UAE Emirates comparisons in 2024

Dubai RAK Abu Dhabi Sharjah Ajman
Our recommendation in order of preference 1 2 3 4 5
Summary at a glance
Total year 1 engagement set up costs? US$ US$28,660 US$21,800 US$29,538 US$30,995 US$29,375
Total year 2 costs (incl. audit and tax)? US$ 16,570 11,200 12,003 13,960 8,960
Our Client must travel during the engagement? No No No No No
Total engagement period? (months) 3 2 2 3 3
Corporation tax rate on net profits? (click link) 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Average monthly skilled labor salary? US$3,500 US$2,450 US$3,500 US$2,200 US$2,500
Average monthly office rental per sq m? US$61 US$57 US$45 US$57 US$33
Average monthly warehouse rental per sq m? US$30 US$15 US$20 US$17 US$20
Must be a 51% shareholder for trading business Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Must be a 51% shareholder for services business No No No No No
English language proficiency % of population? 78% 75% 50% 75% 75%
Incorporation requirements
How long to secure company registration number? 2 months 2 months 2 months 1 month 2 months
Minimum number of shareholders? 1 2 2 2 2
Individual and corporate shareholders allowed? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Minimum number of directors? 1 1 1 1 1
Resident director required? No No No No Yes
Minimum paid up share capital? US$1 US$1 US$1 US$1 US$1
Fast turnkey solution available? (click link) Yes No No No No
Fastest time Healy Consultants set up company? 5 weeks 2 weeks 6 weeks 3 weeks 8 weeks
Special permit or license required? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Corporate director(s) allowed? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Public register of shareholders & directors? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Tax and accounting considerations
Corporate tax payable? 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Withholding tax on dividends paid overseas No No No No No
Annual financial statements required? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Statutory independent annual audit required? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Export taxes on goods and local GST or VAT? No No No No No
Tax incentives for manufacturing start-ups? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Access to how many double tax treaties? 66 66 66 66 66
Number of tax exempt free zones available? 31 3 4 2 1
GCC member? (click link) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Corporate bank account considerations
Healy Consultants’ preferred bank? HSBC Emirates NDB Citibank HSBC Ajman Bank
How long to open corporate bank account? 5 weeks 4 weeks 4 weeks 4 weeks 4 weeks
Do I travel to open the bank account? No No No No No
Can open a US$ or £ or € bank account? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Good internet banking available? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Funds transfer currency controls No No No No No
Bank rating by World Economic Forum? 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.7
Ease of getting credit by WEF? 89 89 89 89 89
Employment considerations
Average skilled labour monthly salary? US$3,500 US$2,450 US$3,500 US$2,200 US$2,500
Average unskilled labour monthly salary? US$800 US$750 US$800 US$700 US$750
Average pension/insurance benefits % of salary? 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Minimum national salary? US$245 US$245 US$275 US$275 US$465
Mandatory labor unions? No No No No No
Minimum notice to dismiss employees? 1 month 1 month 1 month 1 month 1 month
Minimum redundancy indemnity? 1 month 1 month 1 month 1 month 1 month
Quota ratio of foreign workers to local staff? No No No No No
How long to get work permit approved? 4 weeks 4 week 4 weeks 4 weeks 4 weeks
Manufacturing considerations
Cost per 100 units of electricity? US$ 6.25 5.25 5.7 10.9 8.15
Rank for getting electricity (click link) 4 4 4 4 4
Warehousing space rental (per sq. m.)? US$30 US$15 US$20 US$17 US$20
Ranking for transport infrastructure (click link) (1-7 best) 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.6
Ranking for customs procedures out of 10? (click link) 6 6 6 6 6
Average import duty % on raw materials? 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Government incentives for startups? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Computer literacy % of population? 90% 85% 86% 80% 82%
Internet connectivity rating? Strong Strong Strong Strong Strong
Global business efficiency index? (click link) 23 23 23 23 23
Preferred manufacturing city? Dubai RAK Abu Dhabi Sharjah Ajman
Proximity of sea port in kilometers? 44.9 8 14.7 13 2.3
Proximity of airport in kilometers? 44.5 18 20.8 18 26
Proximity of rail in kilometers? 0 0 0 0 0
Literacy % of population 90% 90% 90% 90% 90%
Local purchasing power (GDP per capita) US$24,866 US$14,882 US$61,009 US$15,578 US$14,744
Average annual inflation rate in 2014? 3% 3% 3% 3% 3%
Average unemployment rate in 2014? 2.60% 2.60% 2.60% 2.60% 2.60%
Ease of doing business index (click link) 22 22 22 22 22
Country rating (click link) AA AA AA AA AA

Contact us

For additional information on our company registration in the UAE Emirates services, please contact our in-house country expert, Ms. Chrissi Zamora, directly:
client relationship officer - Chrissi