Free Zone
If you seek full ownership of your company, consider applying for a license and establishing your business in one of Dubai’s free zones. These zones were introduced by the Dubai government to attract foreign interest and promote business setups in the city. Functioning as special economic areas, free zones allow business owners to enjoy complete ownership, benefit from a 9% corporate tax rate (applied to UAE businesses on profits exceeding AED 375,000), and experience 0% personal income tax.
However, a notable limitation of operating a company in a free zone is the restriction on engaging in direct trades with the UAE local market. Presently, Dubai hosts over 30 operational free zones, each typically tailored to specific industry categories, offering licenses to companies within those designated sectors. Examples of such free zones include the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), and Dubai Airport Freezone.