What VAT records must a UAE business keep for property transactions?

A VAT-registered business in the UAE must keep records that let the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) verify how VAT was charged, recovered and reported on its property dealings. In practice this means retaining tax invoices issued and received, sale and lease contracts, evidence of the property's classification (commercial, residential or designated-zone), proof of how the property is used (to support input-tax recovery and any apportionment), VAT return calculations, and credit or debit notes. These records support both the output VAT you charge on commercial sales and leases and the input VAT you reclaim on costs. The FTA can request and inspect them, and missing or inadequate records can undermine a recovery claim or lead to assessments and penalties. Keep documents organised by transaction and retain them for the period required under the VAT record-keeping rules, which you should confirm with the FTA as it is a legal minimum. Because property transactions often involve apportionment and special treatments, maintain a clear audit trail. For setting up compliant record-keeping, you can compare verified UAE legal and tax professionals on LEXAI.