Deloitte hosted the seventh annual Middle East Tax Conference, in a two day event, which brought together over one hundred Deloitte clients and partners to debate topical developments relevant to the region. Hot topics debated included trends in anti-avoidance initiatives, and tax treatments related to permanent establishments.
“In the last 12 months, significant developments, not just in technical matters and tax administration, but also in the profile of organizations’ tax affairs, particularly in relation to public and media scrutiny, have been witnessed,” Nauman Ahmed, Deloitte Middle East tax practice leader, said. “We all need to be alert to these shifts in focus,” he added.
Over the two day conference, participants came together in plenary sessions to share insights on these developments and a range of tax aspects, including the regional tax landscape, and cross-border developments in relation to double taxation treaties and withholding taxes.
In addition, a number of breakout sessions were held at this regional Deloitte Tax Conference, covering a diverse range of timely topics such as country-specific updates, indirect taxation, European holding structures, aviation taxation, FATCA and compliance outsourcing.
This showcase event in the tax calendar is also an opportunity for tax executives to meet Deloitte tax experts (who were present from across the Middle East as well as India, Pakistan, UK, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Malta and the USA) and to network with each other over industry themed lunches.
During the event, Deloitte released its 2013 Annual Middle East Tax Handbook, highlighting the most current tax rules and regulations impacting the region.