Our recommendation in order of preference |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Summary at a Glance |
|
|
|
Our Client must travel during company setup? |
No |
No |
No |
Total engagement period? |
3 months |
3 months |
3 months |
Corporation tax rate on net profits? (click link) |
0% |
0% |
0% |
Average monthly skilled labour salary? (click link) |
US$2,150 |
US$2,150 |
US$564 |
Average monthly office rental per sq m? |
US$42 |
US$25 |
US$25 |
Must be a 51% shareholder for trading business |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Must be a 51% shareholder for services business |
No |
No |
No |
Average monthly warehouse rental per sq m? |
US$30 |
US$20 |
US$10 |
English language proficiency % of population? |
78% |
50% |
45% |
Incorporation requirements |
|
|
|
How long to set the company up? |
2 months |
2 months |
2 months |
Minimum number of shareholders? |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Individual and corporate shareholders allowed? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Minimum number of directors? |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Resident director required? |
No |
No |
No |
Minimum paid up share capital? |
US$1 |
US$1 |
US$2,660
|
Fast turnkey solution available? (click link) |
Yes |
No |
No |
Fastest time Healy Consultants completed the engagement? |
2 months |
1 month |
2 months |
Corporate director(s) allowed? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Public register of shareholders & directors? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Tax and accounting considerations |
|
|
|
Corporate tax payable? |
0% |
0% |
0% |
Withholding tax on dividends paid overseas |
0% |
0% |
0% |
Annual financial statements required? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Statutory independent annual audit required? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Export taxes on goods and local GST or VAT? |
5% |
5% |
5% |
Best holding company to extract dividends? |
Marshall Islands |
Brunei |
Singapore
|
Tax incentives for manufacturing start-ups? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Access to double tax treaties? |
66 |
66 |
61 |
Number of tax exempt free zones available? |
31 |
31 |
3 |
GCC member? (click link) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Corporate bank account considerations |
|
|
|
Healy Consultants’ preferred bank? |
Noor Bank |
Emirates NBD |
Arab Bank |
How long to open bank account? |
5 weeks |
4 weeks |
2 weeks |
Do I travel to open the bank account? |
No |
No |
No |
Travel required to activate the bank account? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Can open a US$ corporate bank account? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Good internet banking available? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Funds transfer currency controls |
No |
No |
No |
Bank rating by World Economic Forum? |
5.9 |
5.9 |
5.8 |
Ease of getting credit by WEF? score (1-7) |
4.7 |
4.7 |
4.2 |
Employment considerations |
|
|
|
Average skilled labour monthly salary? |
US$3,500 |
US$2,150 |
US$3,500 |
Average unskilled labour monthly salary? |
US$800 |
US$800 |
US$2,000 |
Average pension and insurance benefits % of salary? |
12.5% |
12.5% |
9 % |
Minimum national salary? |
None |
None |
US$800 |
Mandatory labor unions? |
No |
No |
No |
Minimum notice to dismiss employees? |
1 month |
1 month |
1 month |
Minimum redundancy indemnity? |
1 month |
3 weeks |
N/A |
Quota ratio of foreign workers to local staff? |
3 to 1 |
3 to 1 |
2 to 1 |
How long to get work permit approved? |
4 weeks |
5 weeks |
3 weeks |
Manufacturing considerations
|
|
|
|
Cost per unit of electricity? US$ |
0.04 |
0.04 |
0.08 |
Rank for getting electricity (click link) |
4 |
4 |
73 |
Warehousing space rental (per sq. m.)? |
US$30 |
US$20 |
US$10 |
Ranking for transport infrastructure (click link) (1-7 best) |
6.6 |
6.6 |
4.7
|
Ranking for customs procedures out of 10? (click link) |
6.0 |
6.0 |
4.7
|
Average import duty % on raw materials? |
0% |
0% |
0% |
Government incentives for startups? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Computer literacy % of population? |
90% |
86% |
79% |
Internet connectivity rating? |
Strong |
Strong |
Strong |
Global business efficiency index? (click link) |
23 |
23 |
26 |
Preferred manufacturing city? |
Dubai |
Abu Dhabi |
Manama |
Proximity of sea port in kilometers? |
11 |
66 |
13 |
Proximity of airport in kilometers? |
31 |
36 |
7 |
Proximity of rail in kilometers? |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Literacy % of population |
90% |
90% |
95% |
Local purchasing power (GDP per capita) |
US$43,876 |
US$43,876 |
US$24,692 |
Local market size (in millions) |
2 |
2 |
1 |
Average annual inflation rate in 2014? |
3% |
3% |
2.5% |
Average unemployment rate in 2014? |
2.6% |
2.6% |
4.1% |
Ease of doing business index (click link) |
22 |
22 |
53 |
Country rating (click link) |
AA |
AA |
BBB |