4 Major Changes in Dubai Starting January 1, 2025

While other cities are celebrating the New Year, a series of new laws will come into existence in Dubai from 12 am of January 1, 2025. These changes seek to bring about sustainable development, promote appropriate taxation, make life in cities better. Here’s what you need to know about these upcoming changes:

1. Alcohol Sales Tax Returns

A 30 percent sales tax on all alcoholic products shall be effected; this will affect all sectors that include bar owners, restaurants, and hotel businesses. First put into effect in 2023 for a trial then in effect through 2024, this signals the beginning of the return of higher cost of drink in Dubai. MMI and African+Eastern have already admitted the change , though there is no official announcement from the government side.

2. Proposed bill for the extension of use of single plastic in Kenya

Dubai keeps on implementing a gradual ban of single-use plastics. Others that will not be allowed include plastics bags, flexible films, straws, cups, stirrers, table cloths, plates, trays, containers, sticks, bottles, and cotton swabs from January 1, 2025. This one is actually under a larger sustainability plan but its premise is to get businesses to switch to more sustainable items.

3. The feature is dedicated to marking the end of a UAE Visa Amnesty period.

The united arab emirates had offered foreigners living in the country unlawfully to fix their status without any penalty through a visa amnesty period that will expire soon. Launched in September and later prolonged because of the increased number of applications, this program reflected the UAE’s humanitarian policy, but its applications will be accepted no more than until 2025.

4. The fees for charging electric vehicles have been started.

It means that those who own electric vehicles will now be charged standardized tariffs for charging their vehicle on the UAEV networks. Charging will be based on the published rates at Dhs1.25 per kWh for DC and Dhs0.70 per kWh for AC plus VAT. It also fits a general drive to manage energy expenses in the UAE as a whole.

Further modifications will be made later in January.

Other changes include the dynamic pricing model for Salik toll gates in a bid to reduce traffic congestion and a new Smart Rental Index launched by the DLD, that provides more transparency.