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	United Arab Emirates Middle East	Slovakia Europe	Panama Central America & Caribbean
Overview	The United Arab Emirates is one of the most active jurisdictions for cross-border founders, remote professionals, and family relocations. It offers a wide menu of residency and company structures - federal mainland, free zone, and offshore - each with different banking, substance, and timeline implications.	Slovakia offers EU residency and corporate structures with a stable regulatory environment and competitive costs. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Slovak partners for filings.	Panama is a long-established jurisdiction for residency and offshore company structures with a stable USD economy. Bordercase coordinates with licensed Panamanian lawyers and corporate-services partners.
Best for	Founders Banking Tax planning Families English admin	Founders EU access Cost of living	Second residency USD economy Asset planning Holding structures
Currency	AED	EUR	USD
Language	Arabic / English	Slovak	Spanish
Time zone	UTC+4	UTC+1	UTC-5
EU member	No	Yes	No
Schengen	No	Yes	No
Residency	Common UAE residency routes: Investor / property routes via business ownership or qualifying real estate Employment-based residency through a mainland or free-zone company (most common) Freelance and remote-work permits where eligible Golden Visa for qualifying investors, specialists, and outstanding talents Dependant sponsorship for spouse, children, and in some cases parents Quotas, thresholds, and route definitions are revised frequently and vary by emirate.	Slovak residency routes: Employment-based residence Start-up visa - innovative businesses Business / self-employment Family reunification EU citizen-derivative routes	Panama residency routes: Friendly Nations Visa - now requires economic tie (employment, real estate, or investment) Qualified Investor Visa - qualifying investment thresholds Pensionado / Retiree Visa - qualifying pension income Family routes
Company setup	Mainland LLCs allow trade across the UAE and government contracts; free-zone companies (DMCC, IFZA, RAKEZ, ADGM, DIFC, and others) suit international service businesses; offshore companies are limited to holding structures. Bordercase coordinates with licensed corporate-services partners in each free zone and mainland.	S.R.O. (private limited) is the standard entity, with relatively low minimum capital and well-established formation processes. VAT registration depends on activity.	Panamanian corporations (SA) and Private Interest Foundations are widely used. Beneficial ownership reporting, CRS / FATCA compliance, and substance discussions have become material; planning must reflect current standards.
Banking	Personal and corporate accounts in the UAE require thorough KYC, substance evidence, and clear source of funds. Bordercase prepares the documentation pack and introduces vetted banks and EMIs; final approval is the bank's discretion.	Resident banking is straightforward; corporate banking varies by activity. Bordercase coordinates introductions for cross-border cases.	Panamanian banking has tightened KYC and source-of-funds requirements. Non-resident applications take time; Bordercase coordinates introductions through current banking partners.
Family	Dependants - spouse, children, and in some cases parents - can be sponsored under most residency permits. Schooling, dependent insurance, and Emirates ID processes typically follow the main applicant's residency.	Family reunification is supported. International schools are available in Bratislava.	Family reunification is supported on most residency routes. International schools (English-language and Spanish) are available in Panama City.
Risks	Risks Bordercase watches for in UAE cases: Bank account rejection - unclear source of funds, complex ownership, certain industries Free-zone choice misaligned with the actual business activity Substance requirements underestimated (real office, real operations) Past visa rejections in any country must be disclosed and prepared for Restricted nationalities for certain banking partners	Risks Bordercase watches for in Slovakia: Tax residency triggers VAT registration timing for cross-border services Processing variations between districts	Risks Bordercase watches for in Panama: Reputational / de-banking risks for poorly structured offshore-only setups Tax residency analysis for clients with other obligations (CRS / FATCA) Processing delays at Migration UBO reporting is now active
Documents	Typical document pack for UAE residency: Passport copies (6+ months valid) Recent biometric photos Education / qualification certificates (attested) Business plan (for investor / free-zone routes) Source-of-funds evidence Bank statements (6-12 months) Existing company documents where applicable Medical examination + Emirates ID enrolment after entry Documents from abroad typically require notarisation and legalisation (UAE attestation chain).	Typical Slovak residency documents: Passport Criminal record certificate Proof of address Health insurance Employment or business documentation Family certificates with apostille and translation	Typical Panama documents: Passport Criminal record certificate (apostilled) Proof of economic tie (employment letter, property deed, or investment evidence) Proof of address Marriage / birth certificates for family All documents apostilled and translated where required.

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