The UAE is clamping down on counterfeit cigarettes and soft drinks as it boosts tax compliance with massive increase in field inspections. In efforts that support the protection of consumer rights, the Federal Tax Authority (FTA), in cooperation with the relevant authorities, stepped up its implementation of control plans, in 2024, the aim being to combat tax evasion and increase the level of tax compliance, across the UAE. In 2024, the FTA carried out ninety-three thousand field inspection visits in all seven emirates of the UAE. UAE tax inspections This represents a significant annual increase of 135.22 per cent, compared to the forty thousand field visits in the previous year. The FTA outlined that control campaigns, conducted in 2024, resulted in the seizure and confiscation of 11m packages of non-conforming tobacco products that did not bear “digital tax stamps”. A further 3.9m packages of other excise goods, including soft drinks, energy drinks and sweetened beverages were also seized, over the same period. The total value of tax dues and associated fines seized during inspection visits in 2024 exceeded AED348m ($95m), indicating that effective market surveillance contributed to the detection of many establishments that were in violation of tax laws, with registration […]