Singapore vs United Arab Emirates Tax Comparison
Side-by-side comparison of tax rates and systems
Tax Rate Comparison
Rate Comparison
Top Income Tax
24%
0%Lower
Corporate Tax
17%
9%Lower
Capital Gains
0%
0%
VAT / Sales Tax
9%
5%Lower
| Category | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tax System | Territorial | Territorial (no personal income tax) |
| Top Income Tax | 24% | 0% |
| Corporate Tax | 17% | 9% |
| Capital Gains | 0% | 0% |
| VAT / Sales Tax | 9% | 5% |
| Crypto Tax | No | No |
| Wealth Tax | No | No |
| Tax Treaties | 90 | 115 |
| Currency | SGD | AED |
The bottom line: Singapore vs United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates has the lower headline rate on 3 of the four main taxes (income, corporate, capital gains and VAT), making it the lighter-taxed of the two on paper. Singapore runs a territorial tax system, while United Arab Emirates uses a territorial (no personal income tax) one. United Arab Emirates has the wider tax-treaty network (115 agreements), which can reduce withholding tax on cross-border income.
- Income tax: United Arab Emirates is lower (24% vs 0%)
- Corporate tax: United Arab Emirates is lower (17% vs 9%)
- Capital gains tax: identical in both (0%)
- VAT / sales tax: United Arab Emirates is lower (9% vs 5%)