Everything founders from UAE need to form a US C-Corp: banking, taxes, visa options, state recommendations, and step-by-step roadmap.
Limited US-UAE tax agreement (not a full treaty) — UAE companies pay 30% US withholding on passive income
Mercury, Brex, and SVB (now First Citizens) work well for UAE-based founders. Dubai-based US founders often use Wise for multi-currency.
Key factors specific to founders from UAE.
UAE has no personal income tax — US entity structure can be very tax-efficient
UAE free zone companies can own US entities
Be careful of PFIC rules if investing through UAE entity
E-2 visa available to Emiratis for US business investment
The Startup Capital of the World. Delaware is the gold standard for C-Corps seeking investment.
See Delaware C-Corp Guide →Available to UAE nationals. Consult an immigration attorney for eligibility.
Available to UAE nationals. Consult an immigration attorney for eligibility.
Choose your state (Delaware recommended)
Hire a registered agent in your chosen state
File your formation documents remotely
Get your EIN from the IRS (Form SS-4 — takes 1–4 weeks for foreign applicants)
Draft your Operating Agreement or Bylaws
Open a US business bank account (Mercury or Relay recommended for UAE founders)
Set up payment processing (Stripe, PayPal)
Understand your UAE-US tax obligations