UAE expects to reach deal with EU soon on tax-haven blacklist

Dubai - The inclusion was made despite the UAE's close cooperation with the EU.

The UAE expects to reach an amicable solution with the European Union soon on the issue of including the emirate in the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes, said a senior UAE banking official.
"I am sure this issue will be solved in the near future. I think it was due to lack of communication and lack of understanding. The EU will be approached and discussed; I'm sure there will be a way out," said Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, chairman of the UAE Banking Federation and CEO of Mashreq Group.
"Because we have chosen to be international financial centre, so we have to comply with world regulations. We had issues like this in the past and were solved," Al Ghurair told media on the sidelines of a banking conference in Dubai on Wednesday.
The UAE on Wednesday regretted the European Union's decision to include it on a list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes. This inclusion was made despite the UAE's close cooperation with the EU on this issue and ongoing efforts to fulfill all the EU's requirements, Wam said in a statement.
The UAE said it had shared with the EU a detailed timeline of actions that it is currently implementing in accordance with its sovereign legal process and constitutional requirements.
Media reports said Italy and Estonia had opposed the UAE's inclusion in the list.
-waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com