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GCC Compliance Checklist 2026

Stay ahead of regulators across every GCC market

A working checklist covering the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman: employment law, taxation, corporate governance, regulatory filings, and the risk areas most likely to catch organisations out.

  • Employment law compliance by country
  • Tax and VAT obligations and deadlines
  • Corporate governance and board requirements
  • Regulatory registrations and licences
  • Data protection and privacy compliance
  • Industry-specific compliance requirements

Employment Law Compliance

UAE Federal Labor Law Requirements

  • Labor contracts with mandatory Arabic translation
  • Working hours limits (48 hours/week including Friday)
  • Annual leave entitlement (21 calendar days minimum)
  • End of service gratuity calculation and payment
  • Worker health insurance and safety protocols
  • Wage protection law compliance (timely salary payment)
  • Non-discrimination and grievance procedures

Saudi Arabia Labor Law Requirements

  • Written employment contracts approved by labor office
  • Saudization requirements and targets
  • Working hours (9 hours maximum per day)
  • Annual leave (21 days minimum for 5+ years service)
  • End of service gratuity and pension compliance
  • Health insurance and occupational safety requirements
  • Visa sponsorship and exit permit procedures

Jordan Labor Law Requirements

  • Written labor contracts in Arabic
  • Working hours (48 hours maximum per week)
  • Annual leave (14 days for first 2 years, 21 days after)
  • End of service indemnity based on tenure
  • Social security contributions (employer and employee)
  • Work permits for foreign nationals
  • Health and safety standards compliance

Tax & VAT Compliance Calendar

UAE VAT & Tax Requirements

  • VAT registration (5% applicable since 2018)
  • Monthly VAT return filing by 28th of following month
  • Corporate income tax (0% for most; some sectors apply)
  • Annual corporate tax filing deadline
  • Transfer pricing documentation for related entities
  • Withholding tax on payments to non-residents

Saudi Arabia Tax Requirements

  • Corporate income tax (20% standard rate)
  • VAT registration and monthly returns (15% as of 2020)
  • Zakat (Islamic wealth tax) obligations
  • Annual tax filing and settlement
  • Transfer pricing compliance for regional groups
  • Foreign investment tax incentives documentation

Jordan Tax Requirements

  • Corporate income tax (10-15% tiered rates)
  • VAT registration and quarterly returns (16%)
  • Withholding tax on payments
  • Customs duties and tariff compliance
  • Annual tax declaration filing
  • Investment incentives and tax holidays documentation

Corporate Governance & Board Requirements

Governance Structure Requirements

  • Board composition and independence requirements
  • Audit committee establishment and mandates
  • Compliance committee or risk committee
  • Board meeting minutes documentation (monthly/quarterly)
  • Conflict of interest policies and disclosures
  • Code of conduct and ethics policies
  • Internal audit function and reporting

Regulatory Filings & Licenses

  • Business license renewal (annual in most countries)
  • Professional licenses and certifications
  • Import/export permits if applicable
  • Industry-specific regulatory approvals
  • Intellectual property registrations
  • Environmental permits and certifications
  • Insurance coverage and policy renewals

Data Protection & Privacy Compliance

Data Protection Obligations

  • GDPR compliance if serving EU customers
  • UAE PDPL (Personal Data Protection Law) compliance
  • Privacy policy and consent forms
  • Data breach notification procedures (24-72 hours)
  • Data subject rights documentation (access, deletion, portability)
  • DPA (Data Processing Agreement) with vendors
  • Regular data protection impact assessments

Industry-Specific Compliance

Financial Services: Banking licence, AML/CFT procedures, Shari'ah compliance (Islamic finance), anti-money laundering training

Healthcare: Medical licensing, patient confidentiality standards, infection control protocols, pharmacy regulations

Education: Ministry of Education accreditation, teaching staff qualifications, curriculum approval, health and safety standards

Import/Export: Customs documentation, trade tariff compliance, certificate of origin, sanitary/phytosanitary certificates

Real Estate: Regulatory Authority registration, agency licences, escrow account compliance, consumer protection disclosures

Compliance Audit & Assessment

We run compliance audits and gap analysis across GCC markets — identifying risk areas, remediating issues, and helping organisations build compliance programmes that hold up under scrutiny. See our financial services and audit work, or browse case studies for examples.

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