Gareth Jones, Author at Dubai Start Business

Qualifying Free Zone Income Explained

Gareth Jones — Mon, 11 May 2026 15:38:53 +0000

What qualifying free zone income actually means for UAE corporate tax in 2026, after Ministerial Decision 229 of 2025 — the rules, limits, and traps for UK and Australian founders.

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UAE leaves OPEC: what it accelerates for businesses already operating here, and those weighing the move

Gareth Jones — Mon, 11 May 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Most coverage of the UAE leaving OPEC has been about the geopolitics. The more useful question for business owners is what it actually unlocks operationally — for businesses already operating here, and those weighing the move.

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UAE Visa Costs Explained

Gareth Jones — Sun, 10 May 2026 12:26:10 +0000

What UAE residence visas actually cost in 2026 — investor, employment, family, Golden. Year-one budget for a founder, family multiplier, ongoing renewal cycle, and the realistic relocation total.

The post UAE Visa Costs Explained appeared first on Dubai Start Business.

How to Leave the UK Tax System Properly

Gareth Jones — Sun, 10 May 2026 12:23:42 +0000

The practical departure checklist for a UK founder relocating to Dubai — P85, NT tax code, NRL scheme, year-of-departure return, NI, pensions, property, the temporary non-residence window.

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Moving a UK Business to Dubai

Gareth Jones — Sun, 10 May 2026 12:20:58 +0000

The four practical patterns for moving an existing UK business to Dubai — keep + add, migrate and wind down, sell, or restructure ownership. Tax, customer, contract and staff implications of each.

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UAE Corporate Tax for Foreign Founders

Gareth Jones — Sun, 10 May 2026 12:18:19 +0000

How UAE corporate tax actually applies to foreign-owned companies — the 9% rate, AED 375,000 threshold, Qualifying Free Zone Person 0% regime, Small Business Relief, registration and filing.

The post UAE Corporate Tax for Foreign Founders appeared first on Dubai Start Business.

Dubai Free Zone vs Mainland

Gareth Jones — Sun, 10 May 2026 12:15:51 +0000

When free zone is the right structure, when mainland is, and the cases where the answer is genuinely unclear. Cost, banking, tax, operational, and customer-facing implications side by side.

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IFZA vs RAKEZ vs Meydan vs DMCC

Gareth Jones — Sun, 10 May 2026 12:13:38 +0000

How the four most-used UAE free zones actually compare — banking acceptance, cost, activity range, visa allocation, and operational fit. The free zone choice driven by banking outcomes, not marketing.

The post IFZA vs RAKEZ vs Meydan vs DMCC appeared first on Dubai Start Business.

Best UAE Banks for Entrepreneurs

Gareth Jones — Sun, 10 May 2026 12:11:15 +0000

How to match a UAE bank to a founder profile — Wio, Mashreq NeoBiz, Emirates NBD, ADCB, FAB, HSBC. The realistic shortlist, what each bank wants to see, and the dual-bank pattern most founders end up with.

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Why UAE Bank Accounts Get Rejected

Gareth Jones — Sun, 10 May 2026 12:08:42 +0000

The structural reasons UAE business bank accounts get declined — activity choice, free zone, shareholder structure, source of funds, and applying to the wrong bank. The banking-first methodology that prevents it.

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