Country tax profile · 2026
United Arab Emirates income tax
What a nomad, retiree or founder needs before moving to United Arab Emirates: the real rate, what actually gets taxed, and the residency bar you must clear. Local currency: AED.
United Arab Emirates tax calculator
Enter your income to estimate what you would pay in United Arab Emirates, as an employee or running your own company, and see the best-value cities. Get the full breakdown plus a vetted advisor by email.
How much is income tax in United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates does not levy personal income tax on residents. No personal income tax (Virtual Working visa).
Compiled by MyNomadWorld for United Arab Emirates and currently being re-verified against primary sources. Confirm with a local adviser before relying on it.
United Arab Emirates digital nomad visa
Virtual Working Programme (Remote Work Residence Visa)
- Income requirement: $3,500/mo salary from a foreign employer
- Initial length: 12 months · renewable
- Max stay: 1-year self-sponsored residence, renewable; federal scheme via ICP and GDRFA Dubai (Dubai markets it as the one-year virtual working programme)
- Tax on nomad income: 0% personal income tax; UAE levies no tax on personal or foreign income
- Family / dependents: Yes
Official source: Virtual Working Programme (Remote Work Residence Visa) · as of 2026
United Arab Emirates expat & digital-nomad tax regime
The No personal income tax (Virtual Working visa) regime does not lower the rate here, because United Arab Emirates already taxes personal income at 0%. What it changes is your right to live and work in the country, not your tax bill.
Official source: PwC UAE
Capital gains, wealth & property tax
- Capital gains: 0% for individuals (no personal CGT); corporate gains fall within 9% CIT
- Wealth tax: No net wealth tax on individuals
Inheritance & gift tax in United Arab Emirates
No inheritance, estate, or gift tax No tax; absent a valid will, Sharia principles govern estate distribution but no tax is levied
Corporate tax & VAT
The standard corporate profits tax is 9%.
How to become a tax resident of United Arab Emirates
Physical presence of 183+ days in UAE in a 12-month period, or 90+ days with a permanent home/employment, or usual/principal place of residence and centre of financial interests in the UAE.
Not the same as your home country letting you go, most tax bills come from failing to exit the old residence, not from entering United Arab Emirates.
Cost of living & lifestyle
Cost of living is about 63% of the US level, with average purchasing power near $82k (PPP). Pick a city below to see its monthly climate and cost.
Banking in United Arab Emirates
You will want a local or multi-currency account for rent, bills and getting paid. See our guide to the best banks in United Arab Emirates.
For receiving income and moving money the day you arrive, Wise lets you hold and convert 40+ currencies and get paid like a local. Open a free Wise account →
Wise link is an affiliate link; we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Climate & cost by city
Average monthly temperature (°C) and rainfall. Climate: Open-Meteo ERA5; cost of living: World Bank PPP (same-year pairing), omitted where unavailable.
United Arab Emirates tax treaties
United Arab Emirates maintains around 137 double taxation treaties in force. They generally follow the OECD Model Convention and reduce withholding tax on cross-border dividends, interest and royalties, so the same income is not taxed twice when you move, invest or earn across borders. That is a broad network, useful for internationally mobile earners and investors.
Major treaty partners
Chips with a link open the full withholding-tax detail for that treaty pair.
Approximate size of the DTA network; confirm the specific treaty and its terms before relying on it.
United Arab Emirates tax treaty guides
Detailed double-tax-treaty guides (withholding rates on dividends, interest and royalties) are available for 45 of United Arab Emirates's partners:
Albania · Algeria · Angola · Argentina · Armenia · Azerbaijan · Bangladesh · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Botswana · Brazil · Cameroon · China · Ecuador · Ethiopia · Georgia · Guinea · India · Indonesia · Jordan · Kenya · Kyrgyzstan · Lebanon · Maldives · Mauritania · Mauritius · Mexico · Moldova · Morocco · Mozambique · Niger · North Macedonia · Pakistan · Paraguay · Philippines · Senegal · Seychelles · South Africa · Sri Lanka · Tajikistan · Thailand · Tunisia · Ukraine · Uzbekistan · Venezuela · Vietnam
Who can help you in United Arab Emirates
Vetted partners for the move: immigration and tax lawyers, relocation services, banking and eSIM, guides and local experts. One Gold partner and up to three standard listings per country.
Expats in United Arab Emirates
The free United Arab Emirates expat community: who is already there, who is arriving, the Telegram group and straight answers on the paperwork. Expats in United Arab Emirates →
Members see each other by first name, origin and plans. Emails stay private.
Planning a move to United Arab Emirates?
The headline rate is the easy part. Residency, banking and exiting your current tax net are where it goes wrong. Get matched with a vetted United Arab Emirates advisor.
Talk to a United Arab Emirates advisor →United Arab Emirates income tax FAQ
How much is income tax in United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates does not levy personal income tax on residents. No personal income tax (Virtual Working visa).
Does United Arab Emirates tax capital gains?
0% for individuals (no personal CGT); corporate gains fall within 9% CIT
How do you become a tax resident of United Arab Emirates?
Physical presence of 183+ days in UAE in a 12-month period, or 90+ days with a permanent home/employment, or usual/principal place of residence and centre of financial interests in the UAE.