UAE Advances Plan to Grow Local Tax Expert Pool

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UAE targets 500 new Emirati tax agents in three years - what it means for corporate service providers.

The FTA and New Economy Academy have launched the Emirati Tax Agent Programme, targeting 500 certified Emirati tax agents within three years.
Two accredited diplomas are available - in VAT and Corporate Tax - delivered free of charge to eligible UAE nationals in Arabic and English.
Only 899 tax agents are currently registered with the FTA, set against 710,000 corporate tax registrants and 573,000 VAT registrants.
Compliance amendments effective April 2026 have extended FTA audit powers and tightened rules on voluntary disclosures, refunds, and record retention.
Corporate service providers should expect a more scrutiny-intensive compliance environment as the local professional pool grows.
The global tax advisory services market is projected to reach USD 94.72 billion by 2033, reflecting sustained demand for specialist tax expertise worldwide.

How the Federal Tax Authority Is Building Domestic Tax Capability

The UAE government has taken a significant step towards building domestic tax expertise, with the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) and the New Economy Academy jointly launching the Emirati Tax Agent Programme. The initiative aims to certify 500 Emirati nationals as qualified tax agents within three years. Announced in April 2026, it forms part of the "Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World" campaign led by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The programme arrives as UAE corporate tax compliance requirements have grown considerably more demanding. Corporate tax registrations have climbed to 710,000, and the FTA recently tightened procedural rules through amendments effective April 2026. For businesses and their advisors, this initiative signals both a changing talent landscape and a more enforcement-focused environment ahead. As the Emiratisation agenda now extends into professional services, the tax sector is firmly in scope.

The Programme: Two Diplomas, One Pathway to FTA Registration

At its core, the Emirati Tax Agent Programme offers two accredited diplomas - one in Value Added Tax (VAT) and one in Corporate Tax. The VAT diploma runs for six days, covering the UAE VAT legal framework, registration and filing procedures, and invoicing standards. The Corporate Tax diploma spans 11 days and addresses the UAE corporate tax system, registration requirements, tax liabilities, allowable deductions, and applied case studies.

Both courses are delivered free of charge to eligible UAE nationals in English and Arabic. To qualify, applicants need a bachelor's or master's degree in taxation, accounting, or law from a recognised institution - or an internationally recognised tax qualification with at least three years of professional experience. Registration is open through the New Economy Academy's website, newea.ae.

A Regulatory Environment That Is Getting Stricter

Running in parallel with this initiative, the UAE's tax compliance framework has been substantially tightened. Federal Decree-Law No. 17 of 2025 - effective January 2026 - rewrote key tax procedure rules, extending audit limitation periods from five years to up to 15 years in cases of evasion. Further amendments took effect on 1 April 2026, introducing stricter rules on voluntary disclosures, refunds, and record retention.

Adding to this, the phased rollout of mandatory e-invoicing is now under way. Large businesses with revenues of AED 50 million or above must appoint an accredited service provider by 31 July 2026 and switch to mandatory e-invoicing by 1 January 2027. Taken together, these changes have substantially raised the compliance requirements for UAE businesses across the board.

Supply, Demand, and the Advisory Market

The scale of the supply challenge is visible in the numbers. There are currently 899 registered tax agents in the UAE, according to FTA data from February 2026. Set against 710,000 corporate tax registrants and 573,000 VAT registrants, the gap between available expertise and total demand is significant. The April 2026 launch has been described as "the beginning of a wider effort" to address that shortfall, with further phases of the programme planned.

FTA Director General Abdulaziz Mohammed Al Mulla stated the programme aims to "qualify and empower a new generation of certified Emirati tax agents" to strengthen their role in the financial and tax sectors. Gulf News reported that New Economy Academy CEO Dr. Laila Faridoon was direct about the challenge: "One of the main real challenges is the lack of having qualified Emirati tax agents - this programme will bridge the gap." The global tax advisory services market is projected to reach USD 94.72 billion by 2033, per Straits Research, reflecting sustained demand well beyond the UAE.

For hiring businesses, the programme also intersects with Emiratisation obligations. Private sector firms with 50 or more employees are required to increase their Emirati headcount by two percent annually under the Nafis private sector Emiratisation programme. Newly certified Emirati tax agents entering the workforce count towards these targets, creating an additional incentive for professional services firms to recruit from the programme's graduate pool.

What This Means for Corporate Service Providers and Compliance Teams

For corporate service providers supporting entity setup, governance, and statutory filings, the combined effect of this initiative and recent regulatory changes is clear. The compliance bar is rising. FTA audit powers have been extended, documentation standards are tightening, and the pool of credentialled tax professionals is set to grow. Firms relying on thin compliance processes will find it increasingly difficult to satisfy heightened oversight.

In the near term, the programme creates new staffing and sourcing options for firms and internal compliance teams alike. UAE audit firm rankings for 2026 already reflect growing demand for tax and compliance expertise, signalling that this trend is set to continue. For client-facing advisors, the key takeaway is straightforward: UAE tax complexity is not a transitional phase - it is the new baseline.

What Clients are Asking their Advisors

What is the Emirati Tax Agent Programme and who can apply?

The Emirati Tax Agent Programme is a joint initiative by the Federal Tax Authority and the New Economy Academy to train and certify UAE nationals as registered tax agents. Participants can earn one or both of two accredited diplomas - covering UAE VAT and Corporate Tax respectively - with all tuition delivered free of charge in Arabic and English. Applicants must hold a relevant degree in taxation, accounting, or law, or an internationally recognised tax qualification with at least three years of professional experience.

How do you become a registered FTA tax agent in the UAE after completing the programme?

After completing the relevant diploma, candidates submit a formal application to the Federal Tax Authority through its e-Services portal. The application requires attested qualifications, a Ministry of Education equivalency certificate, professional experience letters, professional indemnity insurance, and a good conduct certificate. Successful applicants receive a unique FTA tax agent number, authorising them to represent clients and provide formal tax advisory services.

Does the Emirati Tax Agent Programme replace international qualifications such as ACCA or CIMA?

No - the programme is not a replacement for internationally recognised qualifications. It is a structured UAE-specific pathway to FTA registration, focused on UAE VAT and corporate tax law. Professionals with existing international credentials may find the programme complements their qualifications by formalising UAE-specific knowledge and enabling formal FTA registration.

Will a larger pool of UAE tax agents affect the cost of outsourced tax advisory services?

A growing supply of locally certified Emirati tax agents may gradually increase competition in parts of the advisory market, potentially improving service accessibility and, in some segments, pricing over time. In the short term, the more significant development for businesses is the FTA's substantially extended audit powers and tighter documentation standards, which raise compliance expectations regardless of who provides the advisory service.