Where should you incorporate?
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A founder's guide to the offshore and international jurisdictions we work with — UAE, Hong Kong, Cyprus, Cayman and the BVI. Compare tax, substance, reporting and market access, then get a structure matched to your business.
Flat fee, answers in 24 hours. We specialise in non-US / EU jurisdictions.
Explore each jurisdiction
Five jurisdictions we work with most, each with its own tax, substance and reporting profile. Open any one for the durable facts and how we structure there.
United Arab Emirates
Best suited to trading, holding and regional operating companies that want banking access, residency visas and genuine substance in a respected, non-blacklisted jurisdiction.
Explore UAE →Hong KongHong Kong
Best for trading, IP and holding companies serving the Asia-Pacific region, and for founders who want a prestigious, treaty-connected base with a clear path into Mainland China.
Explore Hong Kong →CyprusCyprus
Best for EU holding companies, IP and royalty structures, international trading and fund/family-office vehicles, and companies redomiciling into the EU for credibility and treaty access.
Explore Cyprus →CaymanCayman Islands
The expected choice for investment funds, private equity and venture structures, and institutional capital — also used for token and crypto structuring under a flexible legal framework.
Explore Cayman →BVIBritish Virgin Islands
Best for lightweight holding companies, asset-holding vehicles, special-purpose vehicles and joint ventures — the default offshore holding company within international structures.
Explore BVI →Offshore & international jurisdictions, side by side
A founder's-eye comparison of the five jurisdictions we work with most. Use it to narrow the shortlist — then book a review to match a structure to your actual operations, banking and tax position.
| UAE | Hong Kong | Cyprus | Cayman | BVI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate tax | 9% (0% on qualifying free-zone income) | 8.25% / 16.5%, HK-source only | 12.5% (15% from 2026) | None | None (operating outside the BVI) |
| Tax system | Federal CIT + free-zone 0% regime | Territorial — local-source only | EU onshore, residence-based | Zero-tax | Zero-tax |
| Market & treaty access | MENA hub; 100+ tax treaties | Asia / China gateway; ~45 treaties | Full EU & eurozone; 60+ treaties | No tax treaties (TIEAs only) | No tax treaties |
| Economic substance | Yes — ESR + free-zone substance | Substance for FSIE passive income | Management & control in Cyprus | Yes — relevant activities | Yes — relevant activities |
| Owners on public register? | — | Directors/members public; UBO private | Directors public; UBO access restricted | — | No (unless the company opts in) |
| Audited accounts | Free-zone QFZP & larger companies |  | | Not generally required | Annual return; audit only for funds |
| Typically best for | Regional hub + residency | Asia & China-facing trade | EU holding & IP structures | Funds & institutional capital | Holding companies & SPVs |
Durable facts only. Rates, thresholds and substance rules change — confirm the specifics for your situation before incorporating.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose where to incorporate?
Start from where you actually operate, bank and raise money — not from the lowest tax rate. EU-facing holding and IP work points to Cyprus; Asia and China trade to Hong Kong; a regional MENA hub with residency to the UAE; funds and institutional capital to the Cayman Islands; and lightweight holding companies and SPVs to the BVI. The comparison table above is a starting point; a short call matches a structure to your real situation.
Onshore vs offshore — what's the difference?
Onshore jurisdictions like Cyprus and Hong Kong levy tax (often low or territorial) but give you treaty access, EU/Asia market credibility and a non-blacklisted reputation. Classic offshore jurisdictions like the Cayman Islands and the BVI are tax-neutral and confidential but have no tax treaties and now carry economic-substance and reporting duties. The UAE sits in between — onshore credibility with a free-zone 0% regime.
Do offshore companies still have reporting obligations now?
Yes. The era of zero-reporting offshore companies is over. Cayman and the BVI both run economic-substance regimes and require annual filings, beneficial-ownership records are kept (and shared with authorities), and CRS/FATCA information exchange applies. We build and maintain the substance and filings so the structure stays in good standing.
Can you handle more than one jurisdiction at once?
Yes — most of our clients run multi-entity structures spanning several of these jurisdictions (for example, a Cayman fund over BVI holding companies, or a UAE operating company with a Cyprus IP holder). Your dedicated counsel coordinates across all of them, including local corporate service providers, on a single flat monthly fee.
Which jurisdictions do you cover?
We work directly in the Cayman Islands, BVI, Cyprus and the UAE, and act as your corporate governance secretary coordinating with local CSPs in other jurisdictions, including Hong Kong. We're an ALSP — like your in-house-trained legal team — across the lifecycle of your structure.
Book a discovery call about your structure bottlenecks
Tell us where you operate, bank and raise — and where it's getting stuck. We'll point you to the right jurisdiction and structure, with a real lawyer's answer within 24 hours.
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