Are you a business that is Non-Resident in the UAE? Do you earn any income from immovable property in the UAE? If yes, it is highly likely that you or your business will need to register for corporate taxation in the UAE on the FTA portal.
You may have a company outside UAE that owns property in UAE, if it meets the nexus conditions 9% corporate tax must be paid. It is also important to understand the concept of Nexus is to understand permanent establishment as well.
Bottom Line
A Non-Resident Person will be considered to have a Nexus in UAE if it earns income from immovable property located in the country. This income will include -
1. Right in rem ( right to recover, process or enjoy the property),
2. Sale,
3. Disposal,
4. Assignment,
5. Direct Use,
6. Letting or subletting, and
7. Any other form of exploitation of the property.
If a non-resident person has a nexus in UAE, the person must register for corporate tax.
The following are considered as immovable property -
1. Any area or land over which rights interests or services can be created
2. Any building, structure, or engineering work attached to the land permanently or attached to the seabed.
3. Any fixture or equipment which makes up a permanent part of the land or is permanently attached to the building, structure, or engineering work or attached to the seabed.
In essence, we can say that if a non-resident company owns property in the UAE, income from the same will most likely attract corporate taxation
To get detailed consultancy on having nexus in UAE, please get in touch with our expert tax team.
Difference between a Simplified & Full Tax Invoice
18 May 2021
A simple breakdown of who qualifies for the UAE Golden visa, the AED thresholds, and how long each category lasts.
22 Jul 2026
Everything you need to know about UAE residency visas — types, steps, documents, and timelines explained simply.
14 Apr 2026
Six Mistakes Everyone Makes during UAE VAT Registration
27 Jan 2021
The FTA's first official Profit Margin Scheme guide is out. Here's what UAE businesses selling goods or company assets need to know.
07 Jul 2026