Libya to resume oil production after force majeure lifted

Libya will resume oil production starting on Thursday after the National Oil Corporation (NOC) lifted force majeure at all oilfields and terminals.

The development came after the state-owned oil company received a "formal security assessment" to resume crude production and export operations at Sharara, El Feel and Es Sider, NOC said in a statement posted on its Facebook and X pages on Thursday.

The company declared force majeure at Sharara and El Feel oilfields on August 7 and September 2, respectively, and on September 12 at Es Sider amid political tension in the country. Force majeure refers to an unforeseen set of circumstances preventing a party from fulfilling a contract.

Libya remains split between the UN-recognised government in Tripoli, led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, and a rival administration in the east, supported by military commander Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar. Most of Libya's oilfields fall under the latter's control.

In August, Libya’s eastern government announced the shutdown of all oilfields, suspending production and exports. This followed a decision by a rival administration in Tripoli to remove Central Bank governor Sadiq Al Kabir, whose role was to distribute the country's oil revenue between the two governments.

Libya has some of the cheapest, largely sweet oil in northern Africa. But much of it remained offline following a bloody civil war that erupted between rival factions after the downfall of Muammar Qaddafi in 2011.

However, since 2020, oil production has been relatively stable in the Opec producer at between 1 and 1.1 million barrels per day, except for a short period in May-June 2022.

NOC aims to bolster oil production to 2.1 million bpd by 2025, from about 1.2 million bpd currently.

The latest development is expected to put downward pressure on oil prices going forward even as Middle East tension continues.

Oil prices rose on Thursday over concerns about potential disruption in crude oil supply from the region and following US President Joe Biden's comments that discussions are under way regarding potential Israeli air strikes on Iran's oil facilities.

“We’re discussing that. I think that would be a little … anyway,” Mr Biden said at the White House when asked if he supported Israel striking Iranian oil infrastructure.

Brent, the benchmark for two thirds of the world's oil, was trading 4.02 per cent higher at $76.87 a barrel at 7.24pm UAE time. West Texas Intermediate, the gauge that tracks US crude, was up 4.41 per cent to $73.19 per barrel.

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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.

8. Pillar 2 implementation

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

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