United Arab Emirates vs Spain
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.
πͺπΈ Spain β Autonomous Community & Municipal Taxes
Spain's 17 autonomous communities set their own half of income tax. Madrid applies significant reductions while Catalonia has higher regional rates. The Basque Country and Navarre have special tax regimes (concierto econΓ³mico). Municipal taxes include IBI (property tax) and IAE (business activity tax). Effective top rates (national + regional) range from ~43% (Madrid) to ~54% in some communities.
United Arab Emirates vs Spain: Key Tax Differences (2026)
π° Income Tax: πͺπΈ Spain has a higher top income tax rate (0% vs 19β47%). π¦πͺ United Arab Emirates is more favourable for high earners.
π VAT/Sales Tax: Spain has a higher consumption tax (5% vs 4β21%).
π’ Corporate Tax: π¦πͺ United Arab Emirates offers a lower corporate rate (9% vs 25%), which can influence business location decisions.
π Capital Gains: π¦πͺ United Arab Emirates taxes investment gains at a lower rate (0% vs 28%), benefiting investors.