Pillar Two07
The UAE Pillar Two & QDMTT Playbook
UAE QDMTT interaction with IIR / UTPR at UPE level. GloBE ETR modelling, GIR filing, UAE-side top-up calculation, QFZP neutralisation analysis for in-scope groups.
Coming soonResources & Playbooks
UAE Tax Playbooks.Free to Download.
Downloadable PDF guides written by our Chartered Tax Advisers. Deep enough to use on a live engagement; short enough to read on a Monday morning. All free, email required for the monthly digest.
The playbook library
Six Core Playbooks. More Coming.
Each playbook is a 20-40 page PDF covering a specific UAE tax or cross-border topic end-to-end. Written by UAE Chartered Tax Advisers, updated 2-3 times a year.
UAE CT01
The UAE Corporate Tax Playbook
The complete 9% CT regime. SBR and QFZP electives, mandatory registration, annual return mechanics, related-party disclosures, first-return pitfalls. Live PDF.
Request a copy →QFZP02
The Free Zone QFZP Playbook
The 5-condition test in detail: substance, qualifying income, TP compliance, audited accounts, no election out. Qualifying activity list, de minimis management, modified nexus.
Request a copy →UK-UAE03
The UK-UAE Expat Relocation Playbook
Pre-departure UK tax planning, SRT run-through, split-year treatment, UK rental via NRL, pension treaty paperwork, UK IHT 10-year rule, UAE TRC.
Request a copy →VAT04
The UAE VAT Compliance Playbook
AED 375k threshold, mandatory vs voluntary, Designated Zone, zero-rated exports, reverse charge, VAT groups. Xero / QBO VAT setup, quarterly return mechanics, FTA audit prep.
Request a copy →Business Setup05
The UAE Business Setup Playbook
Free Zone vs mainland decision, licence type by activity, visa quotas, bank account practicalities, Emirates ID, Tax Residency Certificate — the full setup walkthrough with timings and typical costs.
Request a copy →India-UAE06
The India-to-UAE Playbook
LRS limits, FEMA ODI, India-UAE DTAA, POEM structuring, GAAR, MLI, Golden Visa, GIFT City comparison. For Indian founders, HNW families, mid-market groups.
Request a copy →TP08
The UAE Transfer Pricing Playbook
AED 200m Local File, AED 3.15bn Master File, OECD methods, benchmarking approach, UAE-UK TP consistency, functional analysis template, FTA audit defence.
Coming soonUS-Connected09
The US-Connected Dubai Expat Playbook
FBAR, Form 8938 FATCA, PFIC avoidance, GILTI, FEIE optimisation, Form 5471 CFC, Streamlined Procedures, Form 8854 exit tax for green card surrenders.
Coming soonHow clients use the playbooks
Four Common Use Cases.
📋
Board papers
CFO extracts the key points for an audit committee pre-read on UAE expansion.
👥
Team training
Finance team members use playbooks as internal reference on specific UAE tax areas.
💡
Self-service answers
Owner-managers answer the easy questions themselves; book Discovery Call for the hard ones.
🤝
Shared with advisers
Clients share the India playbook with their Indian CA for aligned UAE-side thinking.
About the playbooks
Common Questions.
Are the playbooks free?
Yes — all playbooks are free to download. We ask for an email so we can send the monthly digest; unsubscribe one click. See the Insights hub for monthly article output and newsletter.
How current are these resources?
Each playbook has an ‘Updated’ date on the cover. We revise after material FTA / HMRC / UAE regulatory developments — typically 2-3 times a year per playbook. If you’re working on a live engagement, the engagement work will reflect the very latest position.
Can I share them with my team or clients?
Yes — sharing with your own team or clients is encouraged. Please don’t republish as your own; attribution to The Tax Lead keeps the content coming. For syndication requests or republication under creative-commons, email info@thetaxlead.ae.
Downloaded a playbook — now what?
Book a Discovery Call. Make it Specific to You.
The playbooks are intentionally general. Your situation is specific. 20 free minutes to turn generic knowledge into a scoped answer.