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UAE Free Zone (Dubai Internet City) · via Shuraa Business Setup (UAE BSC)·🇩🇪Founder profile

Incorporating a Dubai Internet City Free Zone LLC for German Developers

VerifiedJul 2026
EligibilityConditional
Setup timeline21–45days
Year-1 total$7,500

Dubai Internet City offers a specialized Free Zone environment for technology-focused entities under the TECOM Group. German indie developers can establish a Free Zone LLC to access the UAE market while managing global operations.

This setup requires adherence to both UAE Federal Decree-Law 47/2022 and German tax compliance, specifically regarding foreign entity disclosure and controlled foreign corporation regulations.

§ 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
$12,000
≈ $500.00/month amortized·USD @ live FX
Time horizon
Line items
Amount
  • SetupShuraa Business Setup (UAE BSC) setup
    $7,500
  • AnnualYear 2 renewal
    $4,500
Total$12,000
§ 02Tax residency · German Indie 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

AO §138 Anzeigepflicht (foreign entity disclosure); CFC rules

Editorial verdict

Leverage TECOM's specialized tech ecosystem for visa processing, but ensure your German tax advisor reviews CFC implications under AStG before finalizing the structure.

Key compliance risks
  • 01German CFC (AStG) rules may trigger taxation on undistributed profits
  • 02Mandatory AO §138 disclosure requirements for German tax residents
  • 03Economic substance requirements for UAE tax residency status
§ 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
01FilingShuraa Business Setup (UAE BSC) 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

The UAE imposes a 9% corporate tax on profits exceeding AED 375,000. Under the UAE-Germany Double Taxation Agreement, you may be able to credit taxes paid in the UAE against your German tax liability, though German CFC rules (AStG) often apply to passive income.
More profiles for UAE Free Zone (Dubai Internet City)
German Indie Developers — other jurisdictions
Next step

Start filing with Shuraa Business Setup (UAE BSC)

Formation typically completes in 2–3 weeks. Use the promo below, then click through to begin the checklist directly on the platform.

Claim on Shuraa Business Setup (UAE BSC)