Mecca land prices rise against trend


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Makkah Construction & Development Company (MCDC) is expected to be protected against the price declines experienced in other markets, as its land prices in the holy city of Mecca continue to rise.

"The properties are not only shielded from downturns but also benefit from development spending," said a research note by the Bahrain brokerage TAIB Securities.

Most of MCDC's properties and development projects are located in Mecca, and those projects are considered to be the bedrock of the company.

TAIB Securities has a target price of 35 riyals and an "overweight" rating on the stock. Shares in the company have risen 9.5 per cent since August but closed down 0.32 per cent at 31.2 riyals yesterday.

More than 10 million Muslim pilgrims from 140 countries visit Mecca and Medina annually for the haj and umrah, contributing 30 billion riyals a year.

Property investment in the two Saudi cities account for 40 per cent of the kingdom's total.

"MCDC is well placed to leverage these opportunities," the report said.

Asim Bukhtiar, an equities analyst at Riyad Capital, said: "I think [property in Mecca] is very attractive so they can charge a premium."

Mr Bukhtiar said the option for timeshare, which is available to even non-Saudi residents, made the company more attractive.

But he said prices were still attractive compared with the rest of the GCC.

In the next few years, the areas around the Grand Mosque in Mecca are expected to witness rapid development, including the construction of five-star hotels, 4,500 shops, a central transport station, prayer facilities for more than 200,000 worshippers and parking space for 12,000 vehicles.

TAIB is boosting its forecast for full-year net profit by 22.5 per cent to 303.8m riyals.

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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