John Dory Industry (wholesale trading of fish and seafood, shops & restaurant)
About
About the Client
John Dory is a 12-year seafood brand originating from Belarus, operating across seafood trading, retail fish shops, and restaurant concepts. John Dory launched Dubai's first head-to-tail seafood ecosystem at The Market Island, marking its expansion into the UAE in July 2025.
The challenge
The Challenge
After entering the UAE market in July 2025, John Dory needed clarity on how UAE VAT, Corporate Tax and local accounting rules apply to both sides of its business — seafood trading and retail/restaurant operations.
Even with an in-house accountant, the introduction of UAE Corporate Tax brought several areas of uncertainty, particularly around multi-activity operations. It was also important to have review of the in-house accountant in terms of understanding UAE specifics. The company approached InBusiness for:
- A written overview of VAT and Corporate Tax applicability and ad-hoc requests
- Support with_CIT and VAT submissions
- Guidance on payroll, WPS, and gratuity
- Ongoing clarification as Corporate Tax legislation evolves
Hiring a senior Corporate Tax specialist in-house was not cost-effective for a new UAE entity, making flexible expert support essential.
How we helped
How InBusiness Helped
- Delivered a written VAT & CIT applicability overview tailored to both business activities
- Highlighted risky areas and helped to rectify them before CIT and AT submissions
- Provided on-demand advisory on payroll, WPS, gratuity
- Supported with interpretation of evolving tax rules
The outcome
The Outcome
InBusiness helped John Dory establish a clear and compliant Corporate Tax and VAT structure for its UAE launch. The team continues to approach InBusiness from time to time for tax and payroll consultations, receiving expert guidance whenever needed. This helps John Dory to feel confident in compliance matters and focus more on setting up business processes and manage the business efficiently.
This flexible model is far more cost-effective than hiring a full-time local Corporate Tax specialist, while keeping their VAT, Corporate Tax, and payroll obligations aligned with evolving UAE regulations.
