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

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March 26, 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:

UAE Launches Up to 50% R&D Tax Credit for Businesses

The UAE has officially launched Phase 1 of its Research and Development (R&D) Tax Incentives Program, introducing a non-refundable corporate tax credit of up to 50 percent on qualifying R&D expenditure capped at AED 5 million per tax period.

Saudi Arabia’s Renewable Energy Investment Surge: Implications for Businesses in the Middle East

Saudi Arabia’s US$34 billion investment in renewable energy in 2025 marks its entry into the global top 10 and signals a rapid shift toward diversifying its energy mix under Vision 2030.

Strait of Hormuz Disruption: Managing Force Majeure and Supply Chain Risks

Disruptions affecting the Strait of Hormuz are increasing pressure on global shipping routes, raising force majeure concerns and creating new challenges for energy and logistics supply chains.

Oman’s Sustainable Tourism Boom: The Investment Case for Hospitality, Eco-Lodges and Heritage Sites

Oman’s sustainable tourism industry is becoming a core investment sector under Vision 2040, with growth driven by eco-tourism, heritage assets, and selective hospitality projects rather than mass-market development.

Bahrain Is Set to Introduce Corporate Income Tax: What Businesses Need to Know

Bahrain is planning the introduction of Corporate Income Tax, marking a structural shift from a tax-free to a taxable business environment, expanding obligations beyond large multinationals to the wider corporate sector.

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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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