Changes in Residence Visa Medical Test in U.A.E

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) held a press conference to explain the amendments approved by the Council of Ministers regarding the system of residency screening medical fitness.

A senior official from the Ministry explained that the health card requirement for a medical examination for expats has been cancelled.

“In line with our national efforts to develop a system of legislation that will protect the community from diseases and as part of the initiative to update the Medical Fitness Examinations…, the health card requirement for a medical examination for expatriates has been canceled,” said Dr. Hussein Abdul Rahman Rand, Assistant Undersecretary, MOHAP, who presided over the press conference with Dr. Nada Marzouki, Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine.

“After getting the fitness certificate, a person should apply to get either a health card or a health insurance,” said Dr. Rand, adding that “a screening for Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C will be conducted for workers in health facilities in order to preserve their health due to their constant interaction with patients.”
Dr. Rand, pointed out that this decision, which has been implemented across preventive medicine centers since February, is in line with recent developments being pursued within the medical field in an effort to update legislation, control the spread of communicable diseases and facilitate residential procedures.

In 2015, 460,904 persons were screened for fitness in the Ministry of Health and Prevention.

Dr. Rand emphasised the Ministry’s commitment to protect the community in light of the increasing number of expats arriving to the UAE as a result of the economic boom, which has led to updating the preventive procedures and regulations to preserve community health

NRIs in UAE get insurence plan for Parents in India

Oman Insurance Company in partnership with Star Health Insurance (India) has launched a health insurance plan – Parents Health – for non-resident Indians (NRIs) living in the UAE and their parents in India. The comprehensive plan offers cost effective health cover for NRIs’ parents and parents-in-law back in their home country. Additionally, it offers a Personal Accident cover for the applicant.
While people live and work in the UAE, the good health of their parents back home always concerns them. Keeping this in mind, the product is designed to cover expenses arising from unforeseen illness and provide benefits like in-patient hospitalization, health check-up, hospital cash benefit, day care treatments and dental and ophthalmic cover to the applicant’s parents in India. It also provides one way air ticket to the applicant in case any of the parent needs to be admitted in the hospital for major illness like stroke, cancer or liver disease and gives the option to continue the policy in case the applicant relocates to India. The plan has 5 different coverage bands extending from Bronze to Diamond depending on the sum insured limits. To ensure great service, the product provides cashless service at over 7,400 network hospitals in India and offers reimbursement of claims at non-network hospitals.

Celine Messerschmitt, Senior Vice President Strategic Partnerships at Oman Insurance, said “We are excited to release this innovative products with Star Health as this is one of its kind product in the region. With affordable premium options, the product will surely benefit NRIs by reducing the burden of worrying about the health and wellbeing of their parents back home.”

Anand Roy, Senior Vice President at Star Health, commented “With the wide network of hospitals and a comprehensive insurance solution, members can be guaranteed exceptional care and service. With a simple application process, and no requirement for medical tests, the plan is a unique proposition for Indians working in the UAE.”

The policy will be issued by Oman Insurance Company. It will be offered in association with Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Ltd. (India), acting as the reinsurer and international administrator, ensuring faster and hassle-free claim settlements in India.

UAE confirms 5% VAT from January 1, 2018

The UAE has announced the official date January 1, 2018  implementing a 5 per cent VAT rate. “The percentage will be 5 per cent,” Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, UAE Minister of State for Financial Affairs, told reporters on Wednesday after a joint press conference with Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in Dubai.

“As per the GCC Supreme Council resolution, VAT [in the UAE] will be implemented as of January 1, 2018,” he said.Al Tayer noted that the framework agreement on the implementation of VAT across the GCC is expected to be signed off in June, 2016.“Other countries can implement [at the same time] or take a later date of implementation, of January 1, 2019,” Al Tayer said.Which means that while the UAE is keen on 2018 implementation, it is possible that some other GCC peers implement it at a later date (no longer than a year later, though).

The UAE had, earlier this year, confirmed a VAT rate of between 3 and 5 per cent across the GCC, with Younis Haji Al Khoori, Undersecretary at the MoF, revealing that the GCC countries have agreed to unify their tax policies before the introduction of the VAT.

At that time, Al Khoori reckoned that the UAE stands to earn estimated VAT revenues of between Dh10 billion and Dh12 billion in the first year of its application.

He had reiterated that this amount is after exempting sectors such as healthcare and education in addition to several food items of the new tax. Al Tayer, meanwhile, noted that the Ministry is currently in early stages of studying the potential economic and social impacts of implementing corporate tax.

The UAE Finance Ministry also confirmed that it is not considering implementing a personal income tax on individuals, according to Arabic daily Emarat Al Youm.

Al Tayer said that the UAE hasn’t undertaken any study on personal income tax so far and said that no such proposal was under consideration.

He added that the current priority of the Ministry was putting in place the infrastructure required for the implementation of VAT.

The IMF’s Lagarde had, earlier this week, reiterated the Fund’s taxation advice to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which included implementing VAT as a first step towards generating higher and more reliable revenue streams.
Why VAT?
The IMF is only one among other international bodies that have been advising the UAE and the rest of the GCC countries to introduce taxation among several options for the government to strengthen their revenue base in order to minimise dependence on the fluctuating global oil price.

Al Tayer has now revealed that agreements having been reached by members of the GCC on certain aspects of the VAT systems and the remaining question now is when everyone across the GCC will implement it.

“Governments in the region are facing deficit budgets over the short- to medium-term due to the low oil price environment. Policymakers will be prompted to introduce the VAT regime sooner rather than later,” Finbarr Sexton – Mena Indirect Tax Leader at EY, told this website earlier.
of implementing a 5 per cent VAT rate.

“The percentage will be 5 per cent,” Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, UAE Minister of State for Financial Affairs, told reporters on Wednesday after a joint press conference with Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in Dubai.

“As per the GCC Supreme Council resolution, VAT [in the UAE] will be implemented as of January 1, 2018,” he said.

Is January 1, 2018, final for all GCC countries?

Al Tayer noted that the framework agreement on the implementation of VAT across the GCC is expected to be signed off in June, 2016.

“Other countries can implement [at the same time] or take a later date of implementation, of January 1, 2019,” Al Tayer said.

Which means that while the UAE is keen on 2018 implementation, it is possible that some other GCC peers implement it at a later date (no longer than a year later, though).

The UAE had, earlier this year, confirmed a VAT rate of between 3 and 5 per cent across the GCC, with Younis Haji Al Khoori, Undersecretary at the MoF, revealing that the GCC countries have agreed to unify their tax policies before the introduction of the VAT. At that time, Al Khoori reckoned that the UAE stands to earn estimated VAT revenues of between Dh10 billion and Dh12 billion in the first year of its application.

He had reiterated that this amount is after exempting sectors such as healthcare and education in addition to several food items of the new tax.Al Tayer, meanwhile, noted that the Ministry is currently in early stages of studying the potential economic and social impacts of implementing corporate tax.

Al Tayer said that the UAE hasn’t undertaken any study on personal income tax so far and said that no such proposal was under consideration. He added that the current priority of the Ministry was putting in place the infrastructure required for the implementation of VAT.

The IMF’s Lagarde had, earlier this week, reiterated the Fund’s taxation advice to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which included implementing VAT as a first step towards generating higher and more reliable revenue streams.