PB First Global – 2025 Annual Review
Welcome to PB First’s 2025 Annual Review
Firstly, and foremostly, we are extremely grateful for all our clients’ ongoing trust in us to deliver solutions to complex UAE, GCC, and international tax questions, as well as those that are not so complex. We are also very appreciative of the fantastic work of our growing team of sophisticated and expert tax advisers. During the year, we welcomed three new staff members, including our third PhD in Tax, as well as a former FTA officer and a Registered Tax Agent.
With PB First also commissioning its own proprietary, bespoke Tax Consulting AI agent (known as “DrPeter”) and coupled with our association with #Keeyns, the seamless manager of tax compliance, we have today, adapted to the future to improve response time for our clients and reduce materially adverse consequences of tax audits!
Indicative of assignments during the year are:
1. Advising on a $500m contract concerning a complex multi-jurisdictional package of advice, support, strategy and opinions for a large worldwide business on a massive retrofit of a large asset covering UAE VAT, corporate income tax, excise tax and private clarifications.
2. Advising on the taxation consequences of an AED600m M&A deal.
3. Advising on the disposal of AED700m of UAE real estate by a UAE-listed property company.
4. Supplying speakers for British Chamber of Commerce group events, including sponsoring our own tax-focused event in September and also providing speakers for international tax events sponsored by Geneva Group International (#GGI) in Spain and in Switzerland.
5. Devising and delivering 5-day In-Service Tax and Transfer Pricing training programmes to our Corporate Service Provider clients.
6. Advising a large Emirati family business on residential development structures for 300 homes to comply with UAE Corporate Tax law, VAT law and Land Transfer regulations, using Family Foundations and Management Consultancy companies.
7. Advising a US manufacturer with a Dubai subsidiary on relocating its production from China into Vietnam whilst transferring its HQ to Spain and maximising the use of Spanish Article 93 (‘Beckham’ law) for the benefit of the shareholders.
8. Advising a UHNW multi-jurisdictional family on tax compliance spanning the UK, France, Germany, UAE and the US, using Foundations and non-foundation entities, including how foreign tax authorities treat a UAE Foundation.
9. Advising a UK professional services firm on establishing a UAE marketing and research function.
10. Advising an ADGM SPV owned by international investors on the qualification of an income stream from an East Asian subsidiary as income from a qualifying activity for Free Zone purposes.
11. Advising a Sharjah military and defence contractor on the ownership, import and export of civilian vehicles which are re-manufactured and transformed into military equipment.
12. Advising a UK-based wellness business on establishing in the UAE.
13. Advising a HNWI resident in Asia, on UAE, Indonesian and American property investment tax obligations.
14. Devised the strategy and support framework for a UAE corporate client navigating the administrative and judicial procedures in defending its position against an FTA adverse decision.
15. Advising on the restructuring of a UAE / UK A.I. Intellectual Property Company so that it is compliant to accept private equity investment within the UAE.
16. Advising a former HK tax resident now UK tax resident on the liability to UK income tax of bonus payments received in the current year, referable to services provided in Hong Kong.
17. Advising a European company on its’ corporate redomiciliation into the UAE, including analysing the corporate laws in 10 Free Zones.
18. Advising an HNW GCC family on its investments in a captive Cayman Islands fund, and the management strategy of the fund to comply with UAE law.
19. Advising a UK / Saudi family’s UK and UAE property portfolio restructuring.
20. Advising an internationally owned ADGM Special Purpose Vehicle on whether that SPV could qualify as a Foundation for the deemed unincorporated partnership tax status.
21. Advising a US group on an international corporate structure involving relocating manufacturing, marketing and distribution of an ESG paper product, bearing in mind the company’s Green Projects.
We very much look forward to expanding our team in 2026 and offering our knowledge and experience to our growing clientele!
Happy New Year from all of us at PB First!
Peter
