The impact of the collapse in oil is having dramatic effects on taxation in the Middle East and suddenly on the issue of government debt. The UAE will implement a 5% value added tax (VAT) beginning January 1, 2018. UAE Minister of State for Financial Affairs Obaid Humaid Al Tayer made the announcement after listening to Christine Lagarde speak at the IMF conference. In fact, he made the announcement at a joint press conference on Wednesday with Lagarde. However, our sources within government have relayed that income taxes are likely perhaps within 2 years as well.
It appears that Lagarde is bringing French socialism to the world since it was the French who dreamed up communism and sold that idea to Karl Marx. What is ours is always theirs and never will they consider reform.
