Pairwise comparison
Side-by-side reference. Setup + ongoing cost, tax stack, banking, payment processors, beneficial-ownership disclosure. For full context, click through to either jurisdiction.
Not legal, tax, or accounting advice
This page is for orientation only. Choosing a corporate structure has tax, legal, and banking consequences specific to your situation. Consult a licensed attorney and tax adviser in both your country of residence and the proposed jurisdiction before incorporating.
Free Zone Company
UAE Free Zone Company (DMCC)
Dubai's flagship free zone. 100% foreign ownership, 0% corp tax on Qualifying Income, no FX controls. Pairs with self-sponsored UAE residence visa for the founder + family.
Ltd
UK Private Limited Company (Ltd)
The most common UK corporate form. £50 setup, accountant ~£1K/year, 25% headline corp tax with a 19% small profits rate up to £50K.
| Attribute | 🇦🇪 UAE Free Zone Company (DMCC) | 🇬🇧 UK Private Limited Company (Ltd) |
|---|---|---|
| Entity type | Free Zone Company | Ltd |
| Setup cost (typical, USD) | $13,500 | $400 |
| Annual maintenance (typical, USD) | $11,000 | $1,500 |
| Setup time (typical) | 21 days | 2 days |
| Corporate tax | 9% | 25% |
| VAT / GST | 5% | 20% |
| Dividend withholding | 0% | 0% |
| Min directors / shareholders | 1 / 1 | 1 / 1 |
| Residency required | No | No |
| Beneficial ownership public | Confidential | Yes (public registry) |
| Banking difficulty (1=easy, 5=hard) | 3 / 5 | 2 / 5 |
| Stripe supported | Yes | Yes |
Highlighted cells show the more attractive value on that dimension — but a single dimension rarely decides which jurisdiction is right. Read the “Best for” sections on both pages before choosing.