Dubai billionaire businessman Khalaf Al Habtoor has urged the UAE leadership to reconsider fees such as VAT while also renewing his call to lift the ban on VoIP services such as Skype and WhatsApp.

“Our region is going through tough political conditions that affect the economic climate in general,” the founder and chairman of conglomerate Al Habtoor Group said on Twitter.

The Emirati businessmen urged UAE leaders “to reconsider some of the laws, practices and fees imposed, which will have a positive impact on the economy”.

The UAE imposed a 5 per cent value added tax (VAT) on goods and services in January 2018.