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UAE Free Zone (Dubai Internet City) · via Dubai Internet City·🇻🇳Founder profile

Incorporating in Dubai Internet City for Vietnamese Freelance Developers

VerifiedJul 2026
EligibilityConditional
Setup timeline21–45days
Year-1 total$25,000

Dubai Internet City provides a specialized Free Zone LLC structure for technology-focused entities. Vietnamese freelance developers must align their UAE corporate structure with Circular 111/2013 regarding foreign-source income reporting.

This jurisdiction requires a physical presence within the TECOM-managed zone. Compliance with UAE Federal Decree-Law 47/2022 is mandatory for all entities operating within the Free Zone.

§ 01Cost of ownership

Model the full outlay, not just the setup fee

Renewal costs sneak up on non-resident founders. Compare year-1 filing against a 3-year total to see the real bill.
Currency · USD (live FX)
2-year cost of ownership
$50,000
≈ $2,083/month amortized·USD @ live FX
Time horizon
Line items
Amount
  • SetupDubai Internet City setup
    $25,000
  • AnnualYear 2 renewal
    $25,000
Total$50,000
§ 02Tax residency · Vietnamese Freelance Developers

What the tax authority sees

US federal / local status

UAE Federal Decree-Law 47/2022 imposes a 9% Corporate Tax on taxable income exceeding AED 375,000.

Home-country rule

Circular 111/2013 on foreign-source income; USD conversion rules

Editorial verdict

Utilize the TECOM Group's freelance permit if your annual revenue is below the VAT threshold to minimize initial overhead while maintaining a professional DIC presence.

Key compliance risks
  • 01Economic substance requirements for tax residency
  • 02Vietnamese Circular 111/2013 foreign income reporting
  • 03Mandatory physical office lease requirements in DIC
§ 03Setup timeline

From filing to funded bank account

Setup timeline
21–45days total, 3 phases
Milestone check
Filing · Tax ID · Banking
d0
d11
d23
d34
d45
01FilingDubai Internet City submits formation docs
d0–d16
02Tax ID / EINLocal tax authority registration
d14–d34
03BankingBusiness account approved & funded
d27–d45
§ 04Head-to-head

UAE Free Zone (Dubai Internet City) vs US LLC (Wyoming)

Full comparison →
UAE Free Zone (Dubai Internet City)
Free Zone LLC
US LLC (Wyoming)
LLC
Entity
Free Zone LLC
LLC
Setup cost
$1,686
$102.00
Annual
$1,686
$60.00
Local director
Remote OK
Remote OK
Physical presence
Remote OK
Remote OK
Tax regime
9% CT above AED 375k; ICT and tech-focused; TECOM Group
0% state tax; federal only on US-source income
§ 05Questions founders actually ask

FAQ

Circular 111/2013 requires Vietnamese tax residents to declare worldwide income. You must report dividends and salary drawn from your UAE entity to the Vietnamese tax authorities, converting USD to VND at the official interbank rate.
More profiles for UAE Free Zone (Dubai Internet City)
Vietnamese Freelance Developers — other jurisdictions
Next step

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