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UAE Free Zone (MEYDAN) · via Virtuzone (UAE BSC)·🇵🇹Founder profile

Incorporating a Meydan Free Zone LLC for Portuguese Remote Developers

VerifiedJul 2026
EligibilityEligible
Setup timeline21–45days
Year-1 total$12,900

Portuguese remote developers can establish a Free Zone LLC in Meydan to access the UAE's 9% corporate tax regime on income above AED 375,000. This structure requires compliance with both UAE commercial regulations and Portuguese tax residency obligations.

The process involves company formation through Virtuzone, followed by corporate bank account setup and tax registration within the UAE Federal Tax Authority portal.

§ 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
$18,400
≈ $766.67/month amortized·USD @ live FX
Time horizon
Line items
Amount
  • SetupVirtuzone (UAE BSC) setup
    $12,900
  • AnnualYear 2 renewal
    $5,500
Total$18,400
§ 02Tax residency · Portuguese Remote 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, with 0% VAT applicable to services exported outside the UAE.

Home-country rule

NHR (Non-Habitual Resident) regime — being phased out 2024

Editorial verdict

Leverage Meydan Free Zone for its digital-first setup, but ensure your Portuguese tax residency status is clarified regarding CFC rules post-NHR phase-out.

Key compliance risks
  • 01Portuguese CFC (Controlled Foreign Company) tax exposure
  • 02Economic substance requirements for tax residency
  • 03Mandatory annual financial reporting
§ 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
01FilingVirtuzone (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 (MEYDAN) vs US LLC (Wyoming)

Full comparison →
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

Yes, services provided by a UAE Free Zone entity to clients located outside the UAE (including Portugal) are generally considered 'exported services' and are subject to 0% VAT.
More profiles for UAE Free Zone (MEYDAN)
Portuguese Remote Developers — other jurisdictions
Next step

Start filing with Virtuzone (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 Virtuzone (UAE BSC)