Asia Briefing’s Middle East Focused Regulatory and Operational Business Updates

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March 12, 2026

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Weekly business and foreign investment news roundup in Asia

by Asia Briefing and Dezan Shira & Associates.

MIDDLE EAST EDITION

TOP STORIES THIS WEEK:

The Gulf Hub Model Under Stress: What the Iran War Means for Multinationals in the GCC

The Iran war is putting pressure on the GCC hub model by disrupting the infrastructure that supports regional connectivity, including airspace, ports, energy exports, and digital networks.

UAE VAT Credits Expiring in 2026: What Finance Teams Need to Know

The 2026 UAE VAT amendments introduce a five-year limit on recovering excess input VAT, meaning businesses must review and claim historical VAT credits before they expire.

Oman E-Invoicing and Qatar’s CbCR Tabadol Portal: The GCC’s Digital Tax Infrastructure Push

Oman and Qatar are advancing the GCC’s shift toward digital tax administration through new compliance platforms.

Iran War: Gulf Business Tracker and Operations Resumption

The escalating Iran war has disrupted Gulf energy production, aviation, and maritime trade, with attacks on key infrastructure and shipping routes triggering volatility in global energy markets.

Saudi Arabia Proposes New Corporate Rules for Special Economic Zones

Saudi Arabia has published draft rules governing companies in Special Economic Zones, introducing streamlined registration, governance flexibility, and new incentives to attract foreign investment.

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COMPLIMENTARY BUSINESS RESOURCES:

An Introduction to Doing Business in India 2026

This latest edition of An Introduction to Doing Business in India provides a clear, practical roadmap to navigating GST 2.0 reforms, the full rollout of the four Labor Codes, the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules 2025, and updates to incorporation processes, entity selection, audit requirements, and financial reporting.

An Introduction to Doing Business in Indonesia 2026

This publication, designed to introduce the fundamentals of investing in Indonesia, was compiled by the experts at Dezan Shira & Associates, a specialist foreign direct investment practice, that provides corporate establishment, business intelligence, tax advisory and compliance, accounting, payroll, due diligence, and ﬁnancial review services to multinationals investing in emerging Asia.

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