Dubai, UAE: – The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has signed a memorandum of understanding with global technology company SAP, which specialises in enterprise software solutions and cloud computing, to collaborate towards advancing the FTA’s standing in the international tax sector, in addition to underlining its role in driving sustainable financial diversification, leading digital transformation efforts, and efficiently implementing innovation and smart technology plans.

The MoU was signed by His Excellency Khalid Ali Al Bustani, Director General of the FTA, and Zakaria Haltout, Managing Director of SAP UAE.

The agreement, which was signed at the Authority’s headquarters in Dubai, aims to implement plans to upgrade and develop the FTA’s basic operations, introduce a new generation of digital services, and launch various initiatives, such as using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies at the FTA, as part of its strategy to anticipate the future of the tax field and achieve global leadership in tax procedures.

The Federal Tax Authority stressed the importance of this step, which forms part of its plans to take proactive future measures to sustainably upgrade tax procedures in the UAE, promote a culture of proactiveness and future planning in the FTA, and setting a road map for developing digital tax services in collaboration with experts in the government and private sectors. The FTA will work together with stakeholders in the tax, business, and technology sectors to support its efforts to become a world-leading tax authority, set plans to address developments in the business and services sectors, and seize promising opportunities using the latest technological solutions.

The FTA noted that the MoU with SAP provides an effective framework for cooperation with SAP towards enhancing development efforts, including workshops focusing on design thinking and innovation, awareness sessions, and technical presentations, which bring together all relevant business and technology sectors.

As part of their joint collaboration, the FTA and SAP held a joint panel discussion at the latter’s headquarters in Dubai, where attendees discussed the most notable digital solutions, designed to enhance quality and efficiency in tax management and collection, facilitate compliance with tax obligations, and ensure the utmost transparency.

A joint design thinking session was also held, bringing together employees from various departments in the FTA with representatives from SAP, to explore ways to develop a roadmap for the future, and discuss innovative ideas to sustainably develop the tax sector, enhance customer experience, and streamline procedures, in order to ensure continuous improvement, quality, and efficiency in the services provided.

Attendees discussed how to continuously improve the experience for the FTA’s customers and meet their aspirations, underlining innovative tools and solutions that can be utilised to raise the efficiency of the Authority’s operations and systems, expedite tasks, boost productivity, and facilitate workflow, all the while continuously improving the work environment at the FTA.

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The Federal Tax Authority was established by Federal Decree-Law No. (13) of 2016 to help diversify the national economy and increase non-oil revenues in the UAE through the management and collection of federal taxes based on international best practices and standards, as well as to provide all means of support to enable taxpayers to comply with the tax laws and procedures. Since its inception in 2017, the FTA has been committed to cooperate with the competent authorities to establish a comprehensive and balanced system to make the UAE one of the first countries in the world to implement a fully electronic tax system that encourages voluntary compliance, with simple procedures based on the highest standards of transparency and accuracy – beginning from registration, to the submission of tax returns, to the payment of due taxes through the Authority’s website: www.tax.gov.ae

About SAP

SAP’s strategy is to help every business run as an intelligent enterprise. As a market leader in enterprise application software, we help companies of all sizes and in all industries run at their best: 77% of the world’s transaction revenue touches an SAP® system. Our machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics technologies help turn customers’ businesses into intelligent enterprises. SAP helps give people and organizations deep business insight and fosters collaboration that helps them stay ahead of their competition. We simplify technology for companies so they can consume our software the way they want – without disruption. Our end-to-end suite of applications and services enables business and public customers across 25 industries globally to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and make a difference. With a global network of customers, partners, employees, and thought leaders, SAP helps the world run better and improve people’s lives. For more information, visit www.sap.com