Robert Besser
03 Jan 2023, 15:40 GMT+10
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: Dubai ended its 30 percent tax on alcohol sales and made its required liquor licenses free to obtain, ending a long-standing source of revenue for the nation.
Two of Dubai's state-controlled alcohol retailers made the sudden New Year's Day announcement, which apparently came from a government decree from the emirate's ruling Al Maktoum family.
A top travel destination in the UAE and the home to the long-haul carrier Emirates Airlines, Dubai attracted many football fans during the recent World Cup held in nearby Qatar.
Sales of alcohol have long served as a barometer of the economy of the emirate, where a pint of beer can cost over $10 at a bar, and other drinks being more expensive.
It was not immediately clear if this would cause a price drop at alcohol-serving establishments or if it only would affect those buying from retailers.
Under Dubai law, non-Muslims must be age 21 or older to consume alcohol, and those wishing to buy, transport or consume alcohol must carry plastic cards issued by the Dubai police. Otherwise, they could face fines and arrest.
This week's announcement also came as the UAE prepares to introduce a 9 percent corporate tax in June, which is in addition to other fees and charges it levies while avoiding personal income taxes.
Get a daily dose of Malaysia Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Malaysia Sun.
More InformationNEW DELHI, India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Navi Mumbai International Airport, giving India's financial capital...
LOS ANGELES, California: California has officially designated Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, as a statewide holiday, becoming...
MUMBAI, India: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited India this week, accompanied by more than a hundred business, cultural,...
BENGALURU/HYDERABAD, India: Tighter U.S. immigration policies, particularly those targeting the H-1B skilled-worker visa, are reshaping...
New Delhi [India], October 14 (ANI): India men's team current head coach and former batter Gautam Gambhir, known for his clutch performances...
New Delhi [India], October 14 (ANI): Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Monday highlighted US President Donald Trump's claim of stopping...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stock markets closed higher on Monday, lifted by a strong performance as investor confidence improved on...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump threatened to impose a new 100 percent tariff on all Chinese imports starting November 1 —...
HONG KONG: Long queues snaked outside Hong Kong's gold shops this week as residents rushed to cash in on a historic price surge that...
NEW DELHI, India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Navi Mumbai International Airport, giving India's financial capital...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Halloween may look a little less sweet for U.S. chocolate lovers this year. A new report from Wells Fargo's...
STUTTGART, Germany: German luxury carmaker Porsche reported a drop in global sales for the first nine months of 2025, with a sharp...
