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UAE Free Zone (MEYDAN) · via MEYDAN Free Zone·🇩🇪Founder profile

MEYDAN UAE Free Zone for German Indie Developers

VerifiedOct 2026
EligibilityConditional
Setup timeline14–45days
Year-1 total$12,500

MEYDAN Free Zone appeals to German indie developers considering a personal relocation to Dubai for 0% personal income tax. Without relocation, AStG CFC rules attribute the low-taxed UAE company income back to your German tax base at 25%+, negating the CT advantage.

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

Germany side: Wegzugbesteuerung (§6 AStG exit tax) on unrealized gains applies when leaving Germany; AO §138 filing required within one month. Break German tax residency and plan the exit with a Steuerberater.

§ 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 · German Indie Developers

What the tax authority sees

US federal / local status

UAE MEYDAN FZ companies fall under Federal Decree-Law 47 of 2022: 9% CT above AED 375,000 taxable income; Free Zone Person status may preserve 0% on qualifying income only with adequate Dubai substance.

Home-country rule

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

Editorial verdict

MEYDAN is high value only if the German founder relocates and breaks German tax residency; AStG CFC otherwise attributes low-tax UAE income back to Germany.

Key compliance risks
  • 01AStG (Außensteuergesetz) CFC attribution if founder remains German tax resident
  • 02AO §138 Anzeigepflicht — notify Finanzamt within one month
  • 03Wegzugbesteuerung on unrealized gains when leaving Germany permanently (§6 AStG)
  • 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
01FilingMEYDAN Free Zone 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
$1,307
$102.00
Annual
$1,307
$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

No. AStG §7-14 CFC provisions attribute passive income of low-taxed foreign controlled entities (below 25% effective tax) to German resident owners. UAE FZ at 0-9% is well within CFC scope. Without relocation, you pay German 25%+ on attributed income anyway — the UAE structure adds cost without saving tax.

More profiles for UAE Free Zone (MEYDAN)
German Indie Developers — other jurisdictions
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.

Claim on MEYDAN Free Zone