Singapore vs Hong Kong vs Dubai: The 2026 Cost of Setting Up a Company

Published: 10 July 2026 · Last reviewed: 15 September 2026 · Reviewed by Ray Tay, Co-Founder & Managing Director, VIVOS PTE. LTD. (ACRA Filing Agent FA20240323 · MOM EA Licence 24S2425)

Founders relocating a business increasingly weigh three hubs against each other: Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai. We pulled the official 2026 numbers — government fees, tax rates, ownership rules and timelines — into one comparison so the trade-offs are clear.

The numbers at a glance

Currency conversions are approximate as of July 2026. “Official set-up fee” is the government charge only; real first-year cost also depends on required services (company secretary, registered address, nominee director, licence or office) and differs by provider.

Five takeaways

1. On headline corporate tax, the UAE (9%) undercuts both Hong Kong (top 16.5%) and Singapore (17%) — but Singapore’s Start-Up Tax Exemption can push an early-stage company’s effective rate below all three for its first three years.
2. Singapore is the only one of the three that requires a locally-resident director — the main reason foreign founders there appoint a nominee. Hong Kong and Dubai impose no local-director rule.
3. On official set-up fees, Singapore is the cheapest (~US$235) and Hong Kong next (~US$500). Dubai’s licence-based model costs more up front (US$4,000–9,500) but typically bundles a trade licence and office.
4. Only Singapore and the UAE levy a consumption tax (GST 9% / VAT 5%); Hong Kong has none. All three levy no capital gains tax.
5. Hong Kong is fastest to register (~1 day), Singapore 1–3 days, and Dubai 3–7 — though banking and licensing timelines often matter more than the incorporation step itself.

Which suits whom

Singapore rewards founders who want a credible, treaty-rich base for Southeast Asia, strong banking, and generous early-stage tax relief — accepting the resident-director and company-secretary requirements as the price of that framework.

Hong Kong is the leanest on paperwork — no local director, no consumption tax, fast e-incorporation — and a natural gateway to mainland China.

Dubai carries the lowest headline corporate tax and (in free zones) a potential 0% rate, with no personal income tax, at the cost of higher up-front set-up spend and, usually, a physical office.

Methodology and sources

Figures are drawn from official registries and tax authorities and reflect published rates as of July 2026: Singapore — ACRA (BizFile+) and IRAS; Hong Kong — Companies Registry and the Inland Revenue Department; UAE — the Federal Tax Authority and Dubai’s Department of Economy & Tourism. Rules and rates change; confirm current figures before acting, or speak to an adviser in each jurisdiction.

Related on VIVOS

• The foreign founder’s guide to incorporating in Singapore (2026)
• Cost & timeline to incorporate in Singapore (2026)
• Our Singapore incorporation service for international founders.

Prepared by VIVOS, a Singapore corporate-services and immigration firm. We help founders incorporate and run companies in Singapore and across Southeast Asia — contact@vivos.com.sg · +65 9366 9399 · vivos.com.sg. Journalists and editors are welcome to cite this comparison with a link to vivos.com.sg.

Related: Singapore Company Incorporation for Foreigners: The Complete 2026 Guide