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Local Expertise: Dubai

French accountant in Dubai for French expats | Hayot Expertise

France-UAE tax and accounting support for founders, executives, investors and French families living in Dubai.

OEC certified
Response within 24h
100% digital

Looking for our main English-speaking practice in Paris? See our dedicated hub for international businesses, foreign-headquartered groups and French subsidiaries.

English-speaking accountant in Paris

Why choose Hayot Expertise for Dubai?

Already living in the UAE or planning your move there? Hayot Expertise supports French expats, freelancers, e-commerce founders, consultants and real-estate investors who need to secure their tax residence, keep French-source income under control, review a Free Zone structure, hold French real estate, or coordinate personal wealth decisions across both countries. Our work is not limited to filings: we help you frame the right structure, document your position, and stay compliant on both sides with a fully remote process.

  • Dedicated team, response guaranteed within 24 working hours
  • Digital interface, paperless, 24/7 access
  • Transparent pricing, no hidden fees
  • Firm registered with the Order of Chartered Accountants

Our expertise tailored to your business

France-UAE tax residence and French-source income

We review tax residence, treaty access, documentation, and the French treatment of rental income, dividends, remuneration, and other revenue that may remain taxable in France.

Free Zone companies, holdings and French assets

Free Zone setup or review, coordination with a French company or holding, French real estate ownership, dividend flows and cross-border wealth structuring for business owners and investors.

Our services in Dubai

A comprehensive offering designed for entrepreneurs, executives and investors.

Accounting & financial statements

Bookkeeping, tax returns, monthly dashboards.

Tax optimisation

Corporate tax, income tax, VAT, R&D credits.

Payroll & HR

Payslips, employment contracts, HR management.

Business structuring

Entity choice, incorporation, fundraising, shareholder agreements.

Wealth & real estate

Real estate companies, wealth planning, inheritance.

International & expats

Expats, transfer pricing, foreign accounts, double taxation.

The economic ecosystem of Dubai

The Dubai ecosystem attracts a large French community active in consulting, digital business, finance, hospitality and real estate. For French expats, the real issue is not just local attractiveness but the interaction between UAE rules and the French treatment of income, companies and assets kept in France. In practice, the most sensitive topics are tax residence, business substance, French-source income, banking documentation, real estate and dividend flows.

20,000+
French in the UAE
0%
Personal income tax
9% above the general threshold
UAE corporate tax
0% subject to conditions
Free Zone qualifying income
20% / 30%
French non-resident minimum rate

Areas served

Dubai MarinaDIFCDowntown DubaiJLTAbu Dhabi

How to work with us

01

Free audit

We analyse your situation in 30 minutes, with no commitment.

02

Tailored proposal

Clear and transparent quote, tailored to your activity and budget.

03

Ongoing support

Your dedicated accountant responds within 24h, available year-round.

Practical Guide — Moving to the UAE without losing control of France

Everything you need to know about doing business in Dubai

How to evidence UAE tax residence

A successful move is documented, not assumed. You need a coherent file showing where you live, where the family and business center of gravity sit, and how your income is organized. We help you prepare the supporting evidence and, when relevant, the UAE tax residency certificate needed for treaty use.

Free Zone or mainland company

UAE structures should now be assessed with the corporate tax regime in mind. The standard rate is 9% above the general threshold, while a Qualifying Free Zone Person may benefit from a 0% rate on qualifying income if the conditions are met. We help you choose the right setup and test whether the structure also remains coherent from a French perspective.

Keeping French income after the move

French tax exposure often remains through rental income, dividends, remuneration linked to French activity, or other French-source items. We map what stays taxable in France, what may be relieved or allocated under the France-UAE treaty, and what must still be declared even after the move.

Investing in French real estate from Dubai

If you keep or acquire French property, the ownership structure changes the result. Direct ownership, a French real estate company, or coordination with another entity can lead to very different outcomes. We review funding, distributions, reporting and exit scenarios, including the standard 19% real-estate capital gains tax plus 17.2% social contributions for non-residents.

Frequently asked questions — Chartered accountant in Dubai

Answers to questions entrepreneurs in Dubai ask most

How do I make my move to the UAE tax-proof?

You need more than a local address. The move has to be consistent across residence, business activity, family life, documentation and the income you still keep in France. We review the full file before and after the move so your position is documented rather than improvised.

What can still be taxed in France after I move to Dubai?

French-source income remains the main issue: rental income, certain remuneration, dividends, real-estate gains and income linked to activity carried out in France. The France-UAE treaty helps allocate taxing rights and avoid double taxation, but it does not erase French taxation automatically.

Should I use a Free Zone company, a French company or both?

That depends on the real activity, where your clients are, the substance available in the UAE and the links that remain with France. A Free Zone setup can be efficient, but only if it is aligned with local corporate tax rules and still defensible from a French tax perspective.

Can I keep investing in French real estate from Dubai?

Yes, but the ownership structure matters. Direct ownership, a French SCI or coordination with another entity can produce very different tax and reporting outcomes. We review the holding structure, financing and exit plan before you invest.

Can you support me remotely from Paris while I live in the UAE?

Yes. We already assist clients in the UAE through a fully remote workflow: video calls, electronic signatures, secure document collection and coordination with local advisers whenever the matter requires local execution.

How much does this kind of cross-border support cost?

Fees depend on scope: a residence review, a Free Zone structure check, French-source income coordination, or broader support for a founder or investor. We start with a scoping discussion and then propose a flat fee aligned with the complexity of the file.

Let's meet

Whether by video (100% remote) or at the office, we are available to audit your accounting.

58 rue de Monceau, 75008 Paris
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