The UAE rolled out its first-ever Corporate Tax law in June 2023, marking a big shift in how businesses are taxed across the country. Under this new law, companies are taxed at 0% on profits up to AED 375,000, and 9% on profits above that amount. But if you’re a business based in a Free Zone, there’s a chance you can still benefit from a 0% tax rate—if you qualify as a “Qualifying Free Zone Person” (QFZP).
So, what exactly is a Qualifying Free Zone Person in UAE? It’s a Free Zone company that meets certain conditions, like doing the right kind of business activities, keeping proper offices and operations in the UAE, and following rules on how they deal with related companies. If a Free Zone business ticks all these boxes, it can continue to benefit from zero corporate tax on its qualifying income.
So, let’s understand what it means to be a Qualifying Free Zone Person under UAE corporate tax, what type of income qualifies, and what you need to do to make sure your Free Zone business stays compliant and tax-efficient under the UAE’s Corporate Tax Law.