Dubai ends 30 percent tax on alcohol sales to boost tourism

Dubai ends 30 percent tax on alcohol sales to boost tourism

DUBAI –

Dubai ended its 30 percent tax on alcohol sales in the sheikhdom Sunday and made its required liquor licenses free to obtain, ending a long-standing source of revenue for its ruling family to apparently further boost tourism to the emirate.

The sudden New Year’s Day announcement, made by Dubai’s two state-linked alcohol retailers, came apparently from a government decree from its ruling Al Maktoum family.