% of digital bureaucracy, modernise and enhance all digital systems, effectively integrate artificial intelligence (AI), and continue to eliminate unnecessary procedures and steps. Al Bastaki further stated that the FTA will continue collaborating with its strategic partners – both in the government and the private sector – to eliminate additional unnecessary procedures and requirements in its services. The goal is to contribute to enhancing government integration, supporting data sharing, and developing innovative solutions to maintain high performance quality and excellence in the services provided to customers. Attended by a significant number of employees from various sectors of the FTA, the agenda for discussion included global best practices in simplifying government procedures were reviewed, and a number of ideas and proposals were discussed to support the Authority's efforts in eliminating bureaucracy, improving operational efficiency, and sustainably improving customer experiences. Following its conclusion, the FTA's Innovation Team confirmed that all ideas and proposals that had been proposed during the retreat would be reviewed, refined and studied. Furthermore, it was stated that the outcomes of the retreat would be utilised in the Authority's ongoing development plans. About Federal Tax Authority The Federal Tax Authority was established by Federal Decree-Law No. (13) of 2016 to help diversify the national economy and increase non-oil revenues in the UAE through the management and collection of federal taxes based on international best practices and standards, as well as to provide all means of support to enable taxpayers to comply with the tax laws and procedures. Since its inception in 2017, the FTA has been committed to cooperate with the competent authorities to establish a comprehensive and balanced system to make the UAE one of the first countries in the world to implement a fully electronic tax system that encourages voluntary compliance, with simple procedures based on the highest standards of transparency and accuracy – beginning from registration, to the submission of tax returns, to the payment of due taxes through the Authority's website:
Gulf Today
3 days ago
- Gulf Today
Aunt's heroic donation saves nephew as UAE doctors perform youngest infant liver transplant
A five-month old 4.4-kilogramme Emirati boy, stricken with a rare unpreventable recessive X disorder, and the youngest recipient of a donated liver in the UAE, courtesy of his 37-year-old paternal aunt, shall now be on lifelong monitoring and treatment. Fifth child Ahmed Al Yassi is recuperating at the Burjeel Medical City-Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (BMC-PICU) since his April 4, 2025 12-hour ultra-delicate transplantation. His giant strength, and his family's and the medical team's indefatigability, serve as an inspiring testimony for the August 13 'World Organ Donation Day." The WODD 2025 theme is 'Answering the Call,' for the continuous correct information dissemination on the necessity to grant one's organ/s to save lives. In the UAE, since 2017, is the Ministry of Health and Prevention-spearheaded National Programme for Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues-Hayat Programme. According to a press statement, quoting undersecretary, Dr. Mohammed Salim Al Olama, it has been boosted with advanced digital solutions and artificial intelligence that guarantees transparency and efficiency at every stage of organ donation and transplantation process. Its website as of 4:30 p.m. of August 13 had '37,298 registered donors.' From a press statement quoting Department of Health-Abu Dhabi undersecretary Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, 1,380 transplantations, through the Hayat Programme, were carried out from 2017 to 2024. The 2024 were at 290: seven heart, 142 kidney, 117 liver, 22 lung, and two pancreas. Over at BMC, elated was Ahmed's father Yahya: 'My baby's recovery is nothing short of a miracle. We were once a family living in fear of losing another child due to a liver problem. I hope our story inspires others to come forward, to learn more, and consider becoming donors. You never know whose life might change.' Abdominal Transplant and Hepato-Pancreatic Biliary surgeon Dr. Johns Shaji Mathew confirmed that Ahmed shall receive 'lifetime monitoring and therapy that includes immunosuppressive medications to prevent organ rejection, while the transplant on Ahmed has resolved the liver-related complications.' 'Ahmed will be regularly supervised by liver and genetics specialists for ongoing evaluation,' added Mathew, among the multi-disciplinary team members, led by Burjeel Abdominal Multi-Organ Transplant Programme-Transplant Surgery director Dr. Gourab Sen. The other on-case Transplant Team were Anaesthesia Division chairperson Dr. Ramamurthy Baskaran and specialists Dr. George Jacob and Dr. Anshu S., and Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) consultant Dr. Kesava Ramakrishnan. Their advice: 'urgent transplantation.' Ahmed's health debilitated due to the rise of his liver enzymes immediately birth. His diagnostics demonstrated that he is afflicted with ATP6AP1-Congenital Disorder of Glycosylation (ATP6AP1-CDG). Instrumental were the 'family's conviction' and the bravery-cum-volunteerism of mother-of-five Haifaa, Yahya's sister-in-law, who passed all compatibility tests. She and Ahmed are A+ blood type. Mathew said: 'The family's conviction came from the fact that without a transplant, Ahmed's survival chances were extremely low. They already experienced the loss of an older son to similar complications, which made them determined not to lose another.' 'The doctors gave us new hope. My sister-in-law gave us life again,' said Yahya. The USA-headquartered public-private-supported Frontiers in Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation (FCDG) portal notes that ATP6AP1-CDG generally affects males at one every one million. Ahmed has so far become the 31st survivor. There are 30 in other countries. The oldest patient is age 67. ATP6AP1-CDG 'age onset' range from the mother's pregnancy to age two, notes the Orphanet Knowledge on Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs. From the FCDG, patients 'may have variable degree of liver dysfunction and immunodeficiency with recurrent infections.' Impaired-ness include developmental delays; abnormal body movement; gastrointestinal, urinary and genital problems; congenital heart defects and blood syndromes. So far, the solution is 'liver transplantation which has been successful in patients with severe liver failure.' Mathew said decreased transmission would only be via 'genetic screening and pre-marital genetic counselling to identify carriers and inform reproductive decisions for families with a known history.' Ahmed's family history has 'his grandfather passed on in 2010 due to a liver disease.' From the BMC Transplant Team that encourages a well-informed community on organ donation and transplantation: 'Ahmed's survival underscores the transformative power of organ donation and the advanced capabilities we now have in the UAE to perform complex, high-stakes surgeries for even the tiniest patients. Liver transplantation is not just surgical procedure; it is a second chance at life for those with no other options.'
Zawya
3 days ago
- Zawya
Tax facilities offer ‘golden opportunity' to settle disputes without extra costs: Egypt's ETA chief
Egypt - Rasha Abdel Aal, Head of the Egyptian Tax Authority (ETA), affirmed that the tax facilities introduced under Law No. 5 of 2025 present a golden opportunity for taxpayers to resolve outstanding tax disputes, especially for those maintaining regular books and accounts. She noted that one of the most significant incentives is that taxpayers who have submitted a settlement request supported by regular accounts, and pay the full amount due within no more than three months from the request date, will be granted a full exemption from late payment fines and any additional taxes related to that dispute. Abdel Aal stressed that these measures reflect the Ministry of Finance and the ETA's commitment to supporting the tax community and easing the burden on compliant taxpayers. Those meeting the criteria benefit from special concessions in dispute settlement, provided payment is made within the prescribed deadline. 'We urge all taxpayers who have submitted settlement requests and keep regular accounts to expedite payment of their dues before the end of the three-month period from the submission date. This will ensure their tax status is resolved smoothly and they receive the full exemption from late payment fines and additional taxes,' she said. © 2025 Daily News Egypt. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
