← Company Formations
United Arab Emirates vs Labuan: which jurisdiction wins?
United Arab Emirates vs Labuan — both credible, very different trade-offs. Below: side-by-side on the variables that actually move the decision.
| United Arab Emirates | Labuan | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax headline | 9% corporate tax above AED 375k (free zones 0% on qualifying) | 3% on audited net profits |
| Formation days | 10 | 14 |
| First-year cost | $6,500 | $5,000 |
| Treaties | 140+ | 70+ |
| Substance | Free zone QFZP requires adequate substance | Substance Regulations 2018 |
| Banking | Emirates NBD, ADCB, Mashreq, plus Wio and crypto-friendly EMIs | Labuan banks plus Malaysia intros |
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.
Request a briefing