GenZone Wins Gold Partner Award from Dubai Free Zone Authority
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Let’s be honest: Not everyone is ready to move to Dubai, Singapore, or Hong Kong.
Maybe you think it’s too expensive. Maybe you’re just not ready to settle down. You make $80,000, $90,000, or $100,000 a year working remotely and living the digital nomad life. You’re doing well—but you’re not yet ready for luxury penthouses and Lamborghinis.
Yet here you are, wondering how you can legally structure your lifestyle to pay 0% (or close to 0%) in taxes without having to become a permanent resident in a high-cost city. The good news? There is a way.
At GenZone, we’ve helped over 1,000 people and 700+ companies navigate this process. In this article, we’ll walk you through the exact structure that hundreds of digital nomads are using to stay compliant, reduce tax liability to near-zero, and enjoy the freedom to travel the world.
Why Your Current Lifestyle Could Be Putting You at Risk
Here’s what most nomads get wrong: They think if they don’t stay in one place for more than 6 months, they don’t owe taxes anywhere.
That’s not entirely true.
Countries like Indonesia, Thailand, or even Portugal have rules that go beyond just days stayed. You could become a tax resident based on local ties, property leases, long-term visas (like the KITAS in Indonesia), or even business interests. That means you might already owe taxes without realizing it.
Moral of the story: Don’t wing it. If you’re trying to be legit, build a structure that actually gives you tax residency in a country that doesn’t tax foreign income—like the UAE.
Why the UAE Is the Best Option for Nomads Right Now
Zero personal income tax.
Business-friendly regulations.
Fast company setup.
Top-tier banking.
And the best part? You only need to spend about 90 days a year in the UAE to legally maintain tax residency.
That’s it.
You don’t need to live in Dubai full-time. You don’t need to pay for expensive office space. You don’t even need to rent an apartment if you don’t want to.
Just establish a free zone company, get a residence visa, spend your 90+ days in the country, and maintain your UAE tax residency.
The Step-by-Step Setup Plan
Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Register a Company in a Dubai Free Zone
This is your legal base. Most nomads choose low-cost zones that allow 100% foreign ownership, remote setup, and one visa allocation.
Timeline: 1–3 business days
Step 2: Get Your E-Visa Issued
Once the company is formed, your UAE residence visa application begins. You’ll receive an e-visa to enter the country.
Timeline: 1–3 business days
Step 3: Fly to the UAE and Complete Medical & Biometrics
This is mandatory for your Emirates ID. The ID proves that you are a legal resident and enables access to banking, rentals, and more.
Timeline: 1–2 business days (including card delivery)
Step 4: Open a Bank Account
Once your residency is active, we help you open a personal and/or business bank account.
Timeline: 1–2 days for account approval
Step 5: Maintain Residency by Spending 90+ Days/Year in UAE
This is what keeps your tax residency valid. You can split the days across the year, and spend the rest of your time elsewhere.
How Much Does It Cost?
1. Standard Setup for Digital Nomads:
Free zone license (1 visa allocation)
E-visa
Medical + Emirates ID
Bank account setup
Estimated cost: ~$9,000 (one-time)
2. Annual Renewal Costs:
License renewal: ~$4,600/year
Emirates ID/visa renewal: Every 2 years
Optional: Bookkeeping + tax filings (~$1,000/year)
This is far cheaper than living full-time in Singapore or Hong Kong—or worse, paying 30%+ income tax in your home country.
Mistake 1: Spending Too Much Time in the Wrong Country
If you spend 6+ months in Indonesia or 183 days in the UK/Canada, you may become a tax resident by default.
Solution: Track your days and avoid going over thresholds. Apps like TaxBird or NomadList can help.
Mistake 2: Spending More Time in Your Home Country Than in the UAE
Even if you stay under 183 days, your home country might say: “Hey, you’re here more than in Dubai. We want our cut.”
Solution: Make sure your UAE days exceed time spent in your passport country.
Mistake 3: Believing Online Myths
No, you don’t need to spend just one day every 6 months. That’s only to keep residency valid on paper, not for tax residency.
Solution: Stick to the 90-day rule. It’s clear, clean, and defendable.
Why This Structure Works for 90% of Our Clients
Digital nomads. Crypto traders. Ecom owners. Marketing consultants. Coaches. Remote developers.
All of them want:
Low tax
High mobility
Legality
This UAE setup gives you all three.
You’re not hiding anything. You’re establishing residency in a country that legally doesn’t tax personal income.
That means no complicated offshore structures. No sketchy loopholes. No looking over your shoulder.
Just a clean, simple setup.
Real Client Story: $100K Freelancer Now Paying 0% Tax
We recently helped a Canadian freelancer making $100,000/year in content marketing. She was tired of handing over $30,000+ to the CRA every year.
We helped her:
Set up a Dubai Free Zone company
Get her UAE residence visa
Open a bank account
Spend 120 days a year in Dubai (the rest in Bali and Tbilisi)
She now pays 0% in income tax.
Best part? She’s fully compliant and can prove it.
Ready to Set It Up?
We’re GenZone. We’ve helped 700+ entrepreneurs set up UAE companies the right way—and we’re here to help you.
We handle:
Business licensing
Residence visas
Tax residency planning
Ongoing compliance
Book a free discovery call to speak with our expert team. We’ll walk you through everything and tailor the best solution for you.
Final Advice for Nomads
Don’t play the audit lottery.
Get proper tax residency.
Spend your days strategically.
Choose a structure that keeps you protected.
And above all: Don’t wait until tax season to scramble. Set up your structure before things go wrong.
With the UAE and GenZone by your side, you can travel the world, grow your business, and sleep peacefully at night—knowing the taxman can’t touch what’s legally yours.
