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Why Dubai

Keep more of what you earn

No personal income tax, no tax on the dividends you receive, and corporate tax of 0% up to AED 375,000 of profit, then 9%.

Calculate my savings Compare 11 countries
0%Personal income tax, PwC
0%Capital gains, wealth and inheritance tax for individuals, PwC
9%Corporate tax above AED 375,000, u.ae
5%VAT, the standard rate since 2018, MoF
The pool-side maths

€1 million of profit. What you keep.

A company earns €1M and pays it all out to its owner. At home, corporate tax comes first and then tax on the dividend. In the UAE, corporate tax is 9% above AED 375,000 and a resident individual pays no tax on the dividend.

United Arab Emirates

€918,231 Corporate tax €81,769, dividend tax €0

France

€514,500 Corporate tax €250,000, dividend tax €235,500. €403,731 less than in the UAE.

Germany

€515,200 Corporate tax €300,000, dividend tax €184,800. €403,031 less than in the UAE.

United Kingdom

€454,875 Corporate tax €250,000, dividend tax €295,125. €463,356 less than in the UAE.

Sweden

€555,800 Corporate tax €206,000, dividend tax €238,200. €362,431 less than in the UAE.

Denmark

€452,400 Corporate tax €220,000, dividend tax €327,600. €465,831 less than in the UAE.

Italy

€562,400 Corporate tax €240,000, dividend tax €197,600. €355,831 less than in the UAE.

Netherlands

€511,980 Corporate tax €258,000, dividend tax €230,020. €406,251 less than in the UAE.

Spain

€525,000 Corporate tax €250,000, dividend tax €225,000. €393,231 less than in the UAE.

Try your own profit and country

Tax comparison

The UAE against eleven European countries

Top personal rates in Europe reach 45% to 60%. In the UAE there is currently no personal income tax, and corporate tax is 9% above AED 375,000.

Headline tax rates and what an owner keeps from EUR 1 million of company profit paid out as a dividend
Country Corporate tax Dividend tax Top income tax You keep of €1M profit Source
United Arab Emirates0% up to AED 375,000, then 9% 9% 0% 0%
€918,231
 u.ae · PwC
United KingdomOver GBP 125,140; 48% in Scotland 25% 39.35% 45%
€454,875
 PwC
France45% plus 4% surtax over EUR 500,000 (single) 25% 31.4% 49%
€514,500
 PwC
Germany45% plus 5.5% solidarity surcharge 30% 26.4% 47.5%
€515,200
 PwC
Sweden20% state tax plus average 32% municipal tax 20.6% 30% 52%
€555,800
 PwC
DenmarkIncluding the 8% labour market tax 22% 42% 60.5%
€452,400
 PwC
BelgiumFrom EUR 49,840, plus municipal surcharge (average 7%) 25% 30% 50%
€525,000
 PwC
NetherlandsOver EUR 78,426 25.8% 31% 49.5%
€511,980
 PwC
ItalyOver EUR 50,000, plus regional and municipal surcharges 24% 26% 43%
€562,400
 PwC
SpainOver EUR 300,000, state and regional rates combined 25% 30% 47%
€525,000
 PwC
Norway22% plus 17.8% bracket tax at the top 22% 37.84% 39.8%
€484,848
 PwC
BulgariaFlat rate 10% 5% 10%
€855,000
 PwC

Top statutory rates from PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries and the UAE Government Portal, checked November 2026. "You keep" = profit after corporate tax, then tax on the dividend at the top rate; UAE uses AED 4.1003 per euro. A guide, not tax advice: leaving your home country's tax residence has its own rules, such as exit taxes.

The clear benefits

Nine reasons founders move their company here

Each benefit below links to the government page or tax summary it comes from.

0%

Personal income tax

Salary and dividends paid to you as a UAE resident are not taxed. PwC

0%

Capital gains and inheritance

No capital gains, wealth, inheritance or gift taxes on individuals. PwC

0% / 9%

Corporate tax

0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above it. u.ae

0%

Qualifying free zone income

A Qualifying Free Zone Person pays 0% on qualifying income, with real substance in the zone. PwC

137

Tax treaties

Double taxation agreements listed by the Ministry of Finance. MoF

5%

VAT

The standard rate since 1 January 2018, with registration from AED 375,000 of taxable supplies. MoF

100%

Profit repatriation

Move all of your profit and capital out of the UAE, with up to 100% foreign ownership in free zones. u.ae

5 to 10 years

Golden Visa

Long-term residence for investors, entrepreneurs and specialists, renewable. Our guide

AED 3.6725

A dollar peg

The dirham has been pegged to the US dollar at a fixed rate. u.ae

Before you move: what to check

  • Leave your home tax residence properly. The savings above apply only once you are no longer tax resident at home. Some countries charge an exit tax on shares or keep taxing you for a period; ask a tax adviser in your home country.
  • Become UAE tax resident. The Federal Tax Authority issues a tax residency certificate in about 10 business days, which you need to use a double taxation agreement. FTA
  • Run the company from the UAE. A company managed from your home country may still be taxed there. Free zone companies need adequate substance in the zone to keep the 0% rate. PwC
  • Large groups pay more. Multinational groups with consolidated revenue of EUR 750 million or more pay a 15% domestic minimum top-up tax. PwC
Rates checked November 2026. This page is general information, not tax advice. A licensed partner can introduce you to a tax adviser as part of your quote.

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