Serbia or Dubai: where to put your company and where to live
We work in both places, from Belgrade and from Dubai, so we have no reason to push you to either. Short version: Dubai wins on tax, Serbia wins on cost, simplicity and being in Europe. The rest depends on where you live and who your clients are.
- Corporate tax
- Serbia 15% · UAE 0–9%
- Tax on salary
- Serbia 10% · UAE none
- VAT
- Serbia 20% · UAE 5%
Serbia is usually the better fit if
- your clients are in Europe and you want to work in their time zone
- you want a company that is cheap to run, from €100 a month for the accountant
- you want to live in Europe with your family at a lower cost than in the EU
- your profit is moderate and a 15% profit tax is not the deciding factor
- you want to register everything by power of attorney, with one trip for the bank
Dubai is usually the better fit if
- your profit is high and you will really live and run the business there
- your clients are in the Gulf, Asia or Africa
- no personal income tax matters more to you than living costs
- you can keep a higher bank balance and pay higher yearly licence costs
- you are ready to spend 183 days a year in the UAE, or 90 with residence and a home there
Side by side
| Serbia | Dubai (UAE) | |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate tax | 15% on profit | 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000, 9% above thatQualifying income of a free zone company can be taxed at 0%. Small businesses can apply for Small Business Relief. |
| Tax on salary | 10% income tax, plus social contributions | No personal income tax |
| Dividends to you | 15% if you are a Serbian tax resident20% for non-residents, unless a tax treaty lowers it | No tax on dividends |
| VAT | 20%, mandatory above 8 million RSD turnover in 12 months | 5%, mandatory above AED 375,000 a year |
| Setting up | d.o.o. by power of attorney, about 5 working days after the originals arrive. State fee 8,000 RSD, capital from 100 RSD | Free zone or mainland company. Licence and visa fees depend on the zone and the activity, and are paid again every year |
| Running costs | Accountant from €100 a month, registered address €480 a year | Yearly licence renewal, office or flexi-desk, accountant. Usually several times higher than in Serbia |
| Bank account | Usually no high minimum balance. One branch visit. The bank decides | Minimum balances are common: around AED 25,000 to 100,000 for a personal account, from about AED 10,000 for an ADCB business package. The bank decides |
| Residence | Temporary residence through your own company, up to 3 years per permit. Permanent residence after 3 years | Residence visa through your company or as an investor, with an Emirates ID |
| Tax residency | 183 days in 12 months, or your home and centre of life in Serbia | 183 days in 12 months, or 90 days with UAE residence and a home or job there |
| Time zone and travel | Central European Time, about 2 to 3 hours by plane to most of Europe | UTC+4, a hub for the Gulf, Asia and Africa |
Some clients have both
A Serbian company for clients and staff in Europe, a UAE company for business in the Gulf. That works only if each company is a real business where it is registered, with its own clients, people and decisions. A company that exists only on paper causes tax problems in both countries.
For Serbia, write to us. For bank accounts and companies in the UAE, our sister company Wealth Shelter in Dubai does the work.
Questions we hear
Is Dubai really tax-free?
Not completely any more. Since 2023 the UAE has a 9% corporate tax on taxable income above AED 375,000. There is still no personal income tax and no tax on dividends, and qualifying free zone income can stay at 0%.
Can I keep living in Europe and own a Dubai company?
You can own it, but the tax office in your country may treat the company as managed from there, and tax it there. If you live in Europe, a company in Europe is usually the cleaner answer.
Which is cheaper to start?
Serbia, clearly. Registration with us is €370 plus the state fee, and running costs start at from €100 a month for the accountant. In the UAE the licence alone usually costs more than that per year, and banks often want a higher balance.
Where is it easier to open a bank account?
In both places the bank decides and wants to understand your money. Serbian banks usually do not ask for a high minimum balance. UAE banks often do, and they ask for six months of statements.
Sources: UAE Federal Tax Authority, corporate tax · UAE tax residency rules for individuals · Serbian Law on Personal Income Tax. Rates as of October 2026. Related: company cost calculator, moving from Dubai to Serbia, which route fits you.
Tell us what you are planning
A few lines are enough. Every message is read by our lawyer, and the first written reply is free.
- You send the form. WhatsApp opens with your message already written. This website stores nothing.
- We reply, usually the same business day. If something is missing we ask four things: citizenship, where you live and pay tax now, what the business or income is, and when you want to start.
- You get a written plan with fixed fees before any work begins. If we think a bank is unlikely to say yes, or Serbia is the wrong choice for you, you hear it then.
Belgrade, Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 18:00 CET