DIFC (Dubai) vs Jersey: which jurisdiction wins?

DIFC (Dubai) vs Jersey — both credible, very different trade-offs. Below: side-by-side on the variables that actually move the decision.

	DIFC (Dubai)	Jersey
Tax headline	0% on qualifying income (9% otherwise)	0% (10% financial services, 20% utilities)
Formation days	14	5
First-year cost	$12,000	$5,500
Treaties	140+	14+
Substance	Mandatory office, directors, employees in DIFC	Economic substance for relevant activities
Banking	DIFC-licensed banks and prime brokers	Tier-1 (HSBC, Barclays, Standard Chartered)

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