Renting "throwaway" apartment in UAE - does it work?

[dylani]

I plan to go full nomad next year, and am looking for a setup that can help facilitate this. This year I am tax resident of both Spain and Norway, which are both pretty heavy-handed in tax enforcement, but from next year I will not be a tax resident in either. I don't expect either country to hassle me a lot when leaving, but they do both require a new address to be reported. My concerns lie in two areas: These two countries asking for some kind of documentation of residency in UAE, and banks asking for the same.

I'm not really keen on sinking €2k+ monthly in an apartment I'd be happy living in if I don't need to, so I was considering renting a shitty worker's studio (I see they go down to 10k AED per year) and just renting an Airbnb when I'm actually there, including if I decide to go for 90 days in 2025. I'm thinking banks would have no problem accepting this, but if I'm not sure how well this would go down with the UAE government if I ask for a tax certificate etc. Is this a route people go down if they're just keeping Dubai as a tax home while traveling? If not, what's the best practice here?

 

[jayM]

question is if you can have a postal address there, if you can why should it not be allowed?

 

[scooterguy]

Maybe a room in a shared apartment or renting bed space like this one for 500AED a month can work: DISCOUNT !! HOTEL BED SPACE Master.

 

[JackAlabama]

question is if you can have a postal address there, if you can why should it not be allowed?

generally there is no address system in a western sense, so po boxes are available and normal letters often do not arrive.

 

[jafo]

generally there is no address system in a western sense, so po boxes are available and normal letters often do not arrive.

#Bingo!
The European Mafia just did this with someone we know. The tax agency claims they sent letters, which is BS because they would have NEVER arrived since there is NO postal system in this particular country, so a complete postal void. Letter carriers do NOT exist in that country!

Yet, the criminals at the tax agency showed the "presiding judges"...wait for it... an input in their computer system/screen that says: "We sent +50 letters to the addressee"...and the "clown judges" ruled: "We give deference to the authorities."

So, they did a "tax lien sale" on the guy's property, which he inherited from his grandmother in Europe. A €2M house was auctioned off in a "closed auction" to their "political friends" for €105K, and our buddy is still left with a tax bill of +€400K

@dylani OP! Watch your back! Think of the most vile people in the Universe without principles, morals, and ethics...multiply that by Googolplex, and now you are NOT even close to the level of diabolical evilness of these useless and unproductive parasites you are leaving behind!

If you speak Spanish, you'll understand this battle scream:
Paso corto, vista larga, mucha mala leche, y MUCHA, pero MUCHA mala fe!

PS. To my Spanish-challenged friends, roughly translated, it means "Short step, long vision, a lot of malice, and a LOT, but a LOT of bad faith!"

 

[Martin Everson]

I'm not really keen on sinking €2k+ monthly in an apartment I'd be happy living in if I don't need to, so I was considering renting a shitty worker's studio (I see they go down to 10k AED per year) and just renting an Airbnb when I'm actually there, including if I decide to go for 90 days in 2025. I'm thinking banks would have no problem accepting this, but if I'm not sure how well this would go down with the UAE government if I ask for a tax certificate etc. Is this a route people go down if they're just keeping Dubai as a tax home while traveling? If not, what's the best practice here?

I would not recommend this route if you don't plan to spend adequate time in UAE. Your entry and exit data can easily be collated. If they don't check yet do you really want to lie and commit fraud out there?

If you see page 9 in the TRC application guide does anyone know what they check when obtaining this part -

"A report from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs or Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) specifying the number of days the resident has stayed in the UAE (The applicant must have been a resident of the UAE for at least 180 days)"

https://tax.gov.ae/DataFolder/Files/eservices/TRCFTAApplicant User ManualENG v 0213006.pdf

 

[dylani]

Thanks for the input guys. The shared bed solution is interesting.
Ultimately my aim with this is not to evade taxes elsewhere as I won't qualify for tax residency in Spain nor Norway. It's mainly to have something to show to if anyone asks. If I didn't base in Dubai I'd still not meet the criteria for either country. Thus I don't need a tax treaty certificate, but I would like a standard certificate just for my own peace of mind, and for something to show brokerages when they come asking.

Issuance of Tax Certificates (Tax residency and commercial activi According to what I see here:

2. Applicant is a natural person spent in the UAE less than 183, and equal or more than 90 days:
• Passport (mandatory) and Emirates ID/ UAE Visa residence if available.
• Entry and exit report from Federal Authority of Identity and Citizenship or a local competent Government entity.
• Source of income/salary certificate/ Other proof of carrying on a business in the UAE. Or Proof of permanent place of residence: Title deed, EJARI, Utility Bills or Other long-term Rent Contract.

From what I see here a long-term rental contract may suffice even without EJARI, but I'm worried I'd get questioned if it's obviously just a contract to check some boxes.

I'd also be planning to spend 90 days, but not the full 183.

 

[Xshore]

How about giving Norway your Spain address, and Spain your Norway address? In Norway you can get them to only send online letters. Not sure about Spain, but if you're sure they won't bother you next year maybe that won't be an issue.

Or if you prefer to get a real address somewhere, why not get the Thailand DTV visa, and get an address in Thailand? Maybe stay a few weeks at a hostel somewhere and use that address also going forward.

 

[Meta]

You plan to get an Emirates ID, don't you? Local banks need that ID and may ask for rent contract. If you plan to get a bank account, some rent contract will help a lot.

 

[Nomado]

Maybe a room in a shared apartment or renting bed space like this one for 500AED a month can work: DISCOUNT !! HOTEL BED SPACE Master.

Do you get an Ejari/utility bills with those? I don't think so.

 

[scooterguy]

Do you get an Ejari/utility bills with those? I don't think so.

No, but you can get some sort of contract.

 

[Nomado]

Maybe it's a bit better to put a little bit more per month and get something that get you a utility bill, it's good to have for banks if you're a full nomad.

 

[belarus]

Maybe it's a bit better to put a little bit more per month and get something that get you a utility bill, it's good to have for banks if you're a full nomad.

exactly, sooner or later you need a utility bill so make sure you have one by renting the right flat.

 

[TheCryptoAnt]

exactly, sooner or later you need a utility bill so make sure you have one by renting the right flat.

https://jspaint.app/#local:811b8f2379c46

 

[Nomado]

That's a move to make knowing the consequences if getting caught. There is always a risk.

 

[scooterguy]

exactly, sooner or later you need a utility bill so make sure you have one by renting the right flat.

What if you actually live in a shared apartment with roommates? Banks accept many ways of proving that you live somewhere, such as rental contracts, local bank statements, ID cards, driver's licenses, etc.

 

[Martin Everson]

I can rent you a room in my house in dubai. Can probably add you to the EJARI too

You joined the forum 18 minutes ago and this is your first post...lol.

Do not solicit any service my friend.

 

[ab94]

I thought I was being helpful. My bad, you can remove the comment

 

[Martin Everson]

I thought I was being helpful. My bad, you can remove the comment

Done.

 

[JustAnotherNomad]

The question you need to ask yourself is: Who will come asking and why?

Also, are you aware that Norway will consider you tax resident under its domestic rules for 3 years after you leave (once you have been tax resident for a couple of years)? This time can only be cut down by moving to a treaty country. The UAE wouldn't work for this. However, I believe if you spend less than 60 days or so per year in Norway, don't own a home there and don't work physically in Norway, then a foreign salary can be exempted from Norwegian taxation. Sweden has a similar rule. But capital gains for example would still be taxable in Norway.