START A COMPANY / MIDDLE EAST
How to register a company in United Arab Emirates
Choose mainland (DET, trade anywhere in the UAE) or a free zone (IFZA, RAKEZ, DMCC: cheaper, faster, mainly for international trade). Both then register for corporate tax (9% above AED 375,000 profit) and VAT if turnover passes AED 375,000.
- REGISTRY
- Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) for mainland; each free zone authority for free zones
- ONLINE
- Fully online
- FROM
- AED 6,000 (≈ £1,200)
- STRUCTURES HERE
- 3
Setting up from abroad
Yes. Most mainland activities allow 100% foreign ownership (since 2021), no local sponsor. You need a passport, a lease or flexi-desk, and a manager. Residence visa and bank account are optional but usual; free zones need no UAE presence to incorporate.
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
Mainland LLC: Limited Liability Company (mainland, licensed by DET)
Selling to UAE customers and government, needing office and visas, with 100% foreign ownership.
- Liability
- Limited to what you put in
- You need
- 1 shareholder and 1 manager
- Minimum capital
- No statutory minimum; DET may ask for a stated capital (often AED 1,000 to 300,000)
- Time
- 1 to 3 weeks
Steps
Choose business activities and check any approvals needed (e.g. DET, health, media).
Reserve the trade name through DET (Invest in Dubai / DET portal).
Get initial approval for the licence.
Draft and notarise the Memorandum of Association with a notary public or a Dubai court-approved notary.
Sign a tenancy contract (Ejari) or flexi-desk for the registered address.
Pay fees and receive the trade licence.
Obtain the establishment card from the immigration authority.
Apply for investor/employee visas and open a corporate bank account.
Documents
- Passport copies of shareholders and manager
- UAE entry stamp or residence visa copy if resident
- Signed Memorandum of Association
- Tenancy contract (Ejari) or flexi-desk
- Initial approval
- Trade name certificate
Official fees
About AED 10,000 to 25,000 for the licence and approvals in year one, depending on activity; licence renewed yearly. Visa and establishment card cost extra.
Budget
| How | About | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | AED 15,000≈ £3,000 | DIY: DET licence, approvals and notarisation, about, no visa or office |
| With an accountant or agent | AED 35,000≈ £7,100 | About: licence, flexi-desk, one visa, PRO agent |
| Full service | AED 60,000≈ £12,000 | About: setup agent or lawyer, office, visas, bank account help |
Every year
- Renew trade licence yearly
- Renew tenancy and establishment card
- File corporate tax return within 9 months of year-end
- File VAT returns if registered
- Maintain accounting records
Check before you rely on it. Not confirmed with an official source: DET fees are market estimates from secondary sources; the DET site did not load. Some strategic activities still need a local partner.
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
Free Zone Company: Free Zone Establishment (FZE) or Free Zone Company (FZ-LLC)
Online, consulting and international trading businesses wanting low cost, fast setup and 100% foreign ownership.
- Liability
- Limited to what you put in
- You need
- 1 shareholder
- Minimum capital
- Usually none to AED 50,000 depending on free zone (DMCC asks AED 50,000 share capital)
- Time
- 3 days to 2 weeks
Steps
Compare free zones (IFZA, RAKEZ, DMCC, Meydan) by activity, cost and visa quota.
Choose a package and apply online with activity and trade name.
Submit passport copies and shareholder details for approval.
Sign the free zone registration forms and share certificate.
Pay licence and registration fees.
Receive licence and incorporation documents.
Apply for establishment card and residence visas if wanted.
Open a corporate bank account.
Documents
- Passport copies
- Proof of address
- Application form and trade name choice
- Business plan for some zones
- Passport photo for visas
Official fees
IFZA about AED 16,400 (licence AED 12,500 plus registration and card) without visa; RAKEZ from about AED 6,000; DMCC licence about AED 20,300.
Budget
| How | About | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | AED 6,000≈ £1,200 | DIY: cheapest RAKEZ package, no visa, about |
| With an accountant or agent | AED 17,000≈ £3,400 | About: IFZA-type package via agent, no visa |
| Full service | AED 40,000≈ £8,100 | About: DMCC or similar with visa, agent and bank account help |
Every year
- Renew licence yearly
- File corporate tax return within 9 months of year-end
- Qualifying Free Zone Person status keeps 0% only on qualifying income
- VAT returns if registered
- Audited accounts for some zones
Check before you rely on it. Not confirmed with an official source: package prices from secondary sources and change often. Free zone companies generally cannot trade directly on the mainland without a distributor or dual licence.
SOLE TRADER
Sole Establishment: Sole Establishment (individual licence, Dubai mainland)
One person offering services or trade with simple structure.
- Liability
- Unlimited: you are personally liable
- You need
- 1 owner
- Minimum capital
- None
- Time
- 1 to 2 weeks
Steps
Choose activity and reserve trade name via DET.
Get initial approval.
Sign tenancy or flexi-desk contract.
Pay fees and receive licence.
Obtain establishment card.
Apply for owner visa if wanted.
Open a bank account.
Documents
- Passport copy
- Tenancy contract
- Initial approval
- Trade name certificate
Official fees
About AED 8,000 to 15,000 for licence and approvals in year one, depending on activity.
Budget
| How | About | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | AED 9,000≈ £1,800 | DIY: DET licence and approvals only, about |
| With an accountant or agent | AED 20,000≈ £4,000 | About: licence, flexi-desk, agent |
| Full service | AED 35,000≈ £7,100 | About: agent, office, visa, bank help |
Every year
- Renew licence yearly
- Corporate tax registration if turnover above AED 1 million
- VAT if above threshold
Check before you rely on it. Not confirmed with an official source: owner personally liable. Natural persons are only subject to corporate tax above AED 1 million turnover.
After you register
- Register for corporate tax on the Federal Tax Authority's EmaraTax portal (all companies, even at 0%); 9% above AED 375,000 profit.
- Register for VAT on EmaraTax if turnover is over AED 375,000 (voluntary from AED 187,500); 5% rate.
- Open a corporate bank account (needs licence, MOA and passports; can take weeks).
- Register beneficial owners with the licensing authority (UBO register).
- Register employees for visas and the WPS payroll system; GCC nationals have social security duties.
- Keep accounting records for 7 years and file Economic Substance or tax returns as required.
- Check whether your activity needs extra approvals (health, education, financial services).
Sources
Checked against:
Pound amounts use HMRC's exchange rates for 2026-10 and are a rough guide only.
Other countries in Middle East
This guide is general information to help you plan, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Fees, forms and rules change: check the official registry before you file, and take professional advice for anything complex. Agent and lawyer costs are typical market prices, not quotes.