Isle of Man vs DIFC (Dubai): which jurisdiction wins?

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

	Isle of Man	DIFC (Dubai)
Tax headline	0% (10% banking/retail)	0% on qualifying income (9% otherwise)
Formation days	5	14
First-year cost	$4,800	$12,000
Treaties	11+	140+
Substance	Substance requirements aligned with EU code of conduct	Mandatory office, directors, employees in DIFC
Banking	IoM banks plus UK introductions	DIFC-licensed banks and prime brokers

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