James Thornton 
The UAE issues a 1-year remote work visa that allows digital nomads, freelancers, and remote employees of foreign companies to live in the UAE while working for an employer or clients based outside the country. The visa does not require a UAE
UAE entrepreneurs and investors can sponsor spouse, children (regardless of age under the Golden Visa), parents, and one domestic worker on their residence visa. The minimum salary requirement is AED 4,000 per month with employer-provided accom
Kuwait applies a 15 % corporate income tax exclusively to foreign-owned entities. Kuwaiti and GCC nationals pay no CIT — they are subject instead to 1 % Zakat and 2.5 % NLST (National Labour Support Tax). Kuwait is the only GCC country where the
Oman levies a 15 % corporate income tax on all entities operating in the Sultanate, with a reduced 3 % rate for SMEs with taxable income below OMR 100,000. Free zone entities in Sohar, Duqm, Salalah, and Mazunah can receive tax holidays of up
The UAE issues two investor-linked residence permits: the Golden Visa (10-year) for investments of AED 2 million+ and the standard Investor Visa (2- or 3-year) for company owners and shareholders who do not meet the Golden Visa threshold. Bot
The UAE Golden Visa is a 5- or 10-year renewable residence permit for investors, entrepreneurs, skilled professionals, specialised talents, and outstanding students. It requires no local sponsor, remains valid even if the holder changes employers
The UAE charges 5 % Value Added Tax (VAT) on most goods and services. VAT registration with the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) is mandatory once taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000 in any rolling 12-month period. Voluntary registration is available
Saudi Arabia applies a dual tax system: foreign-owned entities pay 20 % corporate income tax (CIT) on net profits, while Saudi and GCC nationals pay 2.5 % Zakat on the entity’s Zakat base. SEZ entities benefit from a reduced 5 % CIT rate for up t
UAE free zone entities pay 0 % corporate tax on qualifying income if they achieve Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) status under Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025. QFZP status requires meeting six strict conditions — substance, qualifying act
The UAE levies a 9 % federal corporate tax on net taxable income above AED 375,000. The first AED 375,000 is taxed at 0 %. Every UAE entity — mainland, free zone, and offshore — must register with the Federal Tax Authority (FTA), even if it owes
