Dubai company setup for Indian citizens
Indian residents investing abroad must follow FEMA overseas investment rules, and Indian citizens can be deemed resident even after moving.
Indian points to review
- Residential status: based on days in India, with lower thresholds for citizens with Indian income above set limits.
- Deemed residence: Indian citizens with Indian income above a threshold who are not liable to tax in any other country can be deemed resident. A UAE tax residency certificate is often relevant.
- Overseas investment: Indian residents setting up or investing in a UAE company must comply with FEMA overseas investment rules and reporting.
- The India–UAE tax treaty allocates taxing rights.
- Place of effective management of the UAE company should be outside India.
Practical points
Indian citizens need a UAE visa to visit unless they hold certain other visas or residence permits. Indian driving licences generally need to go through the RTA training process.
Official sources
We check our guidance against these official sources. Always confirm current fees and rules before acting.