The short answer is, mostly no. This is not always the case, to be sure you do not have to pay tax in the UAE, read this short article.

If you as an individual (or natural person) conduct business or business activity in the UAE, this attracts the possibility of Corporate tax in the UAE. Here a natural person includes Resident & Non- Resident persons.

As per Cabinet Decision (49) 2023, the income of a natural person in the following activities will not be considered as business or business activities for corporate tax purposes:

1. Wages - Here wages refer to the salary or consideration given by a company to the employee as per the employment contract. This also includes all allowances, bonuses, and any other benefits as per the employment contract.

2. Personal Investment Income - All investments that are done from a personal account that is not done through a license (or company) or requiring a license from a licensing authority, nor considered a commercial business.

3. Real Estate Investment Income - Investment relating to directly or indirectly, the sale, leasing, sub-leasing, and renting of land or real estate property in UAE. This does not include the real estate income conducted from a license or required to be conducted from a license issued by a licensing authority.

Additionally, a natural person will be subject to corporate tax only if its business or business activities has an annual turnover of more than 1 Million AED in a calendar year. If not, then you as an individual do not need to register for corporate income tax in the UAE.