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UAE Free Zone (MEYDAN) · via MEYDAN Free Zone·🌐Founder profile

Incorporating a Meydan Free Zone LLC for Korean E-commerce Sellers

VerifiedJul 2026
EligibilityEligible
Setup timeline14–30days
Year-1 total$12,500

Korean e-commerce sellers can establish a Free Zone LLC in Meydan to access UAE tax incentives and international trade infrastructure. This structure allows for 100% foreign ownership and full repatriation of capital.

Registration requires adherence to UAE corporate tax laws and mandatory reporting to the Korean National Tax Service regarding foreign-source income.

§ 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
$25,000
$1,042/month amortized·USD @ live FX
Time horizon
Line items
Amount
  • SetupMEYDAN Free Zone setup
    $12,500
  • AnnualYear 2 renewal
    $12,500
Total$25,000
§ 02Tax residency · Korean E-commerce Sellers

What the tax authority sees

US federal / local status

UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 imposes a 9% Corporate Tax on taxable income exceeding AED 375,000, with 0% VAT applicable to exports of services and goods outside the UAE.

Home-country rule

National Tax Service; foreign-source income reporting per Income Tax Act Article 3; Korea has US tax treaty (10% treaty rate for royalties).

Editorial verdict

Utilize Meydan Free Zone for its digital-first setup; ensure your Korean accounting firm tracks foreign-source income to comply with NTS reporting requirements.

Key compliance risks
  • 01Economic Substance Regulations (ESR) compliance requirements
  • 02NTS scrutiny on foreign-controlled corporate entities
  • 03Potential double taxation if tax residency is not clearly established
§ 03Setup timeline

From filing to funded bank account

Setup timeline
14–30days total, 3 phases
Milestone check
Filing · Tax ID · Banking
d0
d8
d15
d23
d30
01FilingMEYDAN Free Zone submits formation docs
d0–d11
02Tax ID / EINLocal tax authority registration
d9–d23
03BankingBusiness account approved & funded
d18–d30
§ 04Head-to-head

UAE Free Zone (MEYDAN) vs US LLC (Wyoming)

UAE Free Zone (MEYDAN)
Free Zone LLC
US LLC (Wyoming)
LLC
Entity
Free Zone LLC
LLC
Setup cost
$1,306
$102.00
Annual
$1,306
$60.00
Local director
Remote OK
Remote OK
Physical presence
Remote OK
Remote OK
Tax regime
9% CT above AED 375k; 0% VAT for out-of-UAE trade
0% state tax; federal only on US-source income
§ 05Questions founders actually ask

FAQ

The UAE 9% tax applies to net profits over AED 375,000. Under the Korea-UAE Double Taxation Agreement, taxes paid in the UAE may be eligible for a foreign tax credit against your Korean income tax liability, subject to NTS verification.
Next step

Start filing with MEYDAN Free Zone

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