Choosing a business base
Japan. Qatar. Dubai.
Compare the conditions.
Tax, annual costs, residency and the creditworthiness of banks. Compare three countries and jurisdictions using the same criteria to help choose your business base.
Compare economies on the same basis.
Market size,
and output per person.
Total GDP measures the economy's overall size. GDP per capita divides output by population. Together, they illustrate Qatar's market characteristics.
Population, also compared for 2024.
- Japan
- Approximately 123.98 million
- Qatar
- Approximately 2.86 million
- UAE total
- Approximately 10.99 million
Qatar: a small market with substantial output per person.
GDP per capita exceeds Japan's, while population and total GDP are smaller than Japan's or the UAE's. A focused customer strategy matters. We see potential in offering Japanese services that meet specific local needs.
Source: World Bank World Development Indicators (2024; retrieved 13 October 2026; displayed values rounded).Total GDP ／ GDP per capita ／ Population. Figures cover the UAE as a country, rather than Dubai alone. Bars are scaled to the maximum within each chart. GDP per capita does not directly measure average income or purchasing power and does not guarantee business success.
01 / TAX & BUSINESS CONDITIONS
Three locations. The same criteria.
Consider annual costs and residency alongside corporate tax.
| Criteria | Japan | Qatar | Dubai (UAE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate tax | Approximately 30% effective rate | 10% with 100% foreign ownership / effective 4.9% with 51% Qatari ownership | 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000. A 0% relief provision applies to qualifying businesses with annual revenue up to AED 3 million (through the end of 2029). |
| Personal income tax (salary) | Up to 55% including local resident tax | None | None |
| Consumption tax / VAT | 10% | Not introduced as of October 2026 | 5% |
| Dividend withholding tax | 20.315% for individuals | None | None |
| Annual company costs | Tax adviser fees plus local per-capita corporate resident tax, even with a loss (minimum approximately JPY 70,000) | POI from QAR 48,000 annually (renewal, registered address and residency) | Indicative license renewal AED 14,000–25,000 plus audit AED 10,000–15,000 |
| Property-based residency | — | Residency from QAR 730,000 (approximately USD 200,000) | Golden Visa from AED 2 million (approximately USD 540,000) |
Tax and costs vary by entity structure, place of residence, business activity and the regime applied. Individual tax judgments are made by our partner tax professionals.
Free-zone incorporation
Qatar's QFZ offers up to 20 years of tax exemption on eligible business income. Dubai free zones apply 0% to qualifying income and 9% otherwise. Eligibility depends on the activity and genuine operations.
Relocation and Japanese taxation
No salary income tax in Qatar or Dubai does not remove a Japanese resident's tax obligations in Japan. Owning a foreign company without genuine operations while remaining in Japan also requires controlled foreign company review.
Business potential and safety assessment.
Everyday security,
and regional developments.
A city's quality of life alone does not determine travel or residence safety. Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs advisories provide a current reference for assessment.
Japan is not covered by Japan's overseas travel advisory levels. This does not indicate Level 0 or an absence of risk.
Avoid non-essential travel
Advisory issued: 25 June 2026Latest Japanese travel advisory ↗Avoid non-essential travel
Advisory issued: 25 June 2026Latest Japanese travel advisory ↗Checked: 13 October 2026. There are four advisory levels, from 1 to 4. Information reflects the check date and may change. Always review the latest official information before making travel decisions.
Flight operations also inform travel assessment.REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS / Advisory of 20 September 2026
Daily security,
travel and business continuity.
The regional advisory highlights uncertainty and preparedness for flight cancellations and temporary airspace closures. Check transit locations as well as your destination.
Read the regional advisory ↗Everyday security
Japan's Qatar safety guidance (updated 9 May 2024) describes generally good everyday security while advising precautions against theft. That historical description does not override current regional developments or travel risk.
Review everyday security guidance ↗Start preparing before travel.
01 / Current informationCheck travel advisories, embassy guidance, transit locations and flight operations.
02 / Business preparationDiscuss activities, required documents and costs online.
03 / Timing decisionsConsider the timing of travel, visits and local procedures in light of safety information.
02 / BANK CREDITWORTHINESS
Assess resilience
with supporting evidence.
QNB and Emirates NBD both hold Fitch long-term A+ ratings, indicating high credit quality. Also review capital available to absorb losses and liquidity to meet outflows.
Entities compared: MUFG Bank (Japan), Qatar National Bank Q.P.S.C. (Qatar) and Emirates NBD Bank PJSC (Dubai). These are bank ratings, not those of holding companies or overseas subsidiaries. MUFG's official listing is dated 1 April 2026; QNB's is the listing at the check date; Emirates NBD's rating was affirmed on 26 March 2026. Checked: 13 October 2026.
Qatar / QNB
Dubai / Emirates NBD
Published consolidated group figuresQNB financial results ↗Emirates NBD financial results (PDF) ↗
What supports an assessment of resilience?
Alongside external ratings, consider loss-absorbing capital and liquidity to meet outflows. QNB states that the capital and liquidity metrics shown exceed regulatory minimums. Emirates NBD also discloses capital and liquidity figures in its results.
Do not judge by a single number.
These are consolidated group figures. Business mix, borrowers and regulatory requirements differ, so capital ratios alone cannot rank safety. Ratings are not default probabilities and do not guarantee government rescue or repayment of deposits.
Before selecting an account, check further.
Confirm the contracting bank and branch, currency, deposit protection eligibility and limits, and transfer conditions. Creditworthiness and account opening eligibility are separate assessments. These are representative examples, not guarantees of a partnership or account opening.
Compare using your business conditions.
Revenue markets, local activities, relocation plans and banking needs. Clarify the conditions and consider incorporation and banking together.
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