Fees
AED 12,000 for the full course
(Payment plans and single modules available)
Duration
October-November 2023
(48 total teaching hours)
Format
Blended Learning
(Online and On Campus)
Assessment
Multiple choice exam and case study
About the course
The Aurifer GCC Tax Certificate is the first executive programme on taxation in the Gulf region and has been operating since 2022. Brought by and endorsed by qualified professionals and academics in the field, the programme offers a comprehensive overview of tax systems in the GCC countries and the UAE in particular.
The Certificate covers the fundamentals of direct and indirect taxation in GCC countries, including Corporate Tax, VAT, Excise, and Customs. The programme also comprises modules on selected items of international taxation, focusing on their interplay with tax systems in the UAE and other GCC countries.
Who is the course for?
The Certificate is a must-attend for GCC practitioners working in tax consulting firms or as in-house tax professionals, government officials, as well as tax enthusiasts who want to develop a career in the Gulf region or acquire an international profile.
Candidates need to have a Bachelor’s or Master’s in Law, Accounting, or Business, as well as a good command of English. Professionals without a degree qualification but with 1 to 4 years of proven experience in the tax field also qualify.
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How You’re Taught
Course Format
The Certificate will be delivered through blended learning, beginning with a Keynote Conference on Thursday 5 October 2023, followed by regular in-person and live-streamed sessions.
Curriculum
Students need to complete seven compulsory modules and up to two elective modules to be eligible for the Certificate.
Teaching Schedule
The programme features 16 days of teaching between October – November, for a total of 16 classes and 48 hours. Classes are between 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM, and all classes will take place after work.
Teaching Schedule
Class | Date | Course | Lecturer(s) | Company / Profile |
0 | Thursday 5 October 2023 | Keynote Conference | Thomas Vanhee, Giorgio Beretta, Halil Erdem and other guest lecturers | Big Four, Boutique Tax Firms and In-House Tax Counsels |
1 | Thursday 10 October 2023 | GCC VAT | Halil Erdem / Giorgio Beretta | Careem / University of Amsterdam |
2 | Tuesday 12 October 2023 | GCC VAT | Halil Erdem / Giorgio Beretta | Careem / University of Amsterdam |
3 | Tuesday 17 October 2023 | UAE Corporate Tax | Thomas Vanhee / Nirav Rajput | Aurifer |
4 | Thursday 19 October 2023 | UAE Corporate Tax | Thomas Vanhee / Nirav Rajput | Aurifer |
5 | Tuesday 24 October 2023 | UAE Corporate Tax | Thomas Vanhee / Nirav Rajput | Aurifer |
6 | Thursday 26 October 2023 | Excise | Maikel van der Knaap | Deloitte |
7 | Tuesday 31 October 2023 | GCC Customs | Fernand Rutten | Deloitte |
8 | Thursday 2 November 2023 | GCC Customs | Fernand Rutten | Deloitte |
9 | Tuesday 7 November 2023 | Domestic Tax Systems in the GCC | Hany El Naggar | WTS Dhruva Consultants |
10 | Thursday 9 November 2023 | Domestic Tax Systems in the GCC | Hany El Naggar | WTS Dhruva Consultants |
11 | Tuesday 14 November 2023 | International Tax | Howard R. Hull | Tax Strategy Advisor |
12 | Thursday 16 November 2023 | International Tax | Howard R. Hull | Tax Strategy Advisor |
13 | Tuesday 21 November 2023 | Transfer Pricing in the GCC | Safae Guennoun | The Tax Point |
14 | Thursday 23 November 2023 | Transfer Pricing in the GCC | Safae Guennoun | The Tax Point |
15 | Tuesday 28 November 2023 | Elective 1 | To be confirmed | Big Four, Boutique Tax Firms and In-House Tax Counsels |
16 | Thursday 30 November 2023 | Elective 2 | To be confirmed | Big Four, Boutique Tax Firms and In-House Tax Counsels |
*Classes are between 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM, and all classes will take place after work.
Modules
The introduction of Corporate Tax (CT) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as of 1 June 2023 has significantly impacted various economic sectors and businesses, including Free Zone entities. The UAE has prioritised creating CT policies conducive to business operations. However, the new UAE CT law brings nuances that require an in-depth analysis of the parties and transactions involved in each situation.
Our course delves into the intricacies of the UAE CT regime as outlined in the UAE CT legislation and guidance. The course includes both theoretical explanations and real-world applications for a broad spectrum of businesses in the UAE and internationally.
VAT (Value Added Tax) is a general broad-based consumption tax, presently adopted by nearly 175 countries worldwide. The GCC VAT course focuses on fundamentals of VAT in the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC). Participants receive training on key concepts of GCC VAT, such as taxable persons, taxable transactions, place of supply, zero-rating, and exemptions, including discussions on more general topics like VAT fraud and abuse of law. The course adopts a broader perspective on GCC VAT by comparing it with other VAT systems, with particular attention to the EU VAT system and the OECD International VAT/GST Guidelines.
Tax treaties constitute the backbone of international trade and aim to facilitate it. We cover the fundamental concepts of double tax treaties and show how the GCC tax treaty network impacts cross-border investments by both individuals and businesses. This includes favourable tax relief on income from employment, financial investments, real estate investments, and international businesses.
Transfer Pricing (TP) is a key concept in international taxation. It addresses important economic and tax considerations in relation to intercompany transactions between related parties. We will cover the fundamental concepts of TP as well as the key recognised OECD TP methodologies and how to implement them in TP documentation. Finally, the TP module will also provide an overview of how tax authorities in the GCC region have implemented the TP regulations.
Excise taxes are a tax levied on the consumption of goods. Excise tax rates are often relatively high and as such, are an effective way to discourage the consumption of specific goods for a variety of reasons, but most commonly for public health reasons, as well to generate tax revenue. The GCC introduced excise tax in 2015 through the Excise Tax Treaty, and since then, the excise tax has been implemented in multiple GCC member states. We will cover the fundamentals of the GCC excise tax.
GCC countries implemented domestic tax regimes some years back, including corporate tax, capital gain tax, Zakat, withholding tax, etc. The course will focus on the main tax aspects in GCC and a comparable study to show the main differences and similarities.
Organisations in the Middle East engaged in global trade face a maze of complex import, export, and border security regulations. Therefore, customs compliance obligations and trade regulations must be carefully navigated to determine the customs duty (fiscal) burden and deal with the many non-fiscal trade matters to maintain compliance as well as pursue benefits of cost savings opportunities.
In this session, we will learn about the overall customs and global trade landscape and focus on the main three 'customs master data pillars' of tariff classification, origin, and customs valuation. We will discuss how these concepts can impact the customs (duty) implications in the cross border movements of goods.
Given recent developments, we will also touch upon customs audits, dispute processes, and non-fiscal trade control measures in the field of export controls and sanctions.
Students can choose two elective modules. Subject to availability, students can choose from courses such as:
- Inheritance, Sharia and Taxation
- Tax Dispute Resolution and Litigation
- Tax Fraud and Prevention
- Taxation of Financial Products
- International Tax Planning (Companies)
- International Tax Planning (Individuals)
- Fundamentals of EU Tax Law (Direct Tax)
- Fundamentals of EU Tax Law (Indirect Tax)
- Mergers and Acquisitions and Tax
Compulsory modules last between three and nine hours of teaching, covering core knowledge about tax systems in the UAE, GCC and internationally.
Elective modules are taught over three hours, allowing participants to specialise in advanced topics relevant to tax professionals in the GCC and beyond.
Faculty
Led by our esteemed Co-Chairs, you will be taught by leading tax professionals from across the UAE and around the world with decades of industry experience.
The full faculty team consists of qualified professionals from leading law and accounting firms operating in the Gulf region and beyond.
Co-Chairs
Thomas Vanhee
Founding Partner of Aurifer
Dr Pallavi Kishore
Head of Accounting and Finance, Middlesex University Dubai
Lecturers
Halil Erdem
Group Head of Tax at Careem
Howard R. Hull
Tax Strategy Advisor
Giorgio Beretta
Assistant Professor at University of Amsterdam
Hany El Naggar
Associate Partner at WTS Dhruva Consultants
Safae Guennoun
Founder of TheTaxPoint
Maikel van der Knaap
Senior Manager at Deloitte
Fernand Rutten
Partner at Deloitte
COST & PAYMENT OPTIONS
AED 12,000 for the full course
(Payment plans available to split across August, September and October 2023)
*Contact Middlesex University Dubai for more information
