United Arab Emirates vs Malaysia
Tax Rate Comparison
Enter your income below for a personal tax estimate, then scroll down for full rate breakdowns.
π° Personal Income Tax Calculator
Enter your income to see your estimated annual tax liability in each country β side by side.
π¦πͺ United Arab Emirates β Emirate-Level Fees & Free Zone Benefits
The UAE has no federal income tax on individuals. Emirates impose municipality fees (~5%) on commercial rents and tourism/hotel fees of 10β15%. Free Zones (DIFC, ADGM, Jebel Ali) offer 0β9% corporate rates for qualifying activities. Real estate transfer fees of 4% apply in Dubai. Emiratisation targets are increasing employer costs.
π²πΎ Malaysia β State & Local Authority Taxes
Malaysia's 13 states and 3 federal territories have limited independent taxing powers. States levy quit rent (cukai tanah) on land, assessment rates (cukai pintu/taksiran) on property through local councils, and royalties on natural resources. Petroleum royalties are a major state revenue in Sabah, Sarawak, and Terengganu. Local councils (majlis perbandaran) levy property assessment at 6%β12% of estimated annual rental value. No state income taxes exist β this is federal.
United Arab Emirates vs Malaysia: Key Tax Differences (2026)
π° Income Tax: π²πΎ Malaysia has a higher top income tax rate (0% vs 0β30%). π¦πͺ United Arab Emirates is more favourable for high earners.
π VAT/Sales Tax: Malaysia has a higher consumption tax (5% vs 10%).
π’ Corporate Tax: π¦πͺ United Arab Emirates offers a lower corporate rate (9% vs 24%), which can influence business location decisions.
π Capital Gains: π¦πͺ United Arab Emirates taxes investment gains at a lower rate (0% vs 30%), benefiting investors.