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Malaysia vs United Arab Emirates
Tax Rate Comparison

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

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡พ Malaysia
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
0โ€“30%
30% top rate; Pillar Two compliance measures
No change
0%
No personal income tax; unlikely to change short-term
No change
VAT / GST / Sales Tax
VAT / GST / Sales Tax
10%
Service tax 8% maintained; GST return unlikely
No change
5%
5% stable; GCC coordination maintained
No change
Corporate Tax Rate
Corporate Tax Rate
24%
24% stable; potential reduction discussed for competitiveness
No change
9%
Corporate tax compliance and reporting maturing
No change
Capital Gains Tax
Capital Gains Tax
10โ€“30%
CGT on unlisted shares fully embedded in system
No change
0%
No CGT; free zone benefits under review for Pillar Two
No change
Social Security & Payroll
Social Security / Payroll
~23%
EPF reviewing contribution rates and fund adequacy
No change
~17.5%
Emiratisation targets affecting employer costs
No change
State, Regional & Local Taxes

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡พ Malaysia โ€” State & Local Authority Taxes

Malaysia's 13 states and 3 federal territories have limited independent taxing powers. States levy quit rent (cukai tanah) on land, assessment rates (cukai pintu/taksiran) on property through local councils, and royalties on natural resources. Petroleum royalties are a major state revenue in Sabah, Sarawak, and Terengganu. Local councils (majlis perbandaran) levy property assessment at 6%โ€“12% of estimated annual rental value. No state income taxes exist โ€” this is federal.

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.

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

๐Ÿ’ฐ Income Tax: ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡พ Malaysia has a higher top income tax rate (0โ€“30% vs 0%). ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ช United Arab Emirates is more favourable for high earners.

๐Ÿ›’ VAT/Sales Tax: Malaysia has a higher consumption tax (10% vs 5%).

๐Ÿข Corporate Tax: ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ช United Arab Emirates offers a lower corporate rate (9% vs 24%), which can influence business location decisions.

๐Ÿ“ˆ Capital Gains: ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ช United Arab Emirates taxes investment gains at a lower rate (0% vs 30%), benefiting investors.

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