A UAE holding company above an African operating company is the most common structure DBC sets up for clients with cross-border businesses. This article explains how it works, why it is used, and what to consider.
A UAE holding company above an African operating company is the most common structure DBC sets up for clients with cross-border businesses. This article explains how it works, why it is used, and what to consider.
The UAE entity (typically a free zone company) holds shares in the African operating company. Revenue earned by the African company can be distributed to the UAE holding entity as dividends or intercompany fees, depending on the treaty position and commercial arrangement.
The tax treatment depends on the treaty position between the UAE and the relevant African country. Namibia, South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria all have different treaty positions with the UAE. DBC advises on the specific structure for your jurisdictions. This is not generic advice it must be tailored to your specific countries and business model.
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Book a discovery call and discuss your specific UAE expansion questions with DBC.
