UAE corporate tax revenue rises 34% to AED 46.5bn in 2025

The UAE's Federal Tax Authority (FTA) says corporate tax collections for 2025 reached about AED 46.52 billion, a rise of roughly 34% on the AED 34.75 billion collected a year earlier. The figures were published on 11 November 2026 and reported by Khaleej Times and The National.

What the numbers show

Cumulative corporate tax revenue since the levy began now stands at about AED 81.27 billion, according to the FTA. Separately, VAT revenue distributed to the federal government and the emirates between January and August 2026 came to around AED 28.27 billion, while excise tax brought in about AED 1.4 billion over the same eight months.

Filing and payment rates

The authority also reported higher compliance. Corporate tax returns were filed on time at a rate of 91%, up from 87%, and 97% of payments arrived on time. VAT filing compliance rose to 83% from 81%, with 98% on-time payment. Excise tax filing compliance was 92%, up from 91%, also with 98% of payments made on time.

FTA Director General Abdulaziz Al Mulla credited better timely filing, the authority's operational efficiency and a stronger tax culture among businesses for the results.

Background for businesses

Federal corporate tax applies to financial years starting on or after 1 June 2023. The standard rate is 9% on taxable profits above AED 375,000, with profits up to that threshold taxed at 0%. VAT has applied at 5% since 1 January 2018.

What it means in Dubai

For companies based in Dubai, the figures show that filing and payment deadlines are being met by a large majority of registered businesses, and that tax receipts are becoming a larger part of public revenue alongside VAT and customs. Businesses that are registered for corporate tax should keep track of their own filing deadlines, since the FTA's data points to growing attention on timely compliance. Company owners with questions about their specific obligations should check the FTA's published guidance or speak to a licensed tax adviser.

One note on the reporting: the outlets describe the compliance percentages slightly differently in places, so the rates above follow the more detailed breakdown in the articles' main text.