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Kuwait vs United Arab Emirates
Tax Rate Comparison

Enter your income below for a personal tax estimate, then scroll down for full rate breakdowns.

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ผ Kuwait
vs
๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ช United Arab Emirates
Tax Year:

๐Ÿ’ฐ Personal Income Tax Calculator

Enter your income to see your estimated annual tax liability in each country โ€” side by side.

Enter your annual income above to see your personal tax comparison โ†’
Individual Income Tax (Top Marginal Rate)
Top Income Tax Rate
0%
No personal income tax
No change
0%
No personal income tax; unlikely to change short-term
No change
VAT / GST / Sales Tax
VAT / GST / Sales Tax
5%
VAT introduction at 5% expected 2025โ€“2026
โ–ฒ +5.0pp vs 2025
5%
5% stable; GCC coordination maintained
No change
Corporate Tax Rate
Corporate Tax Rate
15%
15% foreign; domestic minimum tax for Pillar Two
No change
9%
Corporate tax compliance and reporting maturing
No change
Capital Gains Tax
Capital Gains Tax
0%
No CGT
No change
0%
No CGT; free zone benefits under review for Pillar Two
No change
Social Security & Payroll
Social Security / Payroll
~16%
PIFSS stable; expat levy discussions ongoing
No change
~17.5%
Emiratisation targets affecting employer costs
No change
State, Regional & Local Taxes

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ผ Kuwait โ€” No Sub-National Tax Variation

Kuwait is a city-state with no local or regional income taxes. All taxation is national. Kuwait has no income tax on individuals (citizens or expatriates). Foreign companies operating in Kuwait pay corporate income tax at 15%. National Labour Support Tax (NLST) at 2.5% applies to Kuwaiti listed company profits. Zakat at 1% applies to Kuwaiti company profits. The Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) manages the state's sovereign wealth fund, which generates significant non-tax revenue reducing fiscal dependency.

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ช United Arab Emirates โ€” Emirate-Level Fees & Free Zone Benefits

The UAE has no federal income tax on individuals. Emirates impose municipality fees (~5%) on commercial rents and tourism/hotel fees of 10โ€“15%. Free Zones (DIFC, ADGM, Jebel Ali) offer 0โ€“9% corporate rates for qualifying activities. Real estate transfer fees of 4% apply in Dubai. Emiratisation targets are increasing employer costs.

โš ๏ธ Disclaimer: Rates shown are standard top/headline rates for informational purposes. Actual tax liability depends on income level, residency, deductions, and tax treaties. 2025โ€“2026 data reflects announced or enacted rates and may be subject to change. Not financial or legal advice.

Kuwait vs United Arab Emirates: Key Tax Differences (2026)

๐Ÿ’ฐ Income Tax: Kuwait and United Arab Emirates have similar top income tax rates (0% vs 0%).

๐Ÿ›’ VAT/Sales Tax: Both countries have comparable consumption tax rates (5% vs 5%).

๐Ÿข Corporate Tax: ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ช United Arab Emirates offers a lower corporate rate (9% vs 15%), which can influence business location decisions.

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