Renan Ozturk

Partner & Head of Tax (Middle East)

Gateley Middle East

Renan Ozturk

Expertise

Renan is a partner and the Head of Tax at Gateley Middle East, leading the firm’s Middle East tax practice from Dubai.

Renan specialises in UAE and GCC tax advisory, with particular expertise across international tax, indirect taxes, financial services tax, transaction advisory and complex cross-border tax matters. He advises a broad range of clients including multinational groups, financial institutions, family offices, private businesses and high-growth companies operating across the Middle East.

With more than 15 years of experience in the region, Renan has built and led tax teams across the Middle East and is recognised for combining deep technical expertise with commercially-focused, pragmatic advice. He has extensive experience supporting clients through large-scale business transformations, regulatory change, operating model redesigns, transactions and disputes involving regional tax authorities.

Before joining Gateley, Renan held senior leadership roles at international advisory firms where he played a key role in establishing and scaling tax practices across the GCC. He has advised on some of the region’s most complex and high-profile tax matters, particularly within the financial services, private capital and corporate sectors.

At Gateley Middle East, Renan is focused on building an integrated tax and legal offering across the region, delivering joined-up solutions that combine legal and tax expertise under one platform.

How do you help clients? 

I help clients navigate complex tax and regulatory challenges across the UAE and wider GCC in a practical and commercially-focused way. I enjoy thinking outside the box to help businesses and investors find innovative, tax-efficient solutions that manage risk, create value and support their wider commercial objectives. I particularly enjoy working with clients to simplify complex issues and identify opportunities for greater tax efficiency and long-term savings.

Experience

  1. Supported a GCC MoF with the legislative drafting of tax procedures legislation and VAT laws as part of the introduction and development of the country’s wider tax framework.
  2. Led indirect tax advisory engagements for major financial institutions (such as Mashreq, Dubai Islamic Bank, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Standard Chartered and HSBC) and investment groups across the Middle East, including VAT impact assessments, governance frameworks, tax authority queries and complex technical interpretations.
  3. Supported the UAE Banks Federation with tax advocacy initiatives relating to unclear and evolving indirect tax matters impacting the banking sector in the UAE.
  4. Supported the DIFC Insurance Association on Corporate Tax matters and the application of Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) rules to insurance brokers, intermediaries and branch structures operating within the DIFC.
  5. Supported the KSA CFO Banking Committee through advocacy and technical engagement with ZATCA in relation to unclear VAT and Zakat matters affecting both private and corporate banking operations.
  6. Supported multinational clients with the tax aspects of acquisitions, disposals and regional restructurings across the UAE and wider GCC, including due diligence, transaction structuring and post-deal integration planning.
  7. Advised multinational groups and regional businesses on the implementation of VAT, Corporate Tax and Pillar Two readiness strategies across the GCC, including operating model reviews (from a TP perspective), restructuring considerations and cross-border tax implications.
  8. Assisted clients in responding to complex tax authority audits, reviews and disputes across the GCC, including managing technical submissions, negotiations and remediation strategies.