GetSmartPromo
Compare jurisdictions
UAE Free Zone (IFZA) · via Shuraa Business Setup (UAE BSC)·🇩🇪Founder profile

IFZA via Shuraa — German Indie Developers

VerifiedJul 2026
EligibilityConditional
Setup timeline14–45days
Year-1 total$7,500

IFZA via Shuraa is the budget coordinated Dubai package for German developers: AED 12,900 base + AED 5-8k consulting covers license, visa, bank, and UAE tax registration. Tax value only materializes with actual personal relocation and German residency break.

Under Federal Decree-Law 47/2022, UAE CT applies 9% above AED 375,000 taxable income. Free Zone Person meeting substance retains 0% on qualifying income.

Germany side: Wegzugbesteuerung (§6 AStG) on unrealized gains at exit; AO §138 Anzeigepflicht filing within one month; AStG CFC attribution if you remain German-resident.

§ 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 IFZA under Federal Decree-Law 47 of 2022: 9% CT above AED 375,000 taxable income; Free Zone Person may retain 0% on qualifying income with adequate substance in Dubai.

Home-country rule

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

Editorial verdict

Shuraa + IFZA is the cheapest coordinated Dubai setup for German devs relocating; without relocation, AStG CFC eliminates the tax benefit.

Key compliance risks
  • 01AStG CFC attribution if founder remains German tax resident
  • 02AO §138 Anzeigepflicht — notify Finanzamt within one month
  • 03Wegzugbesteuerung §6 AStG on unrealized gains when leaving Germany
  • 04UAE CT 9% above AED 375,000 taxable income
§ 03Setup timeline

From filing to funded bank account

Setup timeline
14–45days 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 (IFZA) vs US LLC (Wyoming)

Full comparison →
UAE Free Zone (IFZA)
Free Zone LLC
US LLC (Wyoming)
LLC
Entity
Free Zone LLC
LLC
Setup cost
$1,496
$102.00
Annual
$1,469
$60.00
Local director
Remote OK
Remote OK
Physical presence
Remote OK
Remote OK
Tax regime
9% CT above AED 375k; visa-eligible
0% state tax; federal only on US-source income
§ 05Questions founders actually ask

FAQ

IFZA via Shuraa: ~AED 21,000-25,000 total (license + Shuraa fee + visa). MEYDAN direct: ~AED 18,000-24,000 (license + visa, no Shuraa premium). Direct MEYDAN portal is cheaper if you can navigate solo. Shuraa premium buys hand-holding.

More profiles for UAE Free Zone (IFZA)
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)