| Criterion | Cyprus | UAE |
|---|---|---|
| Legal space | EU, euro, European courts and fundamental freedoms | UAE federal law plus free-zone regimes, no EU single market |
| Corporate tax | 15% standard rate, IP Box down to 3% effective on qualifying IP profits | The UAE’s own CT regime; free zones and qualification to be reviewed separately |
| IP | OECD-oriented IP Box with nexus | No identical IP Box counterpart; protection and exploitation are cut differently |
| Residence | 60-day rule / non-dom as a personal layer | Golden visa / residence-by-investment and local stay rules |
| Banking & payments | EU payments area, SEPA | Internationally strong, but a different payments and compliance context |
Takeaway
Cyprus when EU contracts, the treaty network, the IP Box and a European seat matter. The UAE when the operating focus is the Gulf or non-EU international and a different residence model fits. Many clients use both in a group. That is international structuring, not an either-or slogan.
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