Article 1112.5%● Modified by MLI
Article 11 - Interest
Interest arising in one State and paid to a resident of the other may be taxed in the recipient's State, with the source State retaining a withholding right at the treaty rate.
The India-UAE DTAA withholding rate on interest is 12.5%. Reduced to 5% if recipient is a financial institution.
Exemptions: Interest paid to the Government of the other State, the Central Bank, or government-owned financial institutions is typically exempt from source taxation under most India treaties. Interest on NRI deposits in Indian banks (NRE/FCNR accounts) is exempt under domestic law (Section 21 of IT Act 2025).
Beneficial owner test: As with dividends, the treaty rate applies only to the beneficial owner, not back-to-back conduits.