New Regulation in UAE 2026 | New laws in UAE |

Описание: In 2026, the UAE is implementing significant regulatory changes focusing on public health, environment, and taxation, including a tiered sugar tax based on sugar content, a nationwide ban on more single-use plastics (plates, cups, cutlery), and stricter tax enforcement with longer audit periods, plus new rules for digital payments, school timings, and potential minimum wages for Emiratis, all designed to streamline processes and promote sustainability.
Environmental & Public Health
Single-Use Plastics: A complete ban on importing, producing, and trading items like plastic plates, cups, lids, and cutlery takes effect, completing earlier bans on bags and styrofoam.
Sugar Tax: A tiered excise tax system replaces the flat rate, taxing drinks based on sugar content to encourage healthier choices.

Single-Use Plastics: A complete ban on importing, producing, and trading items like plastic plates, cups, lids, and cutlery takes effect, completing earlier bans on bags and styrofoam.
Sugar Tax: A tiered excise tax system replaces the flat rate, taxing drinks based on sugar content to encourage healthier choices
VAT Simplification: VAT procedures are simplified, removing the self-invoicing requirement for the reverse charge mechanism.
Tax Audits: Federal Tax Authority audit powers are expanded, with look-back periods for tax evasion potentially extending up to 15 years.
Corporate Tax: Stricter penalties for non-registration for Corporate Tax for individuals (including freelancers) with turnover over AED 1 million.

Digital Payments: Banks transition from OTPs to in-app confirmations for digital transactions, expected to be fully rolled out by March 2026.
School Timings: Standardized Friday Jumu'ah prayer times and earlier school dismissals to accommodate prayers.
Social Media: Compulsory permits for residents monetizing content on social media.
Minimum Wage: A minimum wage of Dhs6,000 for Emirati nationals in the private sector is slated for January 1, 2026.
Private school pupils in Dubai will finish class before 11.30am every Friday, starting from Friday January 9.

Fridays at schools are already half days, with classes finishing at noon, but the latest change means an even shorter school day than before.

The change in the school day has been introduced to coincide with a new UAE-wide law on Friday prayer times and has been designed to allow Muslim school kids and staff can reach home before congregational prayers begin.

As of January 2, Friday prayer times will be brought forward by half an hour from 1.15pm to 12.45pm. To reflect the change, classes will also be brought forward by half an hour.

Etihad Rail is preparing to launch passenger services in 2026, introducing a nationwide railway network connecting 11 cities from Al Sila to Fujairah.
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