| Our recommendation in order of preference | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Summary at a glance | | | | | |
| Total year 1 engagement set up costs? US$ | US$28,187 | US$21,800 | US$22,633 | US$30,995 | US$29,375 |
| Total year 2 costs (incl. audit and tax)? US$ | 9,850 | 11,200 | 12,180 | 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 |
