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United Arab Emirates or Portugal: 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 | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Usual company form | FZ-LLC · LLC | Lda |
| Corporate taxation | 0 % up to AED 375,000 then 9 % · registration mandatory even at nil rate | ≈ 14.7 % · Madeira regime subject to conditions |
| Share capital | Not established | €2 |
| Incorporation time | 2–4 weeks | 10–14 days |
| Banking access | Accessible | Accessible |
| Substance requirement | Real presence required | Necessary, but not sufficient on its own |
| Our services | On request | from 6,490 € |
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.
Portugal — who it's for
- Madeira regime subject to genuine employment and investment conditions.
- Normal European banking, no friction on B2B flows.
- Attractive living costs and setup costs if you relocate there.
What really decides between them
- Corporate tax — United Arab Emirates : 0 % up to AED 375,000 then 9 % · registration mandatory even at nil rate · Portugal : ≈ 14.7 % · Madeira regime subject to conditions
- Minimum capital — United Arab Emirates : Not established · Portugal : €2
- Registration time — United Arab Emirates : 2–4 weeks · Portugal : 10–14 days
- Banking access — United Arab Emirates : Accessible · Portugal : Accessible
- Substance — United Arab Emirates : Real presence required · Portugal : Necessary, but not sufficient on its own
- Our price — United Arab Emirates : On request · Portugal : from 6,490 €
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 — Portugal
- The Madeira regime requires job creation: without it, the ordinary rate applies.
- Slow administration, real timelines often longer than advertised.
United Arab Emirates or Portugal: frequently asked questions
United Arab Emirates or Portugal: which is cheaper to set up?
United Arab Emirates: On request; Portugal: from 6,490 €. Starting prices, official fees included, excluding tax.
United Arab Emirates or Portugal: how does corporate tax compare?
United Arab Emirates: 0 % up to AED 375,000 then 9 % · registration mandatory even at nil rate; Portugal: ≈ 14.7 % · Madeira regime subject to conditions. To be checked on each profile.
United Arab Emirates or Portugal: which is faster to register?
United Arab Emirates: 2–4 weeks; Portugal: 10–14 days. Usual times.