Stop paying Canada's 53% tax Set Up Your Business in Dubai, Pay 0% Income Tax.
Canadian founders face some of the highest combined tax rates in the world, up to 53%. Dubai gives you 0% income tax, a UAE residency visa, and a corporate bank account, all handled end-to-end by the team trusted by 1,100+ founders across 50+ countries.
Canada Vs Dubai: Why Dubai?
Hear It From Real Clients.
How Much Does It Really Cost to Open a Business in the UAE?
The complete 2026 cost & setup playbook for international founders - no fluff, no hidden agendas.
Not Just a Service. A Proven Path.
01. We've Walked the Path Ourselves
Built by founders who relocated themselves. Every obstacle already solved, you're following a proven playbook.
02. Full Exit. Clean Arrival.
We handle both sides: your complete exit from your home country's tax system and a clean landing in the UAE. No gaps.
03. Company. Visa. Bank. Remotely.
Trade license, residency, and business banking, all completed without stepping on a plane.
04. 1,100+ Moves. Zero Guesswork.
Faster approvals, stronger banking relationships, and a team that's already solved the problem you're worried about.
500+ Reviews. Real Results.
Choose Your Path
Every business is different. Pick the setup that fits your goals and GenZone handles the rest - end to end.
Guide · Updated June 2026
Moving to Dubai from Canada: A Practical Guide for Founders
GenZone co-founder Kevin McKenzie left Canada in 2022 after watching nearly half his income disappear to taxation every year. He went through the full process himself, Dubai company setup, US LLC formation, UAE residency, and built GenZone so that other Canadian founders could follow the same path without the guesswork. Today, GenZone has helped hundreds of Canadian entrepreneurs make the move. This guide covers what you actually need to know before leaving, from CRA departure tax to RRSPs to Canadian corporations and what to do with all of them.
Canadian Departure Tax: The Most Misunderstood Part of Leaving Canada
When you cease to be a Canadian tax resident, the CRA triggers departure tax. The CRA deems you to have disposed of most capital property at fair market value on the date of departure. Unrealised capital gains on shares, business interests, cryptocurrency, or other assets become immediately taxable in your final Canadian return, not because you sold anything, but because you left. Advance planning, ideally 6 to 12 months before departure, is the most effective way to manage this. GenZone handles your UAE setup in parallel while you work with a Canadian tax professional on the departure side.
How to Establish Non-Residency with the CRA
Becoming a Canadian non-resident is not automatic when you leave. The CRA looks at the nature and permanence of your ties to Canada, including your primary home, spouse or partner remaining in Canada, and dependent children. To formally document your departure, you will file a Canadian departure return (T1) for the year you leave. Establishing a fixed home in Dubai through your GenZone residency visa is a key piece of evidence demonstrating where you now genuinely live.
RRSP and TFSA: What Happens to Your Canadian Accounts
Your RRSP is not subject to departure tax when you leave. It stays intact in your fund, though withdrawals as a non-resident attract Canadian withholding tax, typically 25%, reduced under the Canada-UAE tax convention for certain periodic payments. Your TFSA requires immediate attention: once you become a non-resident, income earned inside the TFSA and any contributions attract a 1% monthly penalty. Most Canadian founders withdraw their TFSA balance before their departure date to avoid this entirely.
What to Do with Your Canadian Corporation
Most Canadian founders either wind down their Canadian corporation or retain it as a holding entity for Canadian assets only, while their UAE free zone company becomes the active trading entity. Retaining a Canadian corporation while living in Dubai creates ongoing corporate tax returns, passive income rule risks, and director liability considerations. GenZone walks through the right structure for your specific situation on your strategy call.
Why Canadian Entrepreneurs Are Choosing Dubai
Ontario's top combined federal and provincial marginal rate reaches 53.53%, the highest in North America. For a properly structured Dubai company, the equivalent is 0% personal income tax and 9% corporate tax only above AED 375,000 in profit. The Canadian founders making the move most frequently work in SaaS, e-commerce, digital marketing, crypto and DeFi, content creation, and professional consulting. The UAE is GMT+4, putting it 8 to 9 hours ahead of Eastern Time. Many GenZone clients cover North American morning hours from the UAE afternoon without disrupting client relationships.
Everything GenZone handles for you
Trade license, residency visa, Emirates ID, done remotely in 7 to 10 days.
UAE Corporate Banking
Emirates NBD, Mashreq, and Wio, with direct relationships for higher approval rates.
Ongoing compliance, VAT, and corporate tax filing to keep your structure clean year after year.
Pairs with your UAE company for US payment rails, Stripe, and US banking access.
Property advisory and Golden Visa structures for 10-year UAE residency through investment.
10-year renewable residency through property, bank deposit, or qualifying employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
This guide is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute tax or legal advice. Tax outcomes vary based on individual circumstances, residency status, asset structure, and applicable law. We recommend consulting a qualified Canadian tax professional regarding your specific departure tax position, RRSP strategy, and corporation structure before relocating. GenZone manages the UAE side of your setup. Your Canadian exit requires licensed Canadian advice.