VAT registration in Dubai
Once your taxable turnover passes AED 375,000 you have 30 days to apply. We check the threshold, prepare the application and get your TRN.
- Mandatory threshold
- AED 375,000 in taxable supplies and imports
- Voluntary threshold
- AED 187,500 in supplies or expenses
- Time to apply
- Within 30 days of crossing the threshold
- Late registration penalty
- AED 10,000
When you need to register for VAT
You must register for VAT in Dubai when the value of your taxable supplies and imports over the last 12 months exceeds AED 375,000, or when you expect to exceed that amount in the next 30 days. The test is run at the end of every month, so growing businesses need to watch it.
You may register voluntarily once your taxable supplies or your taxable expenses exceed AED 187,500. This is useful for start-ups with heavy set-up costs, because it lets you recover the VAT you pay to suppliers.
Businesses with no place of residence in the UAE that make taxable supplies here must register regardless of value. Whatever your case, the application is made online through the FTA's EmaraTax portal. Once approved, you receive your TRN and VAT certificate.
Figures on this page reflect UAE rules as understood in October 2026. We confirm what applies to your company before any filing.
What our VAT registration service covers
Threshold calculation
We work out your taxable turnover month by month and identify the date you became liable to register.
Document check
Licence, IDs, bank details and turnover evidence reviewed so the FTA has no reason to send the application back.
EmaraTax application
We complete and submit the VAT registration, including business activities, turnover declaration and customs details.
FTA follow-up
We answer FTA queries and resubmit where additional information is requested.
TRN certificate
You receive your VAT certificate and TRN, your first tax period and your first return date.
Getting invoice-ready
We set up a compliant tax invoice and tax codes so you charge VAT correctly from day one.
Check the threshold
We review 12 months of sales and imports and confirm whether registration is mandatory, voluntary or not yet available.
Gather documents
You send the documents listed below. We tell you what is missing.
Complete the application
We fill in the EmaraTax form to match your documents and prepare the turnover declaration.
Submit and respond
The application is submitted. The FTA commonly responds within 20 business days, sometimes with questions that we handle.
Start charging VAT
From your effective date you issue tax invoices, charge 5% where it applies and file returns.
Work out the VAT on any amount
Type the amount before tax to see the total, or type the total to see what it was before tax. The VAT is worked out as you type.
Documents required for VAT registration in Dubai
Tick off what you already have. Send us the list and we will tell you what is still missing.
Nothing is stored. The list is only put into your message.
Should you register voluntarily?
Voluntary registration is a choice, and it is not right for everyone.
- It helps if you pay VAT on significant set-up or stock costs and want to recover it
- It helps if your customers are VAT-registered businesses that expect a tax invoice
- It costs you quarterly returns and record-keeping from the first day
- It may hurt if you sell to consumers and cannot raise your prices by 5%
- It is not available if you only make exempt supplies
How do I register for VAT in Dubai?
Create an EmaraTax account on the FTA website, complete the VAT registration application with your business and turnover details, upload the supporting documents and submit. Or send us the documents and we do it for you.
What is the VAT registration threshold in the UAE?
Registration is mandatory above AED 375,000 of taxable supplies and imports in a 12-month period, and voluntary from AED 187,500.
What is the penalty for late VAT registration?
AED 10,000. You will also owe the VAT you should have charged from the date you were required to be registered.
How long does VAT registration take?
We normally submit within a few working days of receiving complete documents. The FTA review commonly takes up to 20 business days.
Is there a fee to register for VAT with the FTA?
The FTA does not charge for the registration application itself. Our fee covers the threshold review, the application and follow-up.
Do I need a separate VAT registration for each branch?
No. A company registers once and its UAE branches are covered by the same TRN. Separate legal entities under common control can apply to form a tax group.
Related services
VAT Return Filing
VAT returns prepared from your books, checked against invoices and filed before the deadline.
VAT Services
VAT registration, return filing, refunds and advisory for UAE businesses, handled by one team.
VAT Advisory
VAT consultants in Dubai for transaction advice, health checks, voluntary disclosures and FTA queries.
TRN and VAT certificate
What a TRN is, how to download your VAT certificate and how to verify a supplier's number.
Register for VAT without the back and forth
Send us your trade licence and last 12 months of sales. We will confirm whether you need to register and by when.