Intelligence
DIFC at 20: How Dubai Built the Arab World's Financial Capital
28 May 2025Read →
Gulf Market Intelligence
The world's most open economic frontier
Zero personal tax. 100% foreign ownership. 45+ free zones. Authoritative intelligence on UAE & GCC market entry — operated by Epiidosis Global Finance.
$3.6T
GCC GDP
0%
Personal Tax
190+
Nationalities
45+
Free Zones
The Gulf Briefing · 28 August 2026
Top Stories
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Shareholder Agreements UAE Specific Must Have Clauses
Shareholder Agreements Uae Specific Must Have Clauses
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Performance & Advance Payment Guarantees
Explore the intricacies of performance and advance payment guarantees.
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Portfolio Financing for Investors With Multiple UAE Properties
Portfolio Financing For Investors With Multiple Uae Properties
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Public Tenders Readiness Checklist
Explore a comprehensive checklist for vendor registration in public tenders.
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GCC Equities & Sukuk in Portfolios
Explore the role of GCC equities and sukuk in global investment portfolios.
Intelligence
Off-plan & Staged Payments in Real Estate
Explore off-plan and staged payments in real estate development.
Markets Snapshot
The UAE & GCC by the numbers
$3.6T
▲GCC Combined GDP
GCC
9%
▲UAE Corporate Tax Rate
UAE
5%
▬UAE VAT Rate
UAE
45+
▲UAE Free Zones Count
UAE
$27B
▲UAE FDI Inflows
UAE
$500B
▲DIFC Assets Under Management
UAE
Knowledge Base
Flagship guides
Mainland Setup
100% (most activities)
UAE Mainland LLC Setup: Complete Guide 2025
Foreign ownership of mainland LLC (since 2021)
Read guide →
Corporate Tax
9%
UAE Corporate Tax 2025: The Complete Guide
Corporate tax rate on profits above AED 375,000
Read guide →
Golden Visa
10 years (renewable)
UAE Golden Visa: Complete Eligibility and Application Guide 2025
Golden Visa duration
Read guide →
VAT
5%
UAE VAT: Complete Business Guide 2025
Standard VAT rate
Read guide →
Podcasts & Interviews
Gulf Meridian Studio
PodcastPreview · coming soon
Inside UAE Corporate Tax: What Year One Taught Us
Guest speaker (to be announced) · Corporate tax partner · TBC
A practitioner-led look back at the first year of the UAE 9% corporate tax regime — registration, the AED 375,000 threshold, free-zone qualifying income, and the filing mistakes worth avoiding.
Gulf Meridian AI
Ask the Gulf Advisor
Instant, authoritative answers on tax, company formation, visas, trade finance and government contracts across the UAE and GCC.
How do I set up in a UAE free zone?What is the 9% corporate tax threshold?Who qualifies for a Golden Visa?How does DIFC differ from mainland?
GM
Gulf Meridian Advisor
online
What's the corporate tax rate for a DMCC company?
DMCC is a free zone, so a qualifying entity pays 0% corporate tax on qualifying income, provided it meets substance and transfer-pricing rules. The 9% rate only applies to non-qualifying income above AED 375,000.
Next step: confirm your activity is on the DMCC qualifying list.