🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates Tax Residency

183-day physical-presence rule. Top personal rate 0%. Effective corporate rate 9%. Updated for 2026.

Headline rates

Days threshold
183
days
Personal top
0%
Capital gains
0%
Dividends
0%
Corporate effective
9%
Wealth taxNo
Exit taxNo
Corporate headline9%
Regiongulf

How the corporate effective rate is achieved

0% on first AED 375,000 (~€95k) of profit. 9% above for mainland. Free zone "qualifying free zone person" status keeps 0% on qualifying income (de minimis 5% non-qualifying allowed).

Alternative residency routes

90-day rule for GCC nationals/UAE residents/UAE citizens with primary residence + financial interests in UAE. No personal income tax. Free zone companies can have 0% CIT on qualifying income.

Notes

Not EU. No personal income tax. Corporate tax introduced June 2023. Free zone QFZP status remains the principal route for low-tax structures, but increasingly scrutinised.

Compare United Arab Emirates with 19 other jurisdictions

Our Tax Residency Calculator runs your specific income mix (employment / dividends / capital gains / owner-managed) against every regime, including the United Arab Emirates special regime where one applies.

Informational only. Not legal, tax, or financial advice. Verify with a qualified advisor before acting.