Gulf Tax Day
2023

Objectives
Gulf Tax Day offers an annual tax update, an in-depth analysis of domestic and international tax developments, as well as a selection of focus areas for maximum impact in the year ahead.
A Year Under Review:
Annual update of GCC tax developments
Trending Tax Topic:
Focus on a leading tax theme of the moment
Tax Technical Topics:
In-depth analysis of a selection of compelling tax topics
The Year Ahead:
Strategic and actionable areas to focus for maximum business impact
This year participants primarily include in-house tax professionals.
Agenda
8.45
Opening
Howard R. Hull, Tax Strategy Advisor
9.00
A Year Under Review
Tax Policy
Prof. Piergiorgio Valente, CFE Tax Advisers
David Russell, KC, Outer Temple Chambers
9.45
Case Law Review
Shiraz Khan, Al Tamimi & Company
10.15
Tax Controversy
Ton van Doremalen, DLA Piper
10.45
Break
11.15
Indirect Tax
GCC Developments
Jesús Ricart Verdera, TEI ITC Vice Chair
Diana Caceres, Thomson Reuters
12.00
Corporate Tax
Introduction
Thomas Vanhee, Aurifer
12.15
Capital Structuring
Driaan Rupping, PwC
13.00
Lunch
14.15
Legal Entity Structuring
Wassim Chahine, KPMG
15.00
Business Modeling
Blake Langridge, EY
15.45
Break
16.00
Tax Accounting
Robert Bird, Deloitte
16.45
The Year Ahead
Industry Focus
Clarence Ellis, Taxnomics
17.30
Closing
I. Introduction & Opening
The “Introduction” is being delivered by a prominent member of GCC’s tax community who will lead the day and reveal the tone and direction of things to come. He or she will play host for the day.
II. A Year Under Review
“A Year Under Review” offers an update on the pivotal developments that have impacted businesses over the year gone by.
It’s a refresher on the essential domestic, regional and international issues, and sets the stage for the in-depth analysis to follow.
III. Trending Tax Topic
The GCC is currently undergoing a fundamental tax transformation. As such, there’s always one or two leading tax themes which are at the forefront of the minds of tax professionals across the region.
The “Trending Tax Topic” is the occasion to focus on these highly-significant themes. It addresses policy developments, business impacts, case studies, as well as suggestions for action over the months ahead.
IV. Tax Technical Topics
“Tax Technical Topics” involves an in-depth review of a selection of current subjects relating to international tax, direct tax, indirect tax, tax transparency & exchange of information, and more.
Expert speakers provide an overview of each topic before going deeper into technical explanations with practical examples based on law, regulations, administrative practice, and jurisprudence.
V. The Year Ahead
“The Year Ahead” gets to the heart of the issue by synthesizing the issues and actions which are expected to have the maximum impact over the year to come.
Experts
Blake Langridge, Partner, Operating Model Effectiveness, EY
Clarence Ellis,Partner, Taxnomics Tax Consultant
Diana Cacares, Thomson Reuters
Driaan Rupping, Tax Partner, PwC
David Russell, KC, Outer Temple Chambers
Howard R. Hull, Tax Strategy Advisor, Al-Futtaim Group
Jesús Ricart Verdera, Vice Chair at TEI’s European Indirect Tax Committee
Piergiorgio Valente, Chairman Global Tax Advisers Forum (GTAP) & former President CFE Tax Advisers Europe
Robert Bird, Senior Manager, Tax, Deloitte
Shiraz Khan, Partner, Head of Tax, Al Tamimi & Company
Thomas Vanhee, Founding Partner, Aurifer Middle East Tax Consultancy
Ton van Doremalen, Partner, Head of Tax Middle East, DLA Piper
Wassim Chahine, Partner, Tax, KPMG
Partners





Tax Executives Institute - EMEA Chapter
TEI is dedicated exclusively to the professional needs of the in-house tax community.
The TEI EMEA Chapter welcomes business tax professionals from both direct and indirect tax specialties in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region and from a wide range of industries, whether small or multi-billion company, manufacturing or trading or services, headquarter in EMEA or outside of EMEA.
The EMEA Chapter of TEI puts its goals and objectives – education, networking and advocacy - into practice in the following ways: - Education & Networking: Holding two meetings per year, local roundtables in Zurich, Amsterdam, Brussels or London and online webinars and seminars. - Advocacy: European Direct and Indirect Tax Communities drive Chapter’s successful advocacy efforts with the European Commission and the OECD and to initiate other appropriate advocacy projects.
Website: http://www.tei.org
DIFC Academy
For over a decade, the Dubai International Financial Centre has catered to the learning needs of the financial services industry by providing a platform for top-ranked educational institutes to deliver professional development and higher education courses. The Academy continues this legacy by partnering with some of the world’s most reputable institutions to offer a variety of options ranging from short certificate workshops to multi-year executive MBA degree programmes.
The DIFC Academy curates a full range of impactful, regionally relevant executive education programmes that are developed in partnership with internationally recognised business schools, professional development providers, and other training academies. In line with the DIFC’s efforts to consolidate their academic offering, the DIFC Academy and Academy of Law have joined forces to bring you access to a world-class variety of educational resources under one roof.
Website: https://www.difcacademy.ae/services/training-programmes/site-training/
Al Tamimi & Co.
Al Tamimi & Company is the leading law firm in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), with 17 offices across 10 countries. The firm has unrivalled experience, having operated in the region for over 30 years. Its lawyers combine international experience and qualifications with expert regional knowledge and understanding.
Al Tamimi & Company is a full-service firm that advises and supports major international corporations, banks and financial institutions, government organisations, and local, regional, and international companies. Its main areas of expertise include arbitration and litigation, banking and finance, corporate and commercial, intellectual property, real estate, construction and infrastructure, and technology, media and telecommunications. Al Tamimi & Company lawyers provide quality legal advice and support to clients across all of the firm's practice areas.
Website: https://www.tamimi.com
Aurifer
We are Aurifer, your boutique tax advisors in the Middle East. Our highly skilled and well-trained advisers guide you through your fiscal obligations in the Gulf. We are your personal pragmatic partner in all of your ventures. Our international tax experience in policy and implementation is exactly what you need for the changes lying ahead.
Aurifer is a tax agency with the UAE's Federal Tax Authority (TAAN 30002471). We have offices in Brussels, Dubai and Riyadh.
Website: www.aurifer.tax
Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters is one of the world’s most trusted providers of answers, helping professionals make confident decisions and run better businesses. They inter-alia provide research and workflow solutions for tax and accounting professionals.
Whether you’re an accounting firm, corporation, or government, you can rely on innovative, integrated software and content from Thomson Reuters to help you excel at what you do every day. With proven brands like CS Professional Suite, Onvio, Checkpoint, and ONESOURCE, you get intelligence, technology, and human expertise you need to get the answers you need no matter where you’re doing business around the world.
Website: https://www.thomsonreuters.com

Registrations
A LinkedIn page (@GulfTaxDay) will update interested parties on developments.