The UAE’s Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has launched Emirates Majalis, a new community initiative designed to open direct communication channels with UAE citizens about the country’s tax system. The program, running under the slogan “Closer to Each Other,” aims to gather public feedback and improve awareness around tax services and procedures.
Quick Facts
- New nationwide community engagement initiative launched.
- Aims to improve direct dialogue on tax services.
- First session held at Al Khawaneej Majlis.
Bridging the Gap Between Policy and People
The initiative kicked off with its first session at Al Khawaneej Majlis, attended by FTA Director General Abdulaziz Al Mulla and members of the Emirati community. The program is positioned as a long-term platform for the authority to gain better insight into the challenges people face when accessing tax services and to develop more user-focused solutions.
By adopting the traditional majlis format, the FTA is leveraging a familiar community setting to foster open dialogue and build stronger partnerships between the government and the public.
Speaking at the launch, Al Mulla said: “Emirates Majalis is one of the Authority’s key community initiatives aimed at raising citizens’ awareness of tax procedures and simplifying the customer journey by providing information and responding to inquiries directly, which promotes transparency and facilitates access to tax services.”
Tackling Real-World Tax Questions
The inaugural session addressed several practical tax issues relevant to the local business community. Discussions covered the tax implications of purchasing a business license registered in another person’s name and the distinct tax treatments for residential versus commercial properties.
Notably, the session also tackled the taxation of income earned by influencers and content creators from commercial advertising, a growing segment of the UAE’s digital economy. Al Mulla highlighted the high levels of tax compliance among entrepreneurs and noted that public awareness of the national tax framework continues to increase.
During the meeting, Al Mulla also issued a critical reminder for taxpayers to protect their tax file information and reference numbers, cautioning against sharing these sensitive details with unaccredited tax agents or other third parties.
About Emirates Majalis
Emirates Majalis is a community engagement initiative by the UAE’s Federal Tax Authority. It is designed to establish direct communication with citizens, respond to inquiries, identify challenges in tax processes, and support the delivery of simpler and more transparent government services. The program aims to build trust and develop more efficient, customer-centric tax services that meet community needs.
Source: Fast Company Middle East
