FIRST IDEA CONSULTANT

Relocation to Dubai

Step-by-step guides for moving your business and your life to Dubai, wherever you’re starting from.

Relocation to Dubai means setting up a UAE company first, since the company sponsors your residency visa. Pick your country below for the tax and residency details that apply to you.

Why Dubai

The same reasons professionals from every country considering relocation to Dubai are making the move.

0%

Personal income tax

250K+

British expats already here

200+

Nationalities living here

3-5 d

To set up your company

Choose your starting point

BUSINESS SETUP

Netherlands to Dubai

Moving to Dubai from the Netherlands: company setup, BV exit considerations, and residency for Dutch entrepreneurs. Covers free zone versus mainland structures and the tax comparison between Dubai and the Netherlands.

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BUSINESS SETUP

Germany to Dubai

Moving to Dubai from Germany: exit tax (Wegzugsbesteuerung), GmbH shares, and the right sequence for German founders. Full breakdown of the German Foreign Tax Act and the company-then-residency timeline.

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TAX RESIDENCY

Spain to Dubai

Moving to Dubai from Spain: changing tax residency and setting up a company, including how the 183-day rule affects your Spanish tax obligations. Guide coming soon – talk to our team in the meantime.

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BUSINESS SETUP

Turkey to Dubai

Moving to Dubai from Turkey: sirket kurmak, company formation, and banking for Turkish founders, including the absence of an active double-tax treaty between Turkey and the UAE. Guide coming soon – talk to our team in the meantime.

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GOLDEN VISA

UK to Dubai

Moving to Dubai from the UK: non-dom changes, company formation, and residency options, including how the 2024/2025 non-dom regime changes affect relocation timing. Guide coming soon – talk to our team in the meantime.

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BUSINESS SETUP

India to Dubai

Moving to Dubai from India: company formation, lower VAT than India’s GST, and using Dubai as a billing hub for international clients. Guide coming soon – talk to our team in the meantime.

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BUSINESS SETUP

China to Dubai

Moving to Dubai from China: company formation, free zone trading structures, and using Dubai as a gateway between Asian, European, and African markets. Guide coming soon – talk to our team in the meantime.

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BUSINESS SETUP

USA to Dubai

Moving to Dubai from the USA: company formation, residency, and banking for American entrepreneurs and investors, plus how UAE income still interacts with US tax filing obligations. Guide coming soon – talk to our team in the meantime.

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TAX RESIDENCY

Russia to Dubai

Moving to Dubai from Russia: company formation, banking realities given enhanced due diligence for Russian nationals, and the lack of a UAE-Russia double-tax treaty. Guide coming soon – talk to our team in the meantime.

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The process of relocation to Dubai, wherever you’re moving from

Company

A UAE free zone or mainland company is set up first, usually within 3 to 5 business days. This is what sponsors your residency visa, so it has to come before anything else.

Residency

One trip to Dubai covers the entry visa, medical test, biometrics, and Emirates ID – typically 7 to 10 days from arrival to a fully documented residency. Applications are processed through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security.

Banking

A personal or corporate bank account is opened once residency is documented. Your company also registers for UAE corporate tax at this stage. Processing time varies by bank, typically 1 to 6 weeks.

Home country

Deregistration or tax-residency changes back home are handled only after UAE residency is fully documented, to avoid any gap either tax authority could use against you.

Banking services in Dubai

A key part of relocation to Dubai is opening the right bank account once your company is set up. Every UAE company must also register with the Federal Tax Authority, regardless of whether tax is currently due.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to visit Dubai in person to relocate?

Most of the relocation to Dubai process can be completed remotely. You only need to travel to Dubai once for the visa stamping, medical test, and Emirates ID biometrics – typically a single trip of 7 to 10 days.

How long does the full relocation process take?

Most founders complete the full sequence – company, residency, and banking – in 2 to 4 months, including time for tax exit planning in their home country.

Do I need to give up my home country tax residency before moving?

No – the recommended sequence is to set up the UAE company and document your UAE residency first, then handle deregistration or tax-residency changes at home. Doing it in the wrong order can create a gap either tax authority could challenge.

Can I bring my family when I relocate to Dubai?

Yes – family sponsorship becomes available once your own residency visa is stamped and your Emirates ID is issued. Most clients sponsor spouses and children within a few weeks of their own residency being finalized. Property investors may also qualify for the Golden Visa, which extends sponsorship rights further.

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