Deloitte launches Middle East International Tax Services Centre and relocates John Belsey from London to Dubai to focus on M&A Tax
Deloitte announced today that it has launched a new International Tax Center of Excellence in Dubai to serve clients in the Middle East.
Clients headquartered in the Middle East as well as investors in the region are offered a full suite of services that includes structuring groups with inbound and outbound investments within the Middle East, transfer pricing services, VAT services and transactional tax services.
David Sproul, Deloitte’s tax practice leader for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, commented during a visit to Dubai to launch the center, “My visit to the region and to clients here demonstrates the investment Deloitte is making in the Middle East and acknowledges the ever-growing role we expect Middle East companies to take on the global stage. In meeting a number of our clients over the last few days, all, without exception, have indicated that they expect to continue to invest and do business internationally when the right opportunities arise and they acknowledge that this has resulted in the role of trusted tax adviser developing into one of critical importance.”
“We are committed to being at the fore in terms of supporting our clients in the region,” said Nauman Ahmed, partner in charge for Tax Advisory Services in Deloitte Middle East. “As tax regimes in our region become more developed, and as the appetite for international business transactions and agreements continues, our clients will increasingly require a range of expanding tax services which we are well placed to deliver.”
John Belsey has relocated to Dubai to lead Deloitte’s International Tax Services and the Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) tax practice in the Middle East. Previously a tax partner in Deloitte’s London M&A team, John will focus on building Dubai as a centre of excellence for International Tax services within the region, supported by a growing team of experienced tax advisers who are also relocating to Dubai working alongside Deloitte’s existing UAE based tax team. John has over 13 years of experience advising global clients with Deloitte and prior to relocation, John led Deloitte’s relationships with some of Deloitte’s largest global clients including the BBC and Cendant Corporation as well as advising on many of the largest recent global transactions in the corporate and private equity arena. John also had the responsibility of leading Deloitte’s tax services to the UK Government and public sector. “I am thrilled to be joining the growing Middle East tax team,” said John Belsey.”This is an exciting time for the region as it has undergone phenomenal growth over the last few years and even in these more difficult economic times, it is clear that Middle East businesses continue to significantly invest and transact across borders. There is a real need for such businesses to seek tax advice to ensure they do their business in a tax efficient manner and I believe our strong capabilities as a team will drive us forward in our delivery of unparalleled tax services.”
Deloitte tax practices were recently ranked at the highest levels by The International Tax Review, one of the most authoritative publications in the global tax field, in its 2009 World Tax rankings. Of 52 jurisdictions examined, 47 Deloitte tax practices were ranked in the top two levels (Tier 1 and Tier 2) which are assigned to practices that have the greatest depth of resources, experience, rage of specialties, and are considered the best overall for tax in their respective locales. Among other achievements, 211 Deloitte tax professionals — a 53 percent increase over 2008 — were named as leaders in the 2009 World Tax guide.