Deloitte named top tax advisory firm in EMEA and the Middle East

Deloitte has been named the leading tax advisory firm in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at the International Tax Awards.

Held annually, the International Tax Awards by the same-named publication (ITR) recognize the outstanding achievements of tax firms and professionals over a 12-month period. The competition covers all segments of the tax space, including corporate taxation, transfer pricing, disputes, and indirect tax.

Unveiled at a ceremony in London, the EMEA awards saw Deloitte prevail as the awards’ top recipient, taking home awards in 16 of the 34 jurisdictions (more than any other firm), and 4 of the in total 12 regional EMEA awards, including the most prestigious of all – being named ‘Tax Firm of the Year’ for the entire region.

Deloitte was also named ‘Tax Firm of the Year’ in the Middle East, fending off four rivals during the grand finale (Al Tamimi & Company, Baker McKenzie, DLA Piper, and Eptalex-Aziz Torbey).

To come to its verdict, the independent jury assessed tax services providers based on their track record and performance, the quality of their tax methods, innovation, and their dedication to client service.

“This recognition reflects Deloitte’s commitment to supporting businesses throughout the ongoing tax reform across the region,” said Deloitte’s Tax leader for the Middle East, Muhammad Bahemia. “It reflects the strong quality of our Tax practice and the vision, clarity, and confidence that we bring to our clients. This award wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our tax team spread across the Middle East.”

Deloitte also bagged two high-profile awards in the individual categories. Hadeel Biyari, a partner at Deloitte in Saudi Arabia, was named a ‘rising star’ in the ‘Tax Disputes & Litigation’ category, while Kananelo Lethena, a senior manager at Deloitte in South Africa, was named a ‘rising star’ in the ‘Transfer Pricing’ category.

“A big congratulations to Hadeel for winning the award, it marks a great recognition of her pioneering work and leadership. Her expertise in tax litigation matters and her unwavering approach in addressing tax challenges led to this recognition,” said Bahemia.

The sole other Middle East regional prize went to law firm Baker McKenzie, named ‘Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year’.

The three other regional awards scooped by Deloitte were for ‘Tax Policy’, ‘Transfer Pricing’, and ‘Diversity & Inclusion’.

Commenting on the EMEA-wide recognition, Deloitte’s Global Leader for International Tax, Zubin Patel stated: “We are delighted with Deloitte’s remarkable performance in the EMEA Tax Awards. In a climate marked by complexity and change, our teams have continued to work collaboratively to make an impact that matters to our clients and society. The success at this year’s awards is a celebration of the trust our clients place in us in providing market-leading service offerings with vision, clarity, and confidence.”