Blogs

Some expenses are ineligible for input VAT recovery in the UAE. Read this blog to know more.

Learn how to claim input tax recovery in the UAE in this guide!

Confused about VAT in the UAE? Let us help you understand the registration process in detail.

Driven by user ratings & reviews, Alaan is the top-ranked platform for expense management in the Middle East on G2 once again.

As per the UAE VAT Law, products and services are divided into three categories: standard rate, zero rate, and exempt. Several business expenses are not eligible for VAT input. Understanding these rules is crucial for the correct accounting treatment of different supplies and ensuring compliance. Any error here can invite penalties and fines from the UAE government.

You’re probably here because you encountered a One-Time Password (OTP) during an online transaction using Alaan. Understandably, this might have sparked your curiosity or even a bit of confusion. But don’t worry, our blog is meant to clear up your concerns.

Reimbursement and disbursement are two important concepts under the UAE VAT law. The key to understanding the difference between them is to ascertain if a company has acted as a principal or an agent while procuring the goods on behalf of the client. This information will play a crucial role in the accounting treatment of such payments as per the rules.

The UAE Federal Tax Authority (FTA) released the Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2017 on August 27, 2017, introducing Value Added Tax (VAT) in the United Arab Emirates, to be implemented from January 1, 2018. The government has specified a standard 5% VAT rate, with certain items being subject to zero tax. Businesses must understand different aspects of this tax to ensure compliance.

In January 2022, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced the introduction of a new Corporate Tax (CT) rule. This rule becomes applicable either on 1 June 2023 or on 1 January 2024, depending on the financial year followed by the business. It is, therefore, crucial for companies to know how to calculate UAE Corporate Tax to ensure compliance.

Who is a qualifying free zone person as per the UAE laws and what are the corporate tax obligations for such businesses? Read on to learn more.

By introducing 'Small Business Relief' under the UAE corporate tax regime, the government aims to support the growth of the small business sector. This initiative offers small businesses exemption from the corporate tax payment if they meet the given conditions. Such companies can now focus on their expansion and contribute to the country's economic growth.

The UAE Corporate Tax law levies a 9% tax on company profits over AED 375,000, while profits below this threshold are exempt. However, not all businesses are subject to this tax, and understanding the conditions for exemption is crucial for effective financial planning.

Corporate Tax in UAE stands effective, starting June 2023. This big change requires companies across the UAE to be ready for its implementation. It is crucial to learn how this tax will affect the legal, financial, and operational aspects of enterprises.

We're buzzing with excitement here at Alaan, and we can't wait to share that we're now the first and only spend management company in the UAE to embrace Apple Pay! It's a big deal, and we're here to spill the beans on why this is a game-changer.

With the introduction of Corporate Tax in the UAE, it has become important for businesses to review and align their operations closely. While some companies in Free Zones can still enjoy a 0% tax on qualifying income, there are certain conditions that they must satisfy. More on UAE Corporate Tax for Free Zone in this blog!

Dealing with petty cash can be tough. Moving even a small amount of cash around and making sure everything adds up can cause a lot of stress for businesses. Here’s how Alaan can help you get rid of petty cash worries!

Businesses, big and small, are meticulous about managing their finances. Every Dirham counts, and businesses have strict policies to track and account for their money. However, one aspect that is often overlooked is petty cash management. Many businesses still cling to outdated manual methods to manage their petty cash, unaware of the burden it places on their financial processes.

For businesses operating within the dynamic markets of the Middle East, meticulous management of finances, down to the last Dirham, is crucial for maintaining a healthy bottom line. Avoiding discrepancies between your expenses and the entries in your financial logbooks is essential. While larger expenses are easier to track due to stringent checks, ensuring compliance for minor expenses, like managing petty cash, poses a different challenge.

When it comes to corporate card rewards, the decision between reward points and cash back can feel like standing at a crossroads. Each path offers its own set of benefits, but which one should you opt for? Let’s take a closer look at exactly how corporate card cashback and points work, and how you can choose between the two.

From small marketplaces to high-end retail outlets, the convenience of card transactions has become a hallmark of the UAE's commitment to adopting financial tech. Prepaid corporate cards, in this context, come up as a practical and strategic choice for companies operating in the UAE. Explore more in this blog.

Achieving ISO 27001 certification entails a rigorous audit process and the audit of Alaan’s systems and processes found no exceptions to the ISO/IEC 27001 industry standards as defined by the ISO.

Every year, companies around the world spend an average of 1.8 million AED (0.5m USD) and nearly 3,000 hours fixing errors in expense reports. Imagine the horror that finance and accounting teams have to incur, day in and day out. Read this blog to explore whether this problem can be solved not.

Setting clear financial goals, gathering data to make informed decisions, and prioritizing your spending are just a few things you'll learn in this blog. But it's packed with much more. Whether you're an experienced finance leader or new to the field, this guide provides fundamental budgeting strategies for everyone.

Ever wondered what's driving the surge in card payments across the UAE? The numbers don't lie - they're set to reach a staggering 345.2 billion AED by 2025, but that's not all; the real game-changer is the rapid rise of virtual cards, expected to hit a whopping 220 billion AED by 2030. Read this blog to take a closer look at how virtual cards are changing the world of B2B payments.

Here's the thing: choosing the right software as a CFO isn't as simple as picking your favorite app. It's a big decision that can have a big impact. In this article, we'll break down the process of picking the right accounting software into easy steps.

If you're a marketer looking to manage your budget with ease and avoid those end-of-the-month invoice hassles, this blog is for you. Read up to find out how corporate cards can really make your life easier.

Have you ever wondered why your finance managers and accountants keep reminding you to keep your receipts and invoices? It's because these little pieces of paper can make a big difference for your business, and neglecting to collect and document these records can have significant repercussions. Let's get into it.

Petty cash management might not be the most exciting part of running a business, but it's a crucial one. However, the traditional manual ways of handling petty cash just aren't cutting it anymore. Explore our blog to see why it's high time your company considers modernizing its petty cash management practices and embracing automated solutions.‍

You might think spend management is only for businesses keeping tabs on their expenses. But, here's the plot twist: it's becoming a game-changer for accounting firms, especially when they're handling Value Added Tax (VAT) and Corporate Tax. So, why should your accounting firm hop on the spend management bandwagon? Read our blog to find out.

Have you ever noticed that many people tend to mix up receipts and invoices, even though they play distinct roles in accounting? It's a common source of confusion. In this blog, we'll clarify the differences between invoices and receipts, discussing why these distinctions are essential for your business's financial well-being.

Business expense categories are essential for organizing finances effectively. They group similar expenses, making it easy to see where your money goes, aiding budgeting, tax prep, and financial reporting. Let's explore them in depth in this blog.

‍Finance automation has evolved from a mere buzzword to an essential change that every organization should adopt. This shift toward automation enables businesses to focus on more important tasks and make data-backed decisions. Read our blog to know more.

Having real-time visibility into your company's spending is absolutely crucial today. Traditional financial methods that rely on past data can't keep up with today's fast-paced business environment. Our latest blog touches upon how real-time spend visibility isn't just good; it's a must-have.

The "One-Click Accounting Export" is a time-saving feature for accounting and finance professionals. Read our blog to understand the feature in depth and how it can help your organisation.

At times, you might have to scan documents with handwritten notes or pages from a printed book. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) can be really helpful for this. In this blog, we'll explain how this technology works and why it's so useful.

It's 2023 and we're faced with a big question: Is carbon tracking in finance a good thing or just a hassle? Let's break it down, so we can figure out why it matters and how it can change the way finance contributes to sustainability.

Did you know that according to McKinsey, AI has the potential to contribute up to $1 trillion annually to global banking? Curious about how it's making this impact? Dive into our latest blog to uncover how AI's journey in finance is reshaping the financial landscape!

We are excited to partner up with the Entrepreneurial Nation program to provide the members of the initiative our cutting-edge Spend Management solution!

Curious about how to effectively tackle financial waste and improve cost control in organizations with practical strategies? Read our latest publication to know more!

In our latest blog, we listed out what you can do to create the best possible financial control system - helping you manage risks, ensure compliance, and drive better financial decision-making.

Handling the finances of multiple entities together is a pain, check out how a spend management system can help change that!

Did you know, Alaan can read VAT automatically from receipts and invoices and sync it with accounting tools? Find out more in this blog!

Alaan's research boiled down to 6 winning factors which successful businesses in the Middle East share. We dive deeper into them through this blog.

Alaan is officially the first Middle Eastern FinTech to integrate OpenAI - check out what this means for users of the platform!

There’s no doubt about it—2023 is shaping up to be a big year for Fintech in the UAE. In this blog post, take a look at what we at Alaan envision this space evolving going ahead.

There's a need to arm yourself with everything possible to streamline your corporate taxes - check out what spend management systems are and how they can help your business lower its tax obligation.

In this first post of the blog series, lets get an overview of corporate tax calculations, including the corporate tax rate in the UAE and how it impacts companies.

Using petty cash in a startups requires clear policies and procedures, responsible individuals to manage it, detailed records, regular reconciliation, and regular replenishment. The decision to invest in petty cash funds could vary from business to business.

Outsourcing accounting services can provide startups with a range of benefits, including saving time and resources, access to expert knowledge and skills, compliance with regulations, and flexibility and scalability. These benefits can help startups manage their finances effectively and focus on other areas of their business.

We strive to get better every day to simplify tracking expenditures for you. Alaan is here with yet another product update to streamline your business expenses even more.

Alaan is an all-in-one spend management platform powered by smart corporate cards. Alaan entrusts employees to purchase what they must to get the job done while giving business owners and finance teams comprehensive control and visibility on business spending.

Traditionally, expense reports were used exclusively for the purpose of tracking all the transactions being made. Needless to say, the method was time taking and prone to error. Here are few of the best practices that a company can implement to manage business expenses seamlessly.

For a company of any size, using personal cards for business expenses is never ideal. While it may seem convenient especially when you’re starting out, it can become quite chaotic when it is time to do the books at the end of the financial year.

It's not ideal to let employees pay out of their pocket and try to get it reimbursed month on month. With Alaan, you can issue unlimited cards for employees & track your business spend in real time.

As a business owner or finance manager, it's your responsibility to make sure that company funds are being spent wisely. That means having a good system in place that can automate end-to-end expense management for you.

We’ve raised $2.5M in seed funding. We are the Middle East's first multi-currency spend management platform enabling SMEs to spend through corporate cards and automated invoice payments.