Start a Company In
Dubai from India

The UAE has long been the natural first overseas base for Indian businesses — a few hours' flight away, home to a vast Indian community, and aligned to Indian business hours and banking. Since 2021, foreign investors can own 100% of a mainland company for most activities, and free zones have always allowed full ownership, so an Indian founder no longer needs a local partner. There is no personal income tax, corporate tax is 9% only on profits above AED 375,000 (a Qualifying Free Zone Person pays 0% on qualifying income), VAT is 5%, and profits and capital can be repatriated in full.

The corridor itself is favourable. The India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), in force since 1 May 2022, has cut tariffs and pushed bilateral trade higher, while a long-standing Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between the two countries helps avoid being taxed twice on the same income. Most of the setup — licence, incorporation and even initial banking steps — can be handled from India through a power of attorney, with a short visit usually needed only for Emirates ID biometrics. Equally important is getting the Indian side right: your Indian tax residency, and RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) and overseas-investment rules, all matter. Avyanco sets up the UAE company end-to-end and flags exactly where you should take Indian tax and RBI advice, so the structure works on both sides.