UAE

January:

UAE and Chile – Income Tax Treaty between Chile and the United Arab Emirates was effective on 1 January 2023.

UAE and Zambia – The UAE and Zambia tax treaty entered into force on 13 January 2023 and has been retrospectively effective since 1 January 2023. The withholding tax rates are 5% on Dividends, Interests, Royalties, and Technical Services.

UAE and Democratic Republic of Congo – As per the latest information provided in the August 2023 update by the UAE MoF, the Income Tax Treaty (2021) between Congo and the UAE became effective on 24 January 2023. This treaty will be applicable from 1 January 2024 for withholding and other taxes.

February:

UAE and Gabon – The UAE and Gabon tax treaty entered into force on 16 February 2023 and was retrospectively effective from 1 January 2019. The withholding tax rates are 10% on Dividends and Royalties, 7% on Interests, and 7.5% on Technical and other Services.

May:

UAE and Czech Republic – The Czech Republic and the UAE signed the Czech Republic – UAE Income Tax Treaty (2023). The signing was held in Prague on 24 May, marking a significant milestone in bilateral cooperation between the two nations.

UAE and Swiss Federal Council (Bundesrat) – The Swiss Federal Council (Bundesrat) approved the Protocol to the Switzerland – UAE Income Tax Treaty (2011) on 17 May 2023.

August:

UAE and Cambodia – The third round of negotiations regarding a tax treaty between Cambodia and the United Arab Emirates took place on 21 August 2023. During this meeting, the representatives of both nations addressed all outstanding matters that were carried over from the previous round, which was held earlier on 11 April 2023, leading to an agreement on 30 of the 31 articles under discussion for the Tax Treaty

October:

UAE and Ukraine – As of 19 October 2023, the amending Protocol of Ukraine – United Arab Emirates Income and Capital Tax Treaty (2003) has come into effect. The amending Protocol was signed on 14 February 2021 and will be applicable from 1 January 2024 for withholding and other taxes.

UAE and Tanzania – On 9 October 2023, the UAE Cabinet approved the income tax treaty with Tanzania, which was initially signed on 27 September 2022.

November:

UAE and Ivory Coast – The tax treaty between the UAE and the Republic of Ivory Coast was originally signed on 25 November 2021. The UAE Cabinet granted its formal approval to this bilateral agreement on 4 September 2023.

UAE and Swiss National Assembly (Nationalrat) – The Swiss National Assembly (Nationalrat) has granted its approval to the amending Protocol signed on 5 November 2022, which pertains to the Switzerland and UAE Income Tax Treaty (2011). This Protocol, after endorsement by the Council of States (Ständerat), will proceed further in the legislative process.

UAE and Cuba – Cuba and the United Arab Emirates signed an Income Tax Treaty on 29 November 2023.

QATAR

January:

Qatar and Czech Republic – Czech Republic and Qatar signed an Income Tax Treaty on 21 June 2022, which became effective on 1 January 2023

March:

Qatar and Guernsey – The Protocol to the Double Tax Treaty between Qatar and Guernsey entered into force as of 8 March 2023. The DTT was signed by the two countries back in 2013.

June:

Qatar and Uzbekistan – Uzbekistan and Qatar signed an Income Tax Treaty on 6 June 2023.

Qatar and Ukraine – On 11 June 2023, the amending Protocol, which was signed on 2 September 2021 and pertains to the Qatar – Ukraine Income Tax Treaty (2018), became effective. The provisions of the Protocol concerning withholding and other taxes are typically applicable from 1 January 2024. Importantly, the Protocol has been integrated into the primary text of the Treaty.

October:

Qatar and Saudi Arabia – On 31 October 2023, according to information published by the Saudi Arabian government,  the Saudi Arabian Council of Ministers authorized the negotiation and signing of an Income Tax Treaty with Qatar. The Tax Treaty to be negotiated, signed, and ratified by both contracting parties will be the first agreement of this kind between Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Qatar and Egypt – On 19 October 2023, the President of Egypt signed Decree No. 254 of 2023, ratifying the Income Tax Treaty concluded with Qatar on 27 February 2023. The Decree was published in Egypt’s Official Gazette No. 42 on 19 October 2023. The DTT is not yet in force, pending ratification by Qatar.

SAUDI ARABIA

January:

Saudi Arabia and Morocco – The Income Tax Treaty between Morocco and Saudi Arabia was effective on 1 January 2023.

Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia signed an Income Tax Treaty on 26 January 2023.

November:

Saudi Arabia and Slovakia – Saudi Arabia and the Slovak Republic formally signed an income tax treaty on 13 November 2023. The signing took place in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Saudi Arabia and Gambia – The Gambia and Saudi Arabia entered into a tax treaty on 9 November 2023 as part of the Saudi-Arab- African Economic Conference held in Riyadh on the same day.

Saudi Arabia and Egypt – Saudi Arabia and Egypt are in the process of negotiating a revision to their DTT.

OMAN

January:

Oman and Qatar – The Income and Tax Capital Treaty between Oman and Qatar became effective on 1 January 2023.

May:

Oman and Egypt – Egypt and Oman signed an Income Tax Treaty on 22 May 2023 and a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in areas related to financial policies and developments on the sidelines of the Egyptian-Omani Business Forum in Cairo.

July:

Oman and Cyprus – Oman signed a DTT with Cyprus. Official approval was granted for an agreement to combat double taxation and address tax evasion pertaining to income taxes on 19 July 2023.

November:

Oman and Russia – On 29 November 2023, the Russian government announced the approval of the Oman-Russia Income Tax Treaty (2023) by the Russian State Duma, the lower chamber of the Russian parliament. The treaty outlines specific tax rates.

Oman and Kazakhstan – On 10 November 2023, the Kazakhstan government granted authorization through Decree No. 994 for the Minister of Finance to sign an income and capital tax treaty with Oman. An official version of the income and capital tax treaty has yet to be published.

KUWAIT

March:

Kuwait and San Marino ‘initiated’ a DTT on 23 March.

July:

Kuwait and Ecuador – Substantial progress was revealed in the ongoing negotiations for a DTT between Ecuador and Kuwait. The discussions, now at an advanced stage, indicate a promising advancement in the bilateral tax relations between both countries.