Bahrain's move to introduce a value-added tax, days after Gulf allies pledged a $10 billion aid package, will boost the kingdom's non-oil revenues and stabilize the public debt burden, analysts said.
Imposing a five per cent VAT in 2019, combined with wider financial measures, sends a positive signal to the market that Bahrain is serious about fiscal reform, analysts said. Fitch Solutions forecasts a 25 per cent jump in non-oil revenues in 2019 after the introduction of VAT.
"On the whole, VAT implementation is a welcome step towards non-oil revenue generation and evidence of Bahrain’s institutional capacity to respond to its current vulnerable fiscal position," Ehsan Khoman, head of Mena research and strategy at MUFG Bank, said.
Bahrain's legislators on Sunday approved a draft law to introduce VAT for the first time in the country, joining the UAE and Saudi Arabia who implemented the tax in January. The move came after the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait extended a $10bn aid package to the kingdom that is tied to a set of fiscal reforms. The funds will help stabilize Bahrain's economy after a three-year drop in oil prices weakened growth. The kingdom last week announced a 33-page fiscal plan aimed at eliminating the budget deficit by 2022 as it tries to ease the economy's dependence on oil by finding alternative sources of revenue.
Gross domestic product of Bahrain, which has the smallest GCC economy, is projected expand by 3.2 per cent this year down from 3.8 per cent in 2017, according to the International Monetary Fund. The kingdom which had a 13.2 per cent fiscal deficit last year and 18 per cent in 2016, has seen its debt to GDP ratio surge to above 80 per cent from 43.6 per cent in 2013.
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S&P Global Ratings estimates the introduction of VAT could increase government revenues by about 1.8 per cent of GDP in 2019.
"We believe this is the key measure in the government’s plan to increase non-oil revenues," said Trevor Cullinan, Director, Sovereign Credit Analyst, S&P Global Ratings. "It will be helpful in reducing Bahrain’s fiscal deficit and diversifying government revenues away from the oil sector."
VAT will generate substantial growth in non-oil revenue – Fitch Solutions forecasts a 25 per cent jump in 2019.
"This is coming from a low base, so the impact on the fiscal deficit will be limited,” said Axel Dalman, Mena analyst at Fitch Solutions.
Levying the tax, combined with other planned measures, will come with some initial short-term headwinds but will put Bahrain on a more sustainable fiscal footing in the long-run, analysts said.
For consumers, VAT combined with broader fiscal reforms, could mean weaker consumer demand, less consumer spending and softer consumer confidence, analysts say.
"This will probably affect retailers of big-ticket items, like cars, the most, since consumers are likely to cut back on those types of purchases first," Mr Dalman said.
For the private sector, companies will face one-off administrative costs related to implementing VAT accounting and retailers of luxury goods will likely face weaker demand, he said.
Authorities will also face the task of implementing the tax within the coming months.
"Entities have a narrow timeframe window of less than three months to fully come to terms with the necessary technical and tax systems, as well as regulatory governance and compliance frameworks, in order to efficiently adhere to the 1 January 2019 start date," Mr Khoman said.
Arqaam Capital estimates revenues from VAT will reduce Bahrain's fiscal deficit by about one percentage point.
While introducing VAT is a step in the right direction, the government additionally needs to make deep spending cuts to reduce the budget and current account deficits in the medium term, analysts say.
Reining in the public wage bill, considering energy price reforms, streamlining public sector spending and continuing economic diversification efforts would help reduce the deficit, Jaap Meijer, managing director at Arqaam Capital, said.
These adjustments could initially temper economic growth in the kingdom but would ensure improved fiscal health, analysts say.
"Fundamentally, the implementation of VAT does point to an important policy shift towards leaning more on non-oil revenue, which will be positive for long-term fiscal stability - but only if such efforts are sustained and built on over a multi-year time period," Mr Dalman, said. "On its own, it is far from enough to plug Bahrain’s large fiscal gap."
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
Need to know
Unlike other mobile wallets and payment apps, a unique feature of eWallet is that there is no need to have a bank account, credit or debit card to do digital payments.
Customers only need a valid Emirates ID and a working UAE mobile number to register for eWallet account.
More from UAE Human Development Report:
THE SPECS
BMW X7 xDrive 50i
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: Eight-speed Steptronic transmission
Power: 462hp
Torque: 650Nm
Price: Dh600,000
The rules of the road keeping cyclists safe
Cyclists must wear a helmet, arm and knee pads
Have a white front-light and a back red-light on their bike
They must place a number plate with reflective light to the back of the bike to alert road-users
Avoid carrying weights that could cause the bike to lose balance
They must cycle on designated lanes and areas and ride safe on pavements to avoid bumping into pedestrians
The%20specs
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Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
Scoreline
Al Wasl 1 (Caio Canedo 90 1')
Al Ain 2 (Ismail Ahmed 3', Marcus Berg 50')
Red cards: Ismail Ahmed (Al Ain) 77'
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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A Long Way Home by Peter Carey
Faber & Faber
yallacompare profile
Date of launch: 2014
Founder: Jon Richards, founder and chief executive; Samer Chebab, co-founder and chief operating officer, and Jonathan Rawlings, co-founder and chief financial officer
Based: Media City, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: 120 employees
Investors: 2014: $500,000 in a seed round led by Mulverhill Associates; 2015: $3m in Series A funding led by STC Ventures (managed by Iris Capital), Wamda and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority; 2019: $8m in Series B funding with the same investors as Series A along with Precinct Partners, Saned and Argo Ventures (the VC arm of multinational insurer Argo Group)
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5