How it works
Tax rates get the headlines, but the choice usually turns on four things: where your customers and investors are, whether the activity is regulated finance, where the decision-makers will live, and whether you can build real substance there. The tool weights your answers and shows the facts that matter for each hub.
Worked example
A start-up raising from international investors, with founders relocating: Singapore scores highest. A treasury or fund unit serving global clients from India: GIFT City. A trading business focused on the Gulf: UAE.
Questions people ask
What is the GIFT City tax holiday?
Qualifying IFSC units get a 100% deduction for 20 consecutive years out of 25 under section 147 of India's Income-tax Act, 2025, with 9% minimum alternate tax.
What is the UAE corporate tax rate?
9% on profits above AED 375,000, with 0% available on qualifying free zone income.
Does setting up abroad avoid home-country tax?
Not if the company is managed from home. Residence follows where decisions are really made.
Sources
- Bhatt and Joshi Associates: GIFT City tax holiday under section 147secondary
- Chambers: UAE corporate tax practice guidesecondary
- IRAS: Corporate income tax rates, exemptions and rebates
Last checked 1 November 2026. General information only, not advice for your situation. Speak to a qualified adviser before you act.