CA’s Role in Building UAE’s Tax Future CA Naveen Sharma

Building the UAE’s tax future: CA Naveen Sharma’s journey and lessons for today’s accountants

CA Naveen Sharma’s story shines as an example of adaptability, curiosity, and the power of lifelong learning. From the pink city of Jaipur to becoming the first chartered accountant to receive the UAE Golden Visa, his journey mirrors the rapid changes in the UAE tax environment and what bold professionals can achieve with the right mindset.

Early life and family influence

Naveen Sharma grew up in Jaipur, India, surrounded by commerce and numbers from the start. With his father serving as an Income Tax Officer (ITO) and the family living in an income tax colony, the path seemed set. Sharma often jokes that the day he was born, it was decided he would become a chartered accountant (CA). Leaning into the family tradition, he chose the commerce stream and completed his CA, determined not to disappoint.

Non-stop learning: Collecting qualifications

After qualifying as a CA in 1990, Sharma didn’t stop learning. He believed in returning to the basics with every new discipline:

• Company Secretary (CS): To master legal compliance and improve his drafting skills.
• Post Diploma in Development and Investment Banking: Pursued during India’s early IPO boom.
• CPA (Certified Public Accountant): Gained while working for an American multinational to understand global accounting standards.
• CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst): To deepen international investment knowledge, especially in Dubai’s dollar-driven market.
• CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor): Learned IT audit principles as technology surged.
• CIA (Certified Internal Auditor): Focused on risk management and internal controls.

He picked up each certification to grasp new environments, believing every credential brought a sharper view of business and finance.

A turning point: Moving to the UAE

In 1998, Sharma moved to the UAE—a place with no tax, VAT, or personal income taxes at the time. It was a jolt for a lifelong tax professional suddenly in a tax-free society. Adapting meant shifting skills: learning about risk management, controls, and global business while adjusting to a new currency and a melting pot of over 200 nationalities. Continuous adaptation became essential as the UAE’s role in world markets grew.

Professional growth and leadership

Sharma’s early work in a British American company helped him find his feet in Dubai. By 2001, he joined the Al Shirawi Group, one of the Emirates’ biggest conglomerates, and has since enjoyed a long tenure there. His leadership grew further as chairman of the ICAI UAE Dubai Chapter, where he shaped discussions on finance and taxation in a changing landscape.

The UAE Golden Visa: Recognition and duty

On July 1, CA Day, Sharma made history as the first chartered accountant to receive the UAE Golden Visa. The honor wasn’t just personal. He saw it as a call to give back, recognizing the unique contributions CAs make to economic progress. Being singled out pushed him to do more for his peers and community.

Building the UAE Taxation Society

The fast-changing UAE tax scene inspired Sharma to launch the UAE Taxation Society. With no dedicated society for tax learning across lines of profession or nationality, Sharma stepped up.

Goals of the UAE Taxation Society:

• Provide clear tax education.
• Reskill members in new laws and systems.
• Promote tax compliance and a sense of community duty.

Activities include:

• Workshops and seminars for every sector, from tech and jewelry to solo entrepreneurs.
• Open membership with more than 1,500 members to date.
• Frequent meetings and not-for-profit operations, welcoming all residents regardless of background.

Books that demystify UAE Tax

Sharma has written two popular books: Beginner’s Guide to Corporate Tax and Decoding 3Ps of UAE Corporate Tax. His writing style is practical and straightforward, using case studies and clear scenarios to explain how UAE tax law works. He pushes readers to recognize that UAE corporate tax borrows global best practices—like the grouping concept from the Netherlands—making it different from India’s approach. His “3Ps” cover Permanent Establishment, Place of Effective Management, and Participation Exemption, with dozens of case studies to show the rules in action.

Leading during VAT rollout

As ICAI UAE Dubai Chapter Chairman during VAT’s introduction, Sharma spearheaded hundreds of educational efforts—partnering with embassies, media, and businesses. Thousands attended his workshops, helping the country prepare for a new tax era. Community engagement and knowledge-sharing were at the core of his leadership.

Advice for aspiring chartered accountants in the UAE

For those coming to the UAE today, Sharma shares four clear steps.

1. Research carefully: Understand tax, accounting, or investment opportunities.
2. Choose a focus: Direct or indirect tax, accounting, or investment roles.
3. Get certified: Stay current with technology and take digital or tax tech certifications.
4. Network and find mentors: Use professional groups and webinars to build connections and knowledge.

UAE’s openness to talent means well-prepared newcomers thrive.

Technology’s new chapter: e-Invoicing, AI, and blockchain

Sharma sees e-invoicing as the next big shift, making tax compliance tamper-proof and transparent. He highlights how tax isn’t just about numbers—it’s about systems and tech, with AI improving tax planning, fraud detection, and regulatory learning for both companies and regulators. Blockchain is set to power compliance for years, with Sharma’s society already creating bots to help with corporate tax and VAT, aiming to expand across GCC nations.

Learning from every generation

A school session showed Sharma the power of youth: students fact-checked and challenged him in real time using their phones. He calls it reverse mentoring, seeing every generation’s strengths and pushing for a growth mindset—adapting, learning, and listening even as experience grows.

More than numbers: The human side of CA Naveen Sharma

Beyond the office, Sharma’s passions include yoga and Bollywood. If he wasn’t a CA, he’d dedicate himself to medical yoga. When asked what movie title best describes his job, he picks 3 Idiots—celebrating learning, curiosity, and challenging the status quo. His dream dinner guests? Warren Buffett for investment outlook, tax expert Nilesh Vikrami, and Vin Gupta, who mastered global tax cultures.

Conclusion

Naveen Sharma’s path from Jaipur to Dubai is a story of resilience, humility, and staying curious. He believes that learning never ends—especially in a tax world that changes as fast as today’s technology. His advice is simple for new and future accountants: keep your mind open, invest in your skills, and let your work speak for itself.