The Cabinet approved a draft-law on ratifying the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) unified selective excise tax on unhealthy drinks on 16th October 2017.

The Cabinet has endorsed an excise tax bill that would impose a 100% tax on tobacco products, energy drinks and harmful goods to human health and 50% tax on carbonated beverages.

The bill also regulates the treatment of tax exemption cases, tax evasion procedures, tax retrieval, and also regulates registration and licensing process. The GCC agreement on excise tax establishes a unified framework for the policies and means of collecting the tax in Gulf countries.