Malta vs ADGM (Abu Dhabi): which jurisdiction wins?

Malta vs ADGM (Abu Dhabi) — both credible, very different trade-offs. Below: side-by-side on the variables that actually move the decision.

	Malta	ADGM (Abu Dhabi)
Tax headline	35% headline, ~5% effective via refund system	0% on qualifying income (9% otherwise)
Formation days	7	14
First-year cost	$4,500	$11,500
Treaties	70+	140+
Substance	EU substance requirements + DAC6	Office and director presence required
Banking	Bank of Valletta, APS, plus EU EMIs	ADGM banks plus FAB, ADCB onshore introductions

Talk to a partner before you incorporate.

Wrong jurisdiction, wrong substance, or wrong bank shortlist is a 12-month problem. A 30-minute briefing fixes 80% of it.