Company setup ยท UAE
Set up your UAE company, free zone, mainland or offshore
Choosing where to register decides what you can sell, who you can sell it to, how many visas you can hold and what you pay every year. We compare the options for your business, file everything, and track it with you to the licence.
Three ways to set up
Every UAE company is registered in one of three places, and each one suits a different kind of business.
Which one fits your business
| Free zone | Mainland | Offshore | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting from | AED 12,500 | AED 14,999 | AED 8,000 |
| Foreign ownership | 100% | 100% for most activities | 100% |
| Where you can trade | Inside the zone and abroad | Anywhere in the UAE and abroad | Outside the UAE only |
| Residence visas | Yes, set by your package and office | Yes, set by your office space | No |
| Office | Flexi-desk is often enough | A registered office is required | Not needed |
| Government contracts | No | Yes | No |
| Typical time to licence | A few working days | One to two weeks | About a week |
| Annual audit | Depends on the zone | Usually required | Usually not required |
Corporate tax applies to every UAE company. The standard rate is 9% on taxable profit above AED 375,000, and 0% below it. A free zone company can qualify for 0% on qualifying income if it meets the conditions. We register you for corporate tax as part of the setup.
How it works
- 1Start your order onlineYour activity, owners, visas and office, in a few questions, with your documents.
- 2Get your quotationWe recommend the jurisdiction and package and send an itemised quotation.
- 3Name and approvalsWe reserve the trade name and secure the initial approvals.
- 4Licence issuedWe file the application and the licence and company documents are issued.
- 5Visas and bank accountWe process the visas and support your corporate bank account application.
What you'll usually need
- A passport copy for every owner, valid for at least six months
- A passport-style photo for every owner
- A short description of what the business will do
- Your current UAE visa and Emirates ID, if you have them
- A no-objection letter from your employer, if you are employed in the UAE
Most of the setup can be done from abroad. Visa medicals and Emirates ID biometrics need you in the UAE, and we book them around your trip.
Pricing
Setting up a company is not one fixed price. It depends on the jurisdiction and the authority, how many activities you need, how many visas and what kind of office.
Start your order online, or message us, and we send an itemised quotation: the licence, the registration, any visas and the office, with the government fees shown as their own lines. It is in writing before anything is filed, and it does not change afterwards unless you change what you ask for.
FAQ
Can I own 100% of my company?
In a free zone and offshore, yes. On the mainland, 100% foreign ownership is allowed for most commercial and industrial activities; a short list of strategic activities still needs a UAE partner, and we tell you up front if yours is one of them.
Do I need to live in the UAE?
No. You can own a UAE company from abroad. If you want a residence visa through the company, you need to be in the UAE for the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics.
How long does it take?
A free zone licence typically takes a few working days once documents are in, a mainland licence one to two weeks, and an offshore company about a week. Visas and the bank account follow after the licence.
Can a free zone company sell in the UAE?
It can sell services to UAE clients in many cases, but selling goods into the local market usually needs a distributor or a mainland branch. If most of your customers are in the UAE, mainland is often the better fit.
Do you help with the bank account?
Yes. We prepare the application and supporting documents and introduce you to banks that fit your business. The bank makes the final decision, and most need to meet you in person.
A note on scope: DocuGulf is a documentation facilitation service. Licences, registrations and visas are issued by the relevant UAE authorities and free zones, and filed through licensed partners. Reach us at info@docugulf.com or +971 58 569 3628.
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Not sure which setup is right?
Message a setup adviser and we will compare free zone, mainland and offshore for your business.
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