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The comprehensive guide to the world's leading tax firms

The Cragus Group has capabilities in international tax, corporate structuring, strategic advisory, transfer pricing and dispute resolution matters. Large oil majors, oilfield supply companies, technology companies and financial service providers are ... [more]

The Cragus Group has capabilities in international tax, corporate structuring, strategic advisory, transfer pricing and dispute resolution matters. Large oil majors, oilfield supply companies, technology companies and financial service providers are only a few of the team's notable clients. Peers praise the team as "a leading and strong independent tax boutique in GCC". In particular, Robert Peake is a well known practitioner for his work in tax disputes, and Mark Stevens is highly regarded for his work in transfer pricing. Matthew Moriarty, a transfer pricing economist with 20 years of experience, joined the group in July 2012. He will be advising clients on increasing the organisational efficiency of their business structures, helping to optimise their pricing models and reducing tax liabilities from transfer pricing.

Transactional work has declined around the region over the past 12 months consequently affecting the team's level of activity in this area. The team has been providing advice on structuring and tax disputes, particularly in relation to the tax authority's trend to try to collect many large corporations' back taxes. The group participates in tax development initiatives around the region with the relevant authorities and has assisted with the drafting of legislation in the past.

Though an independent firm, they work with many global law firms as their GCC adviser. Advice on overcoming cultural barriers to deal effectively with a foreign company's tax affairs in the region is one of the services that Cragus offers.

Deloitte has 29 offices across the Middle East region, covering all the GCC's members and more. The GCC tax practice leader, Nauman Ahmed is based in Saudi Arabia. Practices differ across the region, but there has been a general growth in the past year ... [more]

Deloitte has 29 offices across the Middle East region, covering all the GCC's members and more. The GCC tax practice leader, Nauman Ahmed is based in Saudi Arabia. Practices differ across the region, but there has been a general growth in the past year in providing tax advice on M&A, financial advisory, structuring and planning and government-related work. Clients commend the team as "extremely knowledgeable, responsive and timely, with a "good knowledge of local requirements".

The team has been further strengthened with the addition of a new international tax services leader, Ali Kazimi who is helping to manage the boost in recent foreign inbound investment throughout the region. Alfred Strolla from the Oman office represented a large telecommunications company in a dispute over whether withholding taxes were applicable to the company's situation. Strolla obtained a favourable result from the Income Tax Committee saving the client a substantial amount of tax. Saudi Arabia does not have formal transfer pricing rules, though Ahmed and Brandon George advised on one of the first benchmarking exercises relating to the leasing of certain oil and gas services assets used in Saudi Arabia.

Recognised for her capital markets and financial industry expertise , Michelle Kotze is the new head of tax for Ernst & Young. She leads a tax team that is considered by fellow practitioners to be the traditionally stronger practice within the region.The ... [more]

Recognised for her capital markets and financial industry expertise , Michelle Kotze is the new head of tax for Ernst & Young. She leads a tax team that is considered by fellow practitioners to be the traditionally stronger practice within the region.

The core services offered to clients include international tax, transaction tax, transfer pricing advice, tax controversy, human capital and indirect taxes. Transaction work has gradually picked up with a renewed appetite for investments into the region, so the group has been more active in tax structuring work in the past year.

Though the KPMG Dubai tax team was only officially established in 2003, it has quickly become a strong presence in the market. Seven partners are spread across several offices across the GCC, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the UAE. They ... [more]

Though the KPMG Dubai tax team was only officially established in 2003, it has quickly become a strong presence in the market. Seven partners are spread across several offices across the GCC, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the UAE. They are supported by a staff of 70 fee earners, mostly concentrated in the corporate tax area. Ashok Hariharan, the senior partner, oversees the Oman and UAE office, the UAE is considered informally to be the regional hub.

Hossam Fahmy has joined the team as head of Zakat and tax for Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan to take advantage of the likely future opportunities in Islamic financing.

The team offers a broad range of tax services and sees continued growth despite hampered M&A activity as a result of the economic crisis in the West. Their international tax advisory services includes tax risk management and they have also been worked on transfer pricing assignments. Hariharan and Philip Bond were engaged in a rewrite of a multinational's global transfer pricing model so it was acceptable to Oman tax authorities.

In January 2012, Hariharan and Bond obtained a favourable ruling from the Oman Supreme Court that held dividends are not taxable during 2009 and after. As a result, it is now possible to claim relief on amounts arising from assessments made relating to tax years up to 2009 that have not been agreed and overseas dividends that have been taxed.

PwC has one of the largest tax teams in the GCC with 23 partners and over 250 fee earners spread across the region. The team works with governments and all types of taxpayer such as, financial institutions, private clients and multinational corporations ... [more]

PwC has one of the largest tax teams in the GCC with 23 partners and over 250 fee earners spread across the region. The team works with governments and all types of taxpayer such as, financial institutions, private clients and multinational corporations (MNC). Their international network and outreach better facilitates their ability to draw on skills and experience to serve their clients more efficiently.

Investors in the region retain them to get their structuring advice to ensure tax efficiency for their local operations. Dean Rolfe, Middle East tax leader who oversees the GCC team, is recognised for his ability in corporate tax matters. Similarly peers appreciate Lars Lawall's expertise in and knowledge of capital markets and financial services tax work.

Cramer-Salamian is a small firm that is based in Switzerland with an office in UAE, the firm's tax practice focuses on corporate tax planning and structuring. The tax practice is led by Yann Robert Mrazek. The team has extensive knowledge and local legal ... [more]

Cramer-Salamian is a small firm that is based in Switzerland with an office in UAE, the firm's tax practice focuses on corporate tax planning and structuring. The tax practice is led by Yann Robert Mrazek. The team has extensive knowledge and local legal expertise which one client describes as "first rate". "For onshore and offshore structuring, they are outstanding in both categories and highly efficient," said another.

In the past year, the firm advised a privately-owned international collateral control firm on its restructuring issues. The deal required Mrazek to advise on the tax aspects of centralising the operations of more than 30 jurisdictions, mostly in Africa. Mrazek was also involved in restructuring a private equity firm with links to Switzerland, Dubai and Singapore so that it would be a Shariah-compliant investment.

Given the background of their advisers, the team often complements the advice of legal counsel that lack local expertise in Middle Eastern corporate tax planning and structuring.

Emile Bongers co-heads Stibbe's Dubai office with Michael Molenaars, who works in Amsterdam. The Dubai office is backed up by tax advisers in Amsterdam and Luxembourg. The team is often involved in advising international clients on cross-border investments. ... [more]

Emile Bongers co-heads Stibbe's Dubai office with Michael Molenaars, who works in Amsterdam. The Dubai office is backed up by tax advisers in Amsterdam and Luxembourg. The team is often involved in advising international clients on cross-border investments. Furthermore, the tax practice has also advised on investments by GCC sovereign wealth funds into and through the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

In February 2012, Stibbe advised Coca Cola Icecek on the $135 million acquisition of an 85% stake in Al Waha, an Iraq beverage company. The transaction was structured through a Dutch joint venture entity with The Coca Cola Company, successfully extending Coca Cola Icecek's presence in Iraq in a tax efficient manner.