SBC Tax Consulting LLC, a specialist tax advisory firm headquartered in Dubai, UAE, has been shortlisted for nine categories at the ITR Middle East Tax Awards 2026, according to the official shortlist published by International Tax Review on 13 August 2026.
The shortlist includes Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year – United Arab Emirates, along with eight regional categories covering diversity, equity and inclusion, tax policy, tax innovation, tax technology, transfer pricing technology, real estate tax, tax disputes and litigation, and tax advisory.
The nine shortlistings place SBC Tax Consulting LLC among the firms recognised by ITR in the 2026 Middle East awards programme across both UAE-specific and regional categories.
For SBC Tax Consulting, the recognition comes at a time when the UAE tax environment continues to develop, with Corporate Tax, transfer pricing, international tax, compliance, technology and regulatory readiness becoming important considerations for businesses operating in the UAE and across the Gulf.
SBC Tax Consulting UAE: ITR Middle East Tax Awards 2026 at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Shortlisted firm | SBC Tax Consulting LLC |
| Headquarters | Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| Awards programme | ITR Middle East Tax Awards 2026 |
| Award organiser | International Tax Review |
| Shortlist published | 13 August 2026 |
| Total shortlistings | 9 |
| UAE jurisdiction categories | 1 |
| Regional categories | 8 |
| Winners announced | 8 October 2026 |
| Ceremony location | Address Sky View Dubai |
International Tax Review states that the Middle East awards ceremony will be held jointly with the IFLR Middle East Awards on 8 October 2026 at Address Sky View Dubai.
How Many Categories Is SBC Tax Consulting Shortlisted For?
SBC Tax Consulting LLC is shortlisted for nine categories at the ITR Middle East Tax Awards 2026.
The nine shortlistings comprise one United Arab Emirates jurisdiction award and eight regional awards.
| No. | ITR Middle East Tax Awards 2026 Category | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year | United Arab Emirates |
| 2 | Diversity Equity & Inclusion Firm of the Year | Regional |
| 3 | Tax Policy Firm of the Year | Regional |
| 4 | Tax Innovator of the Year | Regional |
| 5 | Tax Technology Firm of the Year | Regional |
| 6 | Transfer Pricing Technology Firm of the Year | Regional |
| 7 | Real Estate Tax Firm of the Year | Regional |
| 8 | Tax Disputes & Litigation Firm of the Year | Regional |
| 9 | Tax Firm of the Year | Regional |
For the official shortlist, visit International Tax Review – ITR Middle East Tax Awards 2026: Shortlist Announced.
What Is the ITR Middle East Tax Awards 2026?
The ITR Middle East Tax Awards are part of International Tax Review’s global awards programme, which recognises achievements in tax law, transfer pricing and accountancy across major regions. ITR describes its awards as recognising innovative firms, in-house teams and individual practitioners, with research incorporating written evidence, client interviews and peer input.
Learn more about the programme through the ITR Awards – About the Awards.
For the Middle East edition, ITR says the awards cover areas including indirect tax, disputes, transfer pricing and direct tax, with regional recognition also extending to areas such as tax compliance, policy and other tax-related disciplines.
The 2026 Middle East shortlist was published on 13 August 2026. The winners are scheduled to be announced in Dubai on 8 October 2026.
The official announcement is available at International Tax Review – ITR Middle East Tax Awards 2026: shortlist announced.
About SBC Tax Consulting LLC, UAE
SBC Tax Consulting LLC is a specialist tax advisory firm headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, serving multinational enterprises and regional businesses across the Gulf and beyond.
The UAE practice provides tax and advisory services across areas including:
- Transfer Pricing
- UAE Corporate Tax
- International Tax
- VAT
- Audit and Dispute Resolution
- Anti-Money Laundering
- Tax Technology
- Technology-enabled compliance and advisory solutions
The firm’s published Transfer Pricing services include areas such as transfer pricing planning, benchmarking, documentation, related-party transaction analysis and support for businesses navigating UAE transfer pricing requirements.
The UAE practice works with businesses operating in the UAE and across the wider Gulf and international markets.
Learn more about SBC Tax Consulting LLC in the UAE.
View the firm’s UAE Tax and Advisory Services.
View the firm’s Dubai Contact Details.
The UAE Tax Environment and SBC Tax Consulting
The UAE tax landscape has developed substantially in recent years.
The UAE Corporate Tax framework was established under Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 on the Taxation of Corporations and Businesses, applying to financial years beginning on or after 1 June 2023, subject to the rules and conditions in the law and implementing decisions.
Read the UAE Ministry of Finance Corporate Tax overview.
Transfer pricing is an important part of this framework for businesses with transactions involving Related Parties and Connected Persons.
See the Federal Tax Authority Corporate Tax FAQs for official guidance.
See the Federal Tax Authority Transfer Pricing Guide for transfer pricing guidance.
The UAE Corporate Tax Law also establishes the arm’s length principle for transactions and arrangements between Related Parties and provides for recognised transfer pricing methods.
The legislation can be reviewed in the Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022.
The Ministry of Finance has also issued Ministerial Decision on Transfer Pricing Documentation Requirements.
Transfer Pricing: A Core Area of the ITR Shortlist
One of the nine categories in which SBC Tax Consulting is shortlisted is Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year – United Arab Emirates.
Transfer pricing concerns the pricing and terms applied to transactions between Related Parties.
In practice, this can involve transactions such as:
- Intercompany services
- Management and support services
- Financing arrangements
- Royalties and intellectual property
- Distribution arrangements
- Procurement and shared services
- Business restructuring
- Other related-party transactions
The UAE Corporate Tax Law requires transactions between Related Parties to meet the arm’s length standard.
Learn more about SBC Transfer Pricing Services in the UAE.
Tax Technology and Transfer Pricing Technology
Two of SBC’s regional shortlistings are particularly focused on technology: Tax Technology Firm of the Year and Transfer Pricing Technology Firm of the Year.
Tax functions increasingly deal with large amounts of financial, transactional and compliance data.
Technology can support activities such as:
- Data collection and organisation
- Tax workflow management
- Compliance tracking
- Documentation management
- Benchmarking processes
- Related-party transaction analysis
- Reporting
- Monitoring and governance
SBC’s UAE website identifies technology-led compliance and automation as part of its broader offering, alongside its specialist tax practices.
Explore the firm’s Tax Technology and Automation capabilities.
Tax Innovation and the Changing Role of Tax Advisory
SBC Tax Consulting is also shortlisted for Tax Innovator of the Year.
Tax innovation can involve more than adopting new software.
It can include changes in how tax teams:
- collect and validate data
- manage compliance
- monitor transactions
- prepare documentation
- assess tax risk
- respond to regulatory developments
- integrate tax processes with finance and operational systems
For businesses operating across multiple jurisdictions, these processes can become increasingly complex.
A technology-enabled approach can help connect tax analysis with the underlying commercial and financial information used by the business.
Learn more about SBC Tax Technology and Advisory Solutions.
International Tax and Cross-Border Advisory
SBC Tax Consulting is headquartered in Dubai and works with multinational enterprises and regional businesses across the Gulf and beyond.
Cross-border structures can create tax questions involving:
- Double tax treaties
- International tax structuring
- Permanent establishment
- Place of effective management
- BEPS-related obligations
- Global minimum tax
- Transfer pricing
- Cross-border financing
- Group restructuring
SBC’s International Tax practice includes advisory relating to international tax structuring, BEPS Pillar Two, effective tax rate modelling, Permanent Establishment and POEM matters, and global tax governance and compliance support.
Learn more about SBC International Tax Services.
Corporate Tax Advisory in the UAE
The UAE Corporate Tax regime has created a continuing requirement for businesses to assess their tax positions, compliance obligations and governance frameworks.
SBC’s Corporate Tax practice supports businesses across mainland, free zone and multinational structures, covering areas such as Corporate Tax advisory and structuring, Qualifying Free Zone Person assessment, compliance and reporting, tax residency and cross-border Corporate Tax matters, and tax governance.
The UAE Ministry of Finance states that the Corporate Tax regime applies to financial years beginning on or after 1 June 2023, subject to the rules and conditions contained in the law and implementing decisions.
Learn more about UAE Corporate Tax Services.
Tax Disputes, Audit Readiness and Regulatory Defence
Another regional category in which SBC Tax Consulting is shortlisted is Tax Disputes & Litigation Firm of the Year.
A tax dispute can involve the interpretation of legislation, review of financial and transactional evidence, authority correspondence, documentation and the defence of a taxpayer’s technical position.
SBC’s Audit & Dispute Resolution practice describes a structured approach covering pre-audit preparation, dispute assessment, authority response, audit representation and ongoing governance.
Learn more about SBC Audit & Dispute Resolution Services.
Real Estate Tax Advisory
SBC Tax Consulting is also shortlisted for Real Estate Tax Firm of the Year, a regional category covering tax advisory within the real estate sector.
Real estate structures can involve multiple tax considerations depending on the nature of the investment, ownership structure, financing, development activity, transaction and the entities involved.
This can become more complex where real estate businesses operate across multiple entities or jurisdictions.
Tax Policy and Regulatory Developments
SBC Tax Consulting is also listed by ITR in the regional Tax Policy Firm of the Year category.
Tax policy and regulation remain important considerations for businesses operating in the UAE because the tax environment continues to evolve through legislation, Cabinet Decisions, Ministerial Decisions, Federal Tax Authority guidance and other regulatory developments.
For current official Corporate Tax materials, refer to the UAE Ministry of Finance Tax resources.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Broader Tax Recognition
The ITR regional shortlist also includes Diversity Equity & Inclusion Firm of the Year and the broader Tax Firm of the Year category, both of which include SBC Tax Consulting.
Together with the technology, policy, innovation, transfer pricing, real estate and disputes categories, the shortlist covers a broad range of areas within the tax profession.
This gives the 2026 recognition a multi-disciplinary character rather than being limited to one specialist tax practice.
SBC Tax Consulting’s Global Network
SBC Tax Consulting describes itself as part of the Kreston Global network, which it says brings together more than 155 independent accounting and advisory firms and more than 30,000 professionals across more than 100 countries.
Learn more about the firm’s global network and international capabilities.
For a Dubai-based advisory practice working with multinational and regional businesses, international network connectivity can be relevant when UAE tax matters need to be coordinated with requirements in another jurisdiction.
SBC Tax Consulting UAE: Local Connect. Global Outlook.
SBC’s UAE positioning is built around its Dubai presence and its ability to combine local regulatory understanding with international tax and advisory capabilities.
The firm describes its approach as combining local regulatory depth with global coordination, while maintaining specialist teams focused on areas such as transfer pricing, corporate tax, international tax, audit and disputes, VAT and AML.
This model is particularly relevant to businesses whose tax questions do not stop at one jurisdiction.
A UAE company may have a parent company overseas. A multinational group may have subsidiaries or related parties in several countries. A growing regional business may be entering new markets.
In each case, tax and transfer pricing positions can require coordination between local requirements and the broader group structure.
What Does the ITR Shortlist Mean for SBC Tax Consulting?
The current ITR recognition confirms that SBC Tax Consulting LLC is shortlisted across nine categories in the 2026 ITR Middle East Tax Awards.
The categories cover both specialist and broader areas of tax:
- Transfer Pricing
- Tax Technology
- Transfer Pricing Technology
- Tax Innovation
- Tax Policy
- Tax Disputes & Litigation
- Real Estate Tax
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
- Tax Advisory
The shortlist therefore provides a single recognition point across several areas represented within SBC’s UAE practice.
It is important, however, to distinguish a shortlisting from a final award result.
As of the publication of this article, SBC Tax Consulting LLC is shortlisted. The winners are scheduled to be announced on 8 October 2026.
What Happens Next?
The winners of the ITR Middle East Tax Awards 2026 will be announced at the joint ITR and IFLR awards ceremony on 8 October 2026 at Address Sky View Dubai.
SBC Tax Consulting LLC, UAE, has been shortlisted for nine categories at the ITR Middle East Tax Awards 2026.
The nine categories include one UAE jurisdiction category and eight regional categories.
Following the official awards announcement, this article can be updated with the final results.
Frequently asked questions
Is SBC Tax Consulting shortlisted for the ITR Middle East Tax Awards 2026?
Yes. SBC Tax Consulting LLC, UAE, is shortlisted across nine categories at the ITR Middle East Tax Awards 2026.
How many categories is SBC Tax Consulting shortlisted for?
SBC Tax Consulting is shortlisted for nine categories, comprising one UAE jurisdiction category and eight regional categories.
Which UAE ITR award is SBC Tax Consulting shortlisted for?
SBC Tax Consulting is shortlisted for Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year – United Arab Emirates.
Which regional ITR awards include SBC Tax Consulting?
SBC Tax Consulting is shortlisted regionally for Diversity Equity & Inclusion Firm of the Year, Tax Policy Firm of the Year, Tax Innovator of the Year, Tax Technology Firm of the Year, Transfer Pricing Technology Firm of the Year, Real Estate Tax Firm of the Year, Tax Disputes & Litigation Firm of the Year, and Tax Firm of the Year.
Who organises the ITR Middle East Tax Awards?
The ITR Middle East Tax Awards are organised by International Tax Review (ITR).
When will the ITR Middle East Tax Awards 2026 winners be announced?
The winners are scheduled to be announced on 8 October 2026 at the IFLR Middle East Awards ceremony at Address Sky View Dubai.
Where is SBC Tax Consulting LLC headquartered?
SBC Tax Consulting LLC is headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
What services does SBC Tax Consulting provide in the UAE?
SBC’s published UAE practice covers Transfer Pricing, Corporate Tax, International Tax, Audit & Dispute Resolution, VAT and Anti-Money Laundering, along with technology-led tax and compliance solutions.
Does SBC Tax Consulting advise multinational businesses?
Yes. SBC states that it advises multinational enterprises and regional businesses across the Gulf and beyond.
Does UAE transfer pricing apply to transactions with foreign related parties?
Yes. The Federal Tax Authority states that UAE transfer pricing rules apply to transactions involving Related Parties and Connected Persons whether they are located in the UAE mainland, a Free Zone or a foreign jurisdiction.
About SBC Tax Consulting LLC
SBC Tax Consulting LLC is a specialist tax advisory firm headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, serving multinational enterprises and regional businesses across the Gulf and beyond.
The firm’s UAE practice covers Transfer Pricing, Corporate Tax, International Tax, Audit & Dispute Resolution, VAT and Anti-Money Laundering, supported by technology-enabled compliance and advisory solutions.
SBC combines specialist tax expertise, practical implementation and international network connectivity to support businesses navigating UAE and cross-border tax matters.
How SBC Tax Consulting can help
- Transfer Pricing Services
- Corporate Tax Services
- International Tax Services
- Audit & Dispute Resolution Services
- SBC Tax Technology and Advisory Services
- Contact SBC Tax Consulting LLC
Official and supporting sources
- International Tax Review – ITR Middle East Tax Awards 2026: shortlist announced
- International Tax Review – About the Awards
- UAE Ministry of Finance – Corporate Tax
- Federal Tax Authority – Corporate Tax FAQs
- Federal Tax Authority – Transfer Pricing Guide
- UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022
- UAE Ministry of Finance – Transfer Pricing Documentation Requirements