Irish UCITS ETFs for UAE residents
Many investors living in the UAE hold Ireland-domiciled UCITS ETFs instead of the US-listed funds that track the same index. These are the ones that come up most often, with the facts from each issuer's factsheet. Listing a fund here is not a recommendation.
The funds
| Ticker | Fund | Holds | Tracks | Dividends | Yearly cost | ISIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSPX | iShares Core S&P 500 UCITS ETF | US shares | S&P 500 | Reinvested | 0.07% | IE00B5BMR087 |
| VUAA | Vanguard S&P 500 UCITS ETF (USD) Accumulating | US shares | S&P 500 | Reinvested | 0.07% | IE00BFMXXD54 |
| CNDX | iShares NASDAQ 100 UCITS ETF | US shares | Nasdaq-100 | Reinvested | 0.30% | IE00B53SZB19 |
| VWRA | Vanguard FTSE All-World UCITS ETF (USD) Accumulating | Global shares | FTSE All-World | Reinvested | 0.14% | IE00BK5BQT80 |
| VWRD | Vanguard FTSE All-World UCITS ETF (USD) Distributing | Global shares | FTSE All-World | Paid quarterly | 0.14% | IE00B3RBWM25 |
| IWDA | iShares Core MSCI World UCITS ETF | Developed market shares | MSCI World | Reinvested | 0.20% | IE00B4L5Y983 |
| EIMI | iShares Core MSCI EM IMI UCITS ETF | Emerging market shares | MSCI Emerging Markets IMI | Reinvested | 0.18% | IE00BKM4GZ66 |
| DTLA | iShares $ Treasury Bond 20+yr UCITS ETF USD (Acc) | Long US government bonds | ICE US Treasury 20+ Year | Reinvested | 0.07% | IE00BFM6TC58 |
| AGGU | iShares Core Global Aggregate Bond UCITS ETF, USD Hedged (Acc) | Global bonds, US dollar hedged | Bloomberg Global Aggregate | Reinvested | 0.10% | IE00BZ043R46 |
All domiciled in Ireland. Tickers are the London Stock Exchange lines in US dollars. Yearly cost is the ongoing charge on each issuer's factsheet, checked October 2026; it can change. Where a fund name links, our page shows its figures from a listing of the same fund in our data.
Why domicile matters for someone living in the UAE
- US estate tax. A US-domiciled ETF counts as a US asset. For a person who is not a US citizen or resident, US estate tax can apply above US$60,000 of US assets, at rates that rise to 40%. The UAE has no estate tax treaty with the United States. Ireland-domiciled UCITS ETFs are generally not treated as US assets for this tax.
- Tax on US dividends. The UAE has no income tax treaty with the United States, so US dividends paid to a UAE resident usually have 30% withheld. An Irish UCITS fund pays 15% on the US dividends it receives, under the US and Ireland treaty.
- Cost and trading. UCITS versions sometimes cost a little more than the US fund on the same index, and they trade in London hours. Check what your broker charges for each market.
The outcome depends on your nationality, residence and facts, so confirm your own position with a tax adviser. Sources: IRS, nonresidents with US assets; IRS, estate and gift tax treaties; IRS, income tax treaties; issuer factsheets (iShares, Vanguard), checked October 2026.
Side by side with the US funds
Questions
Why do UAE residents look at Irish UCITS ETFs?
Two reasons. A US-domiciled ETF counts as a US asset, and for a person who is not a US citizen or resident, US estate tax can apply above US$60,000 of US assets at rates that rise to 40%; Ireland-domiciled UCITS ETFs are generally not treated as US assets. And US dividends paid straight to a UAE resident usually have 30% withheld, because the UAE has no income tax treaty with the United States, while an Irish fund pays 15% on its US dividends under the US and Ireland treaty. The outcome depends on your nationality, residence and facts, so confirm your position with a tax adviser.
What do accumulating and distributing mean?
An accumulating fund (Acc) reinvests dividends inside the fund, so none reaches your account. A distributing fund pays them out, VWRD for example every quarter. The investments are otherwise the same.
Where do these trade?
The tickers shown are the London Stock Exchange lines in US dollars. Most also list on other exchanges in other currencies under other tickers; the ISIN identifies the fund.
Is a gold ETC a UCITS fund?
No. iShares Physical Gold ETC (IGLN) is an exchange-traded commodity: a debt security issued from Ireland and backed by gold in a vault. See the gold comparison for how it differs from US gold trusts.