Tax residency refers to the status of a natural or legal person who is subject to taxation in the country based on their income, assets and economic activities (in this case, Dubai, United Arab Emirates).

In Dubai, there are 2 ways to be considered a tax resident: you must spend 90 days inside the Emirates, or you must have your center of vital interests there (1-year rent). In addition, you need to visit the country once every 180 days so that your VISA does not expire. And if you require an international tax residency certificate, you must spend 183 days inside the Emirates.

A VISA in the Emirates is a legal status granted to foreigners who wish to reside in the country for a certain period without becoming permanent residents. The VISA lasts 2 years and you have to visit the country every 6 months so it does not expire. After these 2 years, you can renew that permit and have another 2 years available, or many take the step to obtain the GOLDEN VISA, which allows them to be in the Emirates for 5 years (and 5 more renewable years). As of July 2024, the latter has a price of AED 2M (approx $500k).

99% of the time you create a Freezone or Mainland, which gives you the possibility to issue a certain number of Visas. You process the E-VISA remotely and from outside the Emirates, so you do not have to pay for the Change of Status. Then, you pass the medical check plus the biometrics and you have the Emirates ID. You need to take out private Emirati insurance to get it.

We are not very supportive of Freelance VISA modalities if your idea is to tax in UAE (only if you want to live there longer than the 3 months allowed).

The cost of living is relatively high compared to other regions of Spain and LATAM. Expenses vary depending on your lifestyle and location but, in general, housing and food costs are higher. On par with large cities such as Paris, Miami or New York.

The official currency of UAE is the Emirati Dirham (AED). However, you can also withdraw USD at the ATM.

Dubai is considered by many to be the safest city in the world.

Yes, you can drive in Dubai with your foreign driver's license for up to 90 days. After that, you must obtain an Emirati driver's license.

Finding accommodation in Dubai or the Emirates is relatively easy. You can choose from a wide variety of options such as apartments, houses or private villas. Depending on the zone you choose, the cost can be 2x, 3x or even 10x.

Yes, you can open a bank account in Dubai by presenting the necessary documents, such as the Emirates ID (sometimes the Ejari).

The income tax rate in the Emirates is 0% for residents. The 9% that exists in 2026 is at corporate level.

No. In the last modification of the corporate tax, they explained that any entity that is directly or indirectly owned by more than 50% (and does not pay at least 9% in source), this 9% will be included to regulate it. In addition, if the company's management is doing it from Emirates, it pays like an Emirati Freezone. We believe that a US LLC only makes sense when you want to have a double layer of security, or different business channels without having to create several Freezones (using only your UAE holding company for VISA and protection).

The sales tax rate in the Emirates, known as Value Added Tax (VAT), is 5% on most goods and services.

Residents must file their taxes annually with the Federal Tax Authority (FTA). VAT returns are made quarterly (even if they are pure zeros). If you work with us, we refer you to the leading agency in Dubai.

Usually, the rest of the countries are not as persecutory as Spain. In the case of Spaniards, both the days of residence in Spain (less than 183d), the available housing, the center of economic interests and the family situation are taken into account. If you have residency problems, use the double taxation agreement to your advantage with the tiebreaker rules (if it covers you). It is always important to do things right and have the available tax residency certificate handy.

It is impossible to be 100% sure that you will not have an inspection, and anyone who tells you otherwise is lying to you. However, if you choose to follow our strategies based on our experience, you can avoid such inspection as much as possible. And if the requirement comes, have enough confidence and peace of mind to win it.

Yes, the problem is misinformation on the Internet. With only 90 days, Emirates gives you a local certificate for domestic purposes, while if you need an international one, you are granted a tax residency certificate - valid for 1 year - after spending 183 days in the Emirates, which you can then use to complete MODEL 030 (if you are Spanish and want to disconnect correctly).

It depends. If your business applies to Paraguay, you pay optimal taxes without being forced to live in the country for a long time and with safer and more protected structures, in addition to the fact that you can be a tourist in Dubai for 3 months and then re-enter another 3 months. However, if your idea is to live full-time in Emirates, we can help you first hand to settle in the Emirati landscape.

The official language of Dubai is Arabic. It is the primary language for business and government, although English is used in everyday life to communicate.

Dubai has a desert climate with extremely hot summers and mild winters. During the summer months, temperatures can reach up to 50°C. In winter, temperatures are more pleasant, ranging from 14°C to 24°C. The best months to visit as a tourist are from November to March.

Yes, foreigners can buy property in Dubai without restrictions. However, it is important to work with a trusted lawyer and real estate agent to ensure an Elite process.

No. The vaccine for Yellow Fever is mandatory only if you come from a country where it is endemic, in which case you need proof of vaccination against it. Other recommended vaccines include Hepatitis A, Typhoid Fever, Rabies and Tetanus.