The UAE remains attractive with 0% personal income tax, but corporate tax rules now matter for businesses and holding vehicles.
The headline hasn’t changed—0% personal income tax. Salary and most investment income at the personal level remain untaxed. That keeps the UAE compelling for mobility plans.
Corporate tax arrived. A standard federal corporate income tax applies to relevant business profits. Free zones may offer 0% on qualifying income if substance and other conditions are met; non-qualifying income can be taxed. Verify latest cabinet/ministerial decisions.
Substance is center stage. Free zone entities should maintain real operations—staff, premises, governance. Group payments (service fees, royalties) must have transfer-pricing support.
Family structures. For a family-owned group, common stacks are: holding company in a free zone; operating subsidiaries onshore; investment vehicles for real estate and portfolios. Watch mixed income: proprietary investment may be exempt; active trading may not.
Inbound migration of assets. Re-domiciliation and step-up opportunities exist but require valuations, legal opinions, and a clear business purpose.
Banking & reporting. Expect source-of-funds questions when profits jump, and transfer-pricing files for inter-company flows.
FAQ:
- Can I run everything through a free-zone HoldCo at 0%? Only if income is qualifying and substance/TP conditions are met.
- Dividends to individuals are taxed? Dividends at the personal level are typically not taxed. Editor’s Note: The UAE is still low-tax, not “no-rules.” The difference shows up during reviews. Tags: UAE, Corporate Tax, Free Zone, Substance