China Desk
中国业务部
中国业务部
China Desk
Dedicated Chinese-language legal services for mainland Chinese, Hong Kong, and Taiwanese clients establishing, investing, and operating in the UAE. We advise in Mandarin — with the legal depth to match.
为中国大陆、香港及台湾客户提供专属中文法律服务，协助其在阿联酋设立、投资和运营。我们以普通话提供咨询——法律专业深度卓越。
The UAE is the premier gateway
for Chinese capital and talent.
阿联酋是
中国资本与人才走向世界的首选门户
The UAE has rapidly become the most important international hub for Chinese investors, entrepreneurs, and family offices seeking global diversification. Its combination of zero personal income tax, a large and established Chinese business community, strategic location between East and West, and sophisticated regulatory frameworks make it uniquely positioned as the gateway for Chinese capital into the broader world.
阿联酋已迅速成为寻求全球多元化的中国投资者、企业家和家族办公室最重要的国际枢纽。零个人所得税、庞大且成熟的华人商业社区、连接东西方的战略地位，以及完善的监管框架，使其成为中国资本走向世界的独特门户。
Full-spectrum advisory
in Mandarin.
全方位咨询
以普通话提供
Neo Legal's China Desk provides Chinese-language legal advisory across every practice area relevant to Chinese clients in the UAE. We understand both the UAE legal environment and the cultural and commercial context of our Chinese clients.
Neo Legal中国业务部为阿联酋的中国客户提供覆盖所有相关业务领域的中文法律咨询。我们不仅深谙阿联酋法律环境，更了解中国客户的文化与商业背景。
Golden Visa applications for investors, entrepreneurs, and professionals. UAE free zone and onshore company incorporation. Bank account opening strategy and KYC support. UAE tax residency certificate. UAE Will registration (DIFC or ADGM) for non-Muslims.
投资者、企业家和专业人士的黄金签证申请。阿联酋自由区及本地公司注册。银行开户策略及KYC支持。阿联酋税务居民证。遗嘱登记（DIFC或ADGM，非穆斯林适用）。
Multi-jurisdictional wealth structuring across UAE, Cayman, BVI, and beyond. Family office establishment in DIFC, ADGM, or DMCC. Discretionary trust and succession planning. Asset protection from personal liability and forced heirship. CRS/FATCA compliance review. Offshore holding company establishment.
跨阿联酋、开曼、BVI等多司法管辖区财富架构。在DIFC、ADGM或DMCC设立家族办公室。全权信托及继承规划。资产保护（防范个人责任及强制继承）。CRS/FATCA合规审查。离岸控股公司设立。
VARA licence application and advisory across all licence categories. Virtual asset holding structure — UAE and offshore. VARA Regulations 2.0 ongoing compliance retainer. Digital asset succession planning and crypto Will provisions. Token structure advisory for Chinese crypto businesses expanding to Dubai.
覆盖所有牌照类别的VARA牌照申请及咨询。虚拟资产持股架构（阿联酋及离岸）。VARA 2.0持续合规顾问服务。数字资产继承规划及加密货币遗嘱条款。针对在迪拜扩张的中国加密企业的代币架构咨询。
UAE entity incorporation and free zone selection for Chinese businesses. Joint venture documentation and shareholder agreements. Commercial contracts adapted for UAE and Chinese counterparties. M&A advisory for UAE targets and Chinese investors. Employment contracts and HR legal support. Intercompany agreements for PRC parent and UAE subsidiary structures.
面向中国企业的阿联酋实体注册及自由区选择。合资文件及股东协议。针对阿联酋及中国交易方的商业合同。针对阿联酋目标及中国投资者的并购咨询。劳动合同及人力资源法律支持。中国母公司与阿联酋子公司的关联方协议。
UAE property acquisition legal advisory for Chinese buyers. SPV incorporation for property holding — avoiding direct personal ownership complications. Developer SPA review and due diligence. Off-plan contract advice. Co-ownership agreements for family co-investment. Property succession and inheritance structuring under UAE law.
面向中国买家的阿联酋房产收购法律咨询。房产持有SPV注册（避免直接个人持有的复杂问题）。开发商SPA审查及尽职调查。期房合同建议。家庭共同投资的共有协议。依据阿联酋法律的房产继承架构。
DFSA, FSRA, CBUAE, and CMA licence applications for Chinese financial institutions. Fund management licence advisory for Chinese asset managers entering DIFC or ADGM. Payment services licence for Chinese fintech businesses. Regulator and jurisdiction selection — navigating all four UAE regulatory frameworks. Approved Person applications and Regulatory Business Plan drafting.
面向中国金融机构的DFSA、FSRA、CBUAE及SCA牌照申请。进入DIFC或ADGM的中国资产管理公司基金管理牌照咨询。面向中国金融科技企业的支付服务牌照。监管机构及司法管辖区选择——覆盖阿联酋四大监管框架。获批人员申请及监管业务计划起草。
We understand
both sides.
我们理解
两端世界
Our China Desk provides legal advice in Mandarin across all practice areas. Complex legal concepts — from trust structures to regulatory applications — are communicated clearly in Chinese, without relying on translation that loses legal nuance.
我们的中国业务部可全程以普通话提供所有领域的法律咨询。复杂的法律概念——从信托架构到监管申请——均以中文清晰传达，无需依赖可能失去法律细节的翻译。
As a law firm, every engagement is protected by solicitor-client legal professional privilege. This protection — unavailable from accountants, wealth managers, or compliance consultants — is essential for Chinese clients navigating complex international structures and multi-jurisdictional compliance questions.
作为律师事务所，每项委托均受律师-客户保密特权保护。这一保护——会计师、财富管理师或合规顾问无法提供——对于处理复杂国际架构和多司法管辖区合规问题的中国客户至关重要。
Our team has direct, hands-on experience across VARA, DFSA, FSRA, CBUAE, and CMA regulatory frameworks, as well as the full spectrum of UAE corporate, trust, and wealth structuring law. We advise Chinese clients on both the UAE legal environment and the offshore jurisdictions most relevant to their structures.
我们的团队在VARA、DFSA、FSRA、CBUAE和SCA监管框架以及阿联酋企业、信托和财富架构法律的全方位领域拥有丰富的实战经验，能够就阿联酋法律环境及与其架构最相关的离岸司法管辖区为中国客户提供专业建议。
All Neo Legal China Desk engagements are conducted under strict professional confidentiality and solicitor-client privilege. We do not discuss, reference, or publicise our clients or their matters under any circumstances. Privacy is not a feature — it is a professional obligation.
所有Neo Legal中国业务部的委托均在严格的职业保密义务和律师-客户特权保护下进行。我们在任何情况下均不讨论、引用或公开客户及其事务。保密不是一项功能——而是一项职业义务。
UAE jurisdictions for
Chinese principals and businesses.
中国委托人和企业的
阿联酋司法管辖区选择
A practical comparison of the four UAE jurisdiction pathways Chinese principals most commonly weigh — mainland, Free Zone, DIFC and ADGM. Selection should be coordinated with PRC-side ODI clearance and tax-residency design.
中国委托人最常考虑的四种阿联酋司法管辖区途径的实务比较——本土、自由区、DIFC和ADGM。选择应与境内ODI审批和税务居民身份设计协同。
| Dimension | Mainland LLC | Free Zone (FZ-LLC) | DIFC | ADGM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign ownership | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Common-law framework | No | No | Yes | Yes (English live) |
| UAE Corporate Tax | 0% / 9% | 0% on Qualifying Income | FZP regime | FZP regime |
| PRC-RMB banking ease | Standard UAE banking | Standard UAE banking | Strongest international banking | Strong international banking |
| ODI documentation fit | Operating-business profile | Holding / international-services profile | Financial-services, holding, family-office profile | Family-office, asset-management profile |
| Bilingual operating environment | Standard | Standard | Strong | Strong |
| Best for Chinese profile | UAE-onshore trading, retail, services | International trading, asset-holding SPV | Wealth-holding, family office, fund management | Family office, asset management, sovereign-orbit |
Schedule a Mandarin consultation
with our China Desk.
预约与我们中国业务部的普通话咨询
Contact Neo Legal to speak with our China Desk team in Mandarin. admin@neolegal.ae · +971585786357
联系Neo Legal，与我们的中国业务部团队进行普通话交流。 admin@neolegal.ae · +971585786357
Contact China Desk联系中国业务部Answers to the questions
clients actually ask.
The questions below are answered by Neo Legal practitioners. For tailored advice on your specific matter, please contact us directly.
Why do Chinese businesses choose the UAE as an international base?
The UAE offers Chinese businesses strategic access to the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and European markets from a single hub. Key advantages include zero personal income tax, an internationally recognised legal system (particularly in DIFC and ADGM), straightforward company formation across 30+ free zones, strong banking infrastructure, and the UAE's position as a neutral jurisdiction with strong diplomatic ties to both China and Western countries. The UAE also has a significant established Chinese business community and growing Mandarin-language professional services ecosystem.
Does the UAE have a double tax agreement with China?
Yes. The UAE and China have a comprehensive Double Tax Agreement (DTA) in force, which provides treaty-based mechanisms to avoid double taxation on income flows between the two countries. This DTA is a significant practical advantage for Chinese businesses using the UAE as an international hub — particularly for dividend payments, royalties, and service fees flowing between Chinese and UAE entities.
What should Chinese investors know about UAE property ownership?
Non-UAE nationals (including Chinese nationals) can purchase freehold property in designated freehold areas in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and other emirates. Property purchases can qualify for UAE residency visas through the UAE property investor visa programme, with the 10-year Golden Visa available for property purchases of AED 2 million or more. Foreign owners of UAE property should ensure they have a valid UAE Will covering the property — otherwise, UAE succession laws (which may differ from Chinese expectations) could govern the property's distribution on death.
What legal structures are available for Chinese-UAE joint ventures?
Chinese-UAE joint ventures can be structured through UAE mainland companies (with Chinese and UAE joint venture partners), UAE free zone entities (100% Chinese ownership is possible), or DIFC/ADGM holding structures for more complex multi-jurisdictional arrangements. The choice of structure affects ownership rights, commercial activity permissions, taxation, and banking access. Neo Legal advises on joint venture structuring across all UAE jurisdictions, with Mandarin-language capability throughout the engagement.