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United Arab Emirates or Cyprus: where to set up your company?
Two deliverable jurisdictions, side by side on the facts our profiles carry — company form, tax, capital, timeline, banking, substance and our price. Who each one fits, what really decides between them, and the traps of each.
| United Arab Emirates | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Usual company form | FZ-LLC · LLC | Ltd |
| Corporate taxation | 0 % up to AED 375,000 then 9 % · registration mandatory even at nil rate | ≈ 15 % on profits |
| Share capital | Not established | €1,000 |
| Incorporation time | 2–4 weeks | 10 days |
| Banking access | Accessible | Accessible |
| Substance requirement | Real presence required | Necessary, but not sufficient on its own |
| Our services | On request | from 2,890 € |
United Arab Emirates — who it's for
- 0 % up to AED 375,000 of profit, then 9 % — and 0 % personal income tax.
- Two-year residence visa for the investor and family.
- Twenty free zones, one of which matches your activity precisely.
Cyprus — who it's for
- EU member: intra-Community VAT number and SEPA flows without friction.
- Extensive tax treaty network, useful for a holding company.
- Company law of common-law tradition, familiar to investors.
What really decides between them
- Corporate tax — United Arab Emirates : 0 % up to AED 375,000 then 9 % · registration mandatory even at nil rate · Cyprus : ≈ 15 % on profits
- Minimum capital — United Arab Emirates : Not established · Cyprus : €1,000
- Registration time — United Arab Emirates : 2–4 weeks · Cyprus : 10 days
- Banking access — United Arab Emirates : Accessible · Cyprus : Accessible
- Substance — United Arab Emirates : Real presence required · Cyprus : Necessary, but not sufficient on its own
- Our price — United Arab Emirates : On request · Cyprus : from 2,890 €
Figures from each profile; to be checked there. The right choice depends on where you will really operate and bank.
Traps — United Arab Emirates
- Corporate tax registration mandatory even at nil rate, with accounts to keep.
- The zone determines everything: choosing wrongly forces a full rebuild.
Traps — Cyprus
- Management-and-control test: without local direction, the company remains taxable where you live.
- Reputation damaged with some banks since the 2013 banking crisis.
United Arab Emirates or Cyprus: frequently asked questions
United Arab Emirates or Cyprus: which is cheaper to set up?
United Arab Emirates: On request; Cyprus: from 2,890 €. Starting prices, official fees included, excluding tax.
United Arab Emirates or Cyprus: how does corporate tax compare?
United Arab Emirates: 0 % up to AED 375,000 then 9 % · registration mandatory even at nil rate; Cyprus: ≈ 15 % on profits. To be checked on each profile.
United Arab Emirates or Cyprus: which is faster to register?
United Arab Emirates: 2–4 weeks; Cyprus: 10 days. Usual times.