The Federal Tax Authority will carry out 176,000 inspection visits to markets in 2025

Yesterday, the Federal Tax Authority announced an increase in the number of field inspection visits carried out by its specialized teams in cooperation with the relevant authorities, to about 176 thousand inspection visits, during the past year, in local markets in all the emirates of the country, an annual increase of about 89%, compared to the year 2024, during which the authority carried out about 93 thousand visits, stressing the strengthening of its supervisory efforts to combat tax evasion, increase the level of tax compliance, and protect the rights of consumers.

The authority explained, in a statement, that continuous oversight efforts resulted in the seizure and confiscation of 29.5 million violating packages of non-compliant tobacco products that did not carry “digital tax stamps” during the year 2025, compared to about 11 million violating packages seized in 2024, an increase of 169%.

She added that about 7.6 million violating packages of other selective goods were seized, which include soft drinks, energy drinks, and sweetened drinks, compared to about four million violating packages of other selective goods seized during 2024, an increase of more than 90%.

The Authority indicated that the total value of tax dues and associated fines seized during inspection visits carried out in 2025 exceeded 608 million dirhams, compared to 348 million dirhams in 2024, an increase of about 75%.

The Director General of the Federal Tax Authority, Abdulaziz Muhammad Al-Mulla, said: “The Authority continues its intensive efforts to contribute effectively to the supervision of local markets in cooperation with the relevant authorities, to ensure compliance with tax legislation and procedures.”

He added: “Inspections rely on various electronic control mechanisms to prevent the sale, trading, or storage of products that do not meet the value-added tax or excise tax due. Among these mechanisms is the (distinctive labeling system for tobacco and its products), which has witnessed continuous development since its launch more than six years ago. (Digital tax stamps) are installed on packages of tobacco products and registered in the Authority’s database, while each stamp includes electronically recorded information that can be read with a special device used by inspectors authorized to do so. To ensure that the tax on these products is paid.

Al-Mulla stressed that the results of the inspection campaigns carried out during the year 2025 confirm the success of the comprehensive regulatory plans that are carefully implemented, while the Authority is intensifying its efforts to help business sectors comply with tax regulations and procedures.

In turn, the Executive Director of the Tax Compliance Sector at the Federal Tax Authority, Sarah Al-Habashi, said: “The Authority is keen to protect consumers from the leakage of harmful products that do not conform to the quality standards approved in the country. It is also keen to combat tax evasion through the careful implementation of tax legislation and procedures that clearly define all mutual obligations between the Authority and taxpayers, while taking full care to protect consumers by tightening control over the country’s markets.”

. 29.5 million tobacco packages that did not carry “digital tax stamps” were seized during the visits.