Middle East

Middle East Business Tools

Free calculators for GCC business operations. Calculate UAE VAT at 5% (AED) or Saudi Arabia VAT at 15% (SAR), and count working days for UAE (Mon–Fri), Saudi Arabia (Sun–Thu), and Qatar — including full support for Islamic public holidays. No sign-up required.

3

Countries covered

5

Dedicated tools

UAE + KSA

GCC VAT coverage

Sun–Thu + Mon–Fri

Working week patterns

VAT Rate Reference

CountryTax TypeRateNotes
UAEVAT5%Introduced January 2018. One of the lowest VAT rates globally.Calculator
Saudi ArabiaVAT15%Introduced at 5% in January 2018; increased to 15% in July 2020.Calculator
QatarNo VAT0%Qatar has not implemented VAT. No VAT calculator is available for Qatar.Calculator

Bahrain also has 10% VAT (not covered on this site). Oman introduced 5% VAT in April 2021. Kuwait has not implemented VAT.

GCC Working Week Reference

CountryWorking DaysWeekendNotes
UAEMonday – FridaySaturday – SundayChanged from Sun–Thu in January 2022.Calculator
Saudi ArabiaSunday – ThursdayFriday – SaturdayStandard for public and private sector.Calculator
QatarSunday – ThursdayFriday – SaturdayStandard for public and private sector.Calculator

Working week patterns can vary between public and private sector, and by industry. Always confirm with your counterparty.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did the UAE switch to a Monday–Friday working week?

The UAE federal government announced the change in December 2021 and it took effect from 1 January 2022. The new schedule moved the UAE from a Sunday–Thursday working week (with Friday–Saturday weekend) to a Monday–Friday week with Saturday–Sunday as the weekend. Many private-sector companies adopted the change, though some businesses operating primarily within the GCC still follow the older Sunday–Thursday pattern.

Why is Saudi Arabia VAT rate 15%?

Saudi Arabia initially introduced VAT at 5% on 1 January 2018. In May 2020, the Saudi Ministry of Finance announced that the rate would triple to 15% effective 1 July 2020. The increase was driven by the need to offset the twin fiscal pressures of falling global oil prices and the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The UAE retained its original 5% rate.

Does Qatar have VAT?

No. Qatar does not have a VAT system as of 2026. Qatar was part of the original GCC VAT framework discussions that led to UAE and Saudi Arabia introducing VAT in 2018, but Qatar has not yet enacted its own VAT legislation.

How do Islamic holidays affect working day calculations in the Middle East?

Islamic public holidays such as Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al-Adha, the Islamic New Year, and the Prophet Muhammad Birthday follow the Hijri (lunar) calendar, which is approximately 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar. Their Gregorian dates shift each year and cannot be fixed in advance with certainty. Exact holiday dates are typically announced by governments only a few days before they occur, based on moon sighting. Always verify current-year holiday announcements with official government sources before committing to deadline-sensitive calculations.

Start calculating

All Middle East tools are free and browser-based. GCC VAT and working week patterns included.