UAE plans to introduce VAT in Q1 next year

The UAE plans to introduce a value added tax (VAT) in the first quarter of 2009 but a final decision on the timing has yet to be made, a senior Dubai customs official said yesterday.

"We will be the one to launch it first," Abdul Rahman Al Saleh, Dubai Customs' executive director, said. "We were planning for the last quarter of 2008 but have put it back to Q1 of 2009."

Oman also plans a VAT as part of a government drive to cut its reliance on oil and could bring in the measure as early as next year.

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