Moving to Dubai from the CIS and Central Asia
Tax treaties, residence and company setup in Dubai for entrepreneurs from Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Belarus and Ukraine.
Dubai is a natural hub for business across the CIS, the Caucasus and Central Asia, with direct flights, a stable currency peg and no personal income tax. The UAE has double tax agreements with most countries in the region, including Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Belarus and Ukraine.
At a glance
- Tax treaties: the UAE has double tax agreements with the countries listed above, which help where both countries claim you as resident.
- Residence: most countries in the region use a 183-day test together with the centre of your vital interests.
- Treaty claims: a UAE tax residency certificate is the key document for applying treaty benefits.
- Home-country rules: several countries in the region have controlled foreign company rules for residents who own foreign companies.
Common structures
- A UAE trading company serving suppliers and customers across the region
- A UAE holding company for regional investments, with real management in the UAE
- Personal relocation of the founder and family, with residence visas and a UAE tax residency certificate
How we work
We review your home-country residence position and your UAE plans together, set up the company and visas, prepare the bank onboarding file and handle UAE corporate tax and VAT from the start.
How Imperial Group helps
- A review of your residence position before you move, so you know when your home-country tax exposure actually ends
- The right UAE structure for your business: free zone, mainland or a holding company, with real substance
- Company setup, visas, Emirates ID and bank account opening support
- UAE tax residency certificate, corporate tax and VAT registrations from day one
- Ongoing accounting, tax filings and a single point of contact for everything in the UAE
Sources
This page gives general information as at the date shown and is not advice for your specific situation. Rules in other countries are summarised for orientation; your home-country position should be confirmed before you act.
Talk it through with us
Tell us where you are and what you are planning. You will hear back from the team who will do the work, not a sales desk.