UAE Free Zone (Dubai South) · via Shuraa Business Setup (UAE BSC)·🇵🇹Founder profile
Incorporating a Dubai South Free Zone LLC for Portuguese Developers
VerifiedJul 2026
EligibilityConditional
Setup timeline21–45days
Year-1 total$7,500
Portuguese remote developers can establish a Free Zone LLC in Dubai South to access the UAE's 9% corporate tax regime. This structure requires maintaining physical presence within the designated free zone area.
Shuraa Business Setup manages the incorporation process, including license issuance and regulatory compliance for non-resident founders.
§ 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 · Portuguese Remote Developers
What the tax authority sees
US federal / local status
UAE Federal Decree-Law 47/2022 applies a 9% Corporate Tax on taxable income exceeding AED 375,000.
Home-country rule
NHR (Non-Habitual Resident) regime — being phased out 2024
Editorial verdict
Leverage Dubai South's proximity to DWC for logistics or aviation-related tech to maximize Free Zone benefits.
Key compliance risks
- 01UAE Economic Substance Regulations compliance
- 02Potential double taxation due to NHR phase-out in Portugal
- 03Mandatory physical office requirement in Dubai South
§ 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–d1602Tax ID / EINLocal tax authority registration
d14–d3403BankingBusiness account approved & funded
d27–d45§ 04Head-to-head
UAE Free Zone (Dubai South) vs US LLC (Wyoming)
UAE Free Zone (Dubai South)
Free Zone LLC
US LLC (Wyoming)
LLC
Entity
Free Zone LLC
LLC
Setup cost
$1,020
$102.00
Annual
$1,020
$60.00
Local director
Remote OK
Remote OK
Physical presence
Remote OK
Remote OK
Tax regime
9% CT above AED 375k; aviation/logistics near DWC airport
0% state tax; federal only on US-source income
§ 05Questions founders actually ask
FAQ
Yes, Dubai South Free Zone regulations mandate a physical office lease to maintain an active trade license. Virtual offices are generally not permitted for this jurisdiction.
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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.