Six Areas Where Depth Beats Breadth.
A specialism is a vertical area of UAE tax where we have deeper-than-generic experience and specific technical content. We’ve picked these six because they’re where the stakes are highest, the technical traps are commonest, and the gap between generic UAE advice and specialist advice shows up most clearly in your tax bill.
Six Specialist Areas. One Chartered Tax Adviser-Led Team.
Each specialism has its own dedicated page with full technical content — the regulatory landscape, who’s in scope, how we help, the tax map, FAQs. Click through to the one that fits.
Free Zone QFZP
The 0% UAE Corporate Tax position for qualifying Free Zone companies — defended with a documented 5-condition memo you can rely on at FTA audit level.
- 5-condition test (substance, qualifying income, de minimis, TP, audited financials)
- Qualifying activities mapping against Ministerial Decision lists
- De minimis quarterly tracker (5% / AED 5m lower-of)
- FTA-ready QFZP position memo & annual rollforward
UK-UAE Cross-Border
The twin-regime engagement that defines us — UK Statutory Residence Test, FIG regime, UK exit planning, UAE arrival, group structuring. One team, both regimes, no DTT.
- UK SRT & split-year analysis
- FIG regime 4-year window planning (post-April 2025)
- UAE residence establishment & entity setup
- Cross-border group structuring & IHT 10-year rule
Real Estate
UAE property investment structuring, VAT on commercial vs residential, DLD transfer fees, UK property held from the UAE, Golden Visa through property, and inheritance planning on real-estate wealth.
- UAE property tax map (DLD 4%, VAT 5%/0%/exempt, 9% CT)
- Multi-SPV portfolio structuring
- UK-side property for UAE residents (NRL, NRCGT, ATED, SDLT)
- Golden Visa through AED 2m+ property purchase
Financial Services, Market Making & Crypto
DIFC/ADGM-regulated firms, prop trading & market makers, VARA-licensed crypto exchanges & custodians, fund & wealth management, reinsurance, family offices, treasury centres.
- Six sub-sectors covered (prop/MM, crypto, fund mgmt, reinsurance, FO, treasury)
- DFSA / FSRA / VARA / SCA / CBUAE regulator-aware
- QFZP qualifying activities for FS (fund mgmt, wealth, reinsurance, HQ, treasury)
- Pillar Two for in-scope groups + CbCR notifications
Technology & Digital Businesses
SaaS, e-commerce, platforms & marketplaces, AI/ML startups, digital media & creators, dev shops. IP structuring, cross-border nexus, VAT on digital services, founder equity planning.
- Qualifying IP for QFZP (modified nexus requirement)
- Digital services VAT (B2B export zero-rated, B2B/B2C UAE 5%)
- Distributed team PE risk analysis
- Founder tax, SAFE/convertible & equity structuring
US-Connected Individuals
US citizens and green card holders in the UAE. UAE-side structuring that doesn’t trigger FATCA, FBAR, PFIC or GILTI pitfalls — coordinated with US CPA/EA specialists on the US side.
- Pre-structuring GILTI, PFIC & CFC pitfall review
- Check-the-box election analysis
- UAE residence & Tax Residency Certificate
- Coordination with US CPAs/EAs on return prep & Streamlined compliance
Specialism vs Service. Two Ways to Find Us.
🎯 Specialism = who you are
A specialism describes a vertical client type or industry context — something that’s true about you. “I’m a US citizen”. “I run a SaaS business”. “I’m moving from the UK”. The specialism page shows you how we think about your whole position, what the technical traps are, and which services typically apply.
“I’m a UK-based founder of a SaaS business planning to move to Dubai” → hits Technology, UK-UAE Cross-Border, and Free Zone QFZP specialisms simultaneously.
🛠️ Service = what we do
A service describes a deliverable — something we produce. “UAE Corporate Tax return”. “QFZP position memo”. “Full UK-UAE Phase 1 planning memo”. The service page shows you what’s included, how we deliver, how long it takes, and the fixed fee.
UK-UAE Cross-Border planning memo (service) + UAE Business Setup (service) + Free Zone QFZP Review (service) + ongoing Bookkeeping + CT compliance.
Questions, Answered.
What does “specialism” mean on The Tax Lead site?
Can one engagement cross multiple specialisms?
What makes The Tax Lead specialist in these areas vs a generalist UAE firm?
Which specialism should I pick first on a Discovery Call?
Do you work with international clients outside the UK?
Are specialisms available on retainer, or only as one-off engagements?
Let’s Work That Out Together.
Book a free 20-minute Discovery Call. We’ll scope which specialisms apply to you, agree the right engagement shape, and send you a written fixed-fee quote within two business days.