Aligning RDvault with the UAE’s Federal Tax Authority

Presented by Shoayb Patel, Founder — RDvault

FTA R&D tax credit compliance in the UAE begins with understanding the Federal Tax Authority's central role in the scheme. The FTA defines eligible activities, reviews pre-approval submissions, assesses claims, and issues the non-refundable credit. In this video, RDvault founder Shoayb Patel explains how RDvault has built its processes and documentation standards in direct alignment with FTA guidance and UAE taxation requirements. The framework became operational on 1 January 2026 under Cabinet Decision 215 of 2025 and Ministerial Decision 24 of 2026. Pre-approval from the Emirates R&D Council is a mandatory step before any credit can be claimed, and the FTA retains a five-year claw-back window for misstatements. Getting the process right from the outset matters. RDvault prepares claims that can withstand FTA scrutiny: technically rigorous documentation, correct expenditure categorisation, and evidence that qualifying activities meet all five of the legislative criteria. The firm's background in UK R&D tax credits, where HMRC compliance standards are comparably demanding, informs how it approaches UAE submissions. If you want to understand how the FTA fits into the claims process and what compliance looks like in practice, this video is the right starting point.