Did you know?
Not all income earned outside the Free Zone is taxed at 9%. If your business in the UAE Free Zone conducts “Qualifying Activities”, you may still be eligible for the 0% Corporate Tax rate, even when selling goods or services to non free-zone person.
This strategic tax advantage—clarified in the [FTA’s Basic Tax Information Bulletin for Free Zone Persons]—can dramatically improve your bottom line if you structure your operations correctly.
What Are Qualifying Activities?
According to the UAE Corporate Tax Law and the FTA bulletin, a Qualifying Free Zone Person can enjoy 0% tax on Qualifying Income derived from the following business activities—even if the customer is not based in a Free Zone:
List of Qualifying Activities:
- Manufacturing of goods or materials
- Processing of goods or materials
- Trading of Qualifying Commodities (e.g. metals, minerals, oil, gas)
- Holding of shares or securities for investment
- Ownership, management, and operation of ships
- Reinsurance services
- Fund management services
- Wealth and investment management services
- Headquarter services to Related Parties
- Treasury and financing services to Related Parties
- Financing and leasing of aircraft
- Distribution of goods or materials in or from a Designated Zone
- Logistics services
These activities remain fully tax-exempt as long as other corporate tax compliance requirements are also met (such as adequate substance, qualifying income, proper transfer pricing, and audited financials), the conditions to be a Qualifying Free Zone person.
What If You Offer Supporting Services?
The FTA also allows 0% tax treatment for ancillary activities—those that are:
- Necessary for performing the Qualifying Activity
- Closely related and not separate in purpose
This opens additional flexibility in service delivery without losing tax benefits.
Do not Confuse with Excluded Activities
Some activities—like banking, general leasing, and dealing with individuals (natural persons)—are excluded from 0% tax. If you perform these, that income is taxed at 9%, even if within the Free Zone.
How Finzoryx Helps You Stay Compliant
At Finzoryx, we assist Free Zone businesses in:
- Assessing whether your business qualifies under FTA’s Qualifying Activities
- Ensuring proper income classification (Qualifying vs Non-Qualifying)
- Filing accurate returns with supporting documentation
- Activating our Penalty Shield to help avoid costly missteps
- Applying our proprietary 3C Model — Clarity, Compliance & Confidence — to simplify your tax journey
Ready to Optimize Your Free Zone Tax Strategy?
Do not miss the chance to take full advantage of the 0% Corporate Tax rate legally and smartly.
Contact Finzoryx:
Call/WhatsApp: +971-503978121
Email: connect@finzoryx.com