Netherlands vs United Arab Emirates: which jurisdiction wins?

Netherlands vs United Arab Emirates — both credible, very different trade-offs. Below: side-by-side on the variables that actually move the decision.

	Netherlands	United Arab Emirates
Tax headline	25.8% corporate; participation exemption for holdings	9% corporate tax above AED 375k (free zones 0% on qualifying)
Formation days	5	10
First-year cost	$6,500	$6,500
Treaties	95+	140+
Substance	Substance decree — mandatory directors, payroll, office	Free zone QFZP requires adequate substance
Banking	ING, Rabobank, ABN AMRO	Emirates NBD, ADCB, Mashreq, plus Wio and crypto-friendly EMIs

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.