LorcaBase

Insights · Analysis and updates

Analysis and updates on taxation, company formation, visas and investment in the United Arab Emirates, written by the LorcaBase team.

01 6 min read

The 3 best banks in Dubai by type of client

The 3 best banks in Dubai by client type: Wio for SMEs, Hubpay for non-residents with multi-currency and crypto, Emirates NBD for large companies.

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Concrete facade of a financial building, an image of corporate banking in Dubai
02 6 min read

Cryptocurrency in Dubai: crypto licences in DMCC

Crypto company in Dubai via DMCC: the 7 VASP activities regulated by VARA, the 2 crypto mining activities, AED 50,000 share capital and approvals.

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Bitcoin and ethereum coins on a laptop, image for the crypto company in Dubai
03 5 min read

Metals trading in Dubai: licence and activities

Metals trading company in Dubai: the eight activities of the DMCC Metals & Minerals group — ores, steel, non-ferrous and scrap — and their requirements.

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Sculptural waves of brown metal with reflections, an image of metals trading in Dubai
04 5 min read

Why Accounting Matters for Companies in Dubai

Why keeping proper books in Dubai matters: Corporate Tax and VAT obligations, IFRS standards, audits, record-keeping periods and penalties for non-compliance.

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A person at a desk with a calculator and a notebook, an image of accounting in Dubai
05 6 min read

Why It Is Important to Make a Will in Dubai

Why non-Muslims should make a will in Dubai: what happens without one, the DIFC, ADGM and ADJD routes, will types, guardianship of minor children and fees.

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Black and silver fountain pen on a light background, image of the will in Dubai
06 5 min read

Advantages of a Holding Company in Dubai

Tax and asset advantages of a holding company in Dubai: exempt dividends, 0% withholding, no personal income tax, 137 tax treaties and 100% foreign ownership.

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Dubai skyline at sunset over Sheikh Zayed Road, an image of the advantages of the holding company in Dubai
07 4 min read

Costly mistakes opening a Dubai company: licence, banking

The costliest mistakes when opening a company in Dubai: the wrong structure and licence, banking taken for granted, first-year-only budgets and tax residency.

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Dubai skyline under a blue sky, an image of the costly mistakes when opening a company
08 8 min read

Dubai Golden Visa through property investment

Dubai Golden Visa by property investment: the 2 million AED threshold, mortgaged property with bank NOC, official DLD fees, timelines and family sponsorship.

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Aerial view of the Dubai skyline with skyscrapers, home of the real estate investment that unlocks the Golden Visa
09 6 min read

Holding in Dubai: a licence in a free zone or offshore

Setting up a holding in Dubai: a free zone with visas, offshore for international asset holding or an SPV in DIFC and ADGM — uses, timelines and how to choose.

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Locking wheel of a steel safe door, an image of the holding in Dubai
10 7 min read

Restricted Purpose Company in Dubai (RAK ICC SPV)

The Restricted Purpose Company (RPC), RAK ICC's UAE SPV with a locked-in corporate purpose, built for securitisations, ring-fencing and structured finance.

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Aerial view of the Burj Al Arab and the Dubai skyline over the sea, an image of the RAK ICC Restricted Purpose Company
11 6 min read

Segregated Portfolio Company (SPC) in RAK ICC

What the RAK ICC Segregated Portfolio Company (SPC) is: up to ten ring-fenced portfolios in a single company, how ring-fencing works and when it pays off.

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Monumental sculpture among city buildings, an image of the Segregated Portfolio Company (SPC) in RAK ICC
12 5 min read

Advertising company in Dubai: licence and 6 activities

Advertising company in Dubai: a licence with the 6 activities of the Advertising group — agency, consultancy, design, merchandising and promotional gifts.

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Digital advertising billboard on a city corner, an image of the advertising company
13 5 min read

How to choose the company type and licence in Dubai

How to choose your company type in Dubai: free zone, mainland LLC, offshore, freelance licence, holding and foundation — uses, timelines and how to decide.

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Aerial view of Dubai's urban grid, an image of the company types
14 4 min read

Commercial brokerage company in Dubai: licence

Commercial brokerage company in Dubai: a licence with the official Commercial Brokers activity 5110-03, its written limits and how the commission is taxed.

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Two professionals in suits talking at a meeting, an image of commercial brokerage
15 6 min read

DAO company in Dubai: licence and 12 activities

DAO company in Dubai: licence with the 12 activities of the DAO Activities group in RAK DAO — from protocols and infrastructure to grant funding.

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Sphere surrounded by blue and green cubes on a purple background, an image of the entity for your DAO
16 5 min read

Machinery and equipment trading in Dubai: licence

Machinery and equipment trading company in Dubai: a licence with the 10 activities of the Wholesale of Machinery group — agriculture, HVAC and heavy equipment.

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Industrial warehouse full of orange machinery, an image of the machinery and equipment trading company
17 5 min read

Raw materials trading in Dubai: licence

Raw materials trading company in Dubai: a licence with the 11 activities of the Raw & Basic Materials group — timber, plastics, rubber and recycling.

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Stacks of white raw-material sacks with blue labels, an image of raw materials trading
18 4 min read

The real cost of a company in Dubai: licence and visas

The real cost of running a company in Dubai: licence and renewal, visas, accounting, Corporate Tax and VAT — every line item of the year, no surprises.

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Night panorama of the Dubai skyline, an image of the real cost of a company
19 6 min read

Set up a company in Dubai: steps, timelines and licence

How to set up a company in Dubai, step by step: company types and licence, a 100% remote process, when to travel, real timelines, costs and 9% taxation.

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Silhouette of the Dubai skyline at sunset, an image of the guide to opening a company
20 4 min read

Travel agency in Dubai: licence and requirements

Travel agency company in Dubai: a licence with the official Travel Agency activity 6304-02, civil aviation approval, a physical office and taxation.

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A person holding passports and plane tickets, an image of a travel agency
21 5 min read

Watch company in Dubai: licence and activities

Watch company in Dubai: licence and activities to manufacture, trade and repair — the DMCC and IFZA routes, with spare parts and accessories included.

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Close-up of a pocket watch on a table, an image of the watch company
22 6 min read

Artificial intelligence company in Dubai: licence

Artificial intelligence company in Dubai: licence with the 4 activities of the AI / Advanced Compute group in RAK DAO — chips, edge and IoT, R&D and ethics.

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Computer chip with the letter A, an image of the artificial intelligence company
23 5 min read

Biotechnology and blockchain company in Dubai: licence

Biotechnology and blockchain company in Dubai: licence with the 3 activities of the Biotech × Blockchain group in RAK DAO — data, traceability and health.

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DNA double helix with red particles, an image of the biotechnology and blockchain company
24 5 min read

Blockchain company in Dubai: licence and 3 activities

Blockchain and digital assets company in Dubai: licence with the 3 activities of the group in RAK DAO — DeFi protocols, analytics and tokenisation.

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Blue cubes with numbers, an image of the blockchain and digital assets company
25 5 min read

Gaming and eSports company in Dubai: licence

Gaming and eSports company in Dubai: licence with the 3 activities of the group in RAK DAO — cloud gaming, content studio and analytics, no gambling.

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Game controller under neon lights, an image of the gaming and eSports company
26 5 min read

High-performance computing company in Dubai: licence

High-performance computing company in Dubai: licence with the official High-Performance Computing activity in RAK DAO, requirements, limits and taxation.

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Macro shot of a black circuit board, an image of the high-performance computing company
27 5 min read

Metaverse company in Dubai: licence and 5 activities

Metaverse company in Dubai: licence with the 5 activities of the group in RAK DAO — immersive experiences, virtual fashion, events and holograms.

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Two classical statues wearing virtual reality headsets, an image of the metaverse company
28 5 min read

Quantum computing company in Dubai: licence

Quantum computing company in Dubai: licence with the 3 activities of the AI / Quantum Tech group in RAK DAO — R&D, software and secure communications.

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Colourful cube with bright light coming out of it, an image of the quantum computing company
29 6 min read

RWA tokenisation company in Dubai: licence

RWA tokenisation company in Dubai: licence with the 10 non-security activities in RAK DAO — from agri and precious metals to intellectual property.

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Red cubes connected by metal rods, an image of the asset tokenisation company
30 7 min read

Web3 company in Dubai: licence and 15 activities

Web3 company in Dubai: licence with the 15 activities of the group in RAK DAO — smart contracts, tokenisation, on-chain data, zk privacy and DePIN.

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Diagram of connected nodes in a network, an image of the Web3 company
31 4 min read

Aircraft Trading Company in Dubai: Licence Guide

Aircraft and helicopter trading company in Dubai: licence and activity 5159-99, AED 50,000 capital, DCAA approval and the sector's VAT rules.

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Orange and black helicopter in the foreground, illustrating aircraft trading
32 4 min read

Drone trading company in Dubai: licence and activity

Drone (UAV) trading company in Dubai: licence and official activity 5190-17, AED 50,000 share capital, the role of the DCAA and VAT for the sector.

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Close-up of a quadcopter drone, an image of the drone trade in Dubai
33 4 min read

Gold trading company in Dubai: licence and activity

Gold and precious metals trading company in Dubai: DMCC licence with official activity 5142-04, AED 50,000 capital, SIRA approval and VAT on gold.

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Stacked gold bars, an image of precious metals trading in Dubai
34 4 min read

HR company in Dubai: licence and activity 7414-06

HR consultancy company in Dubai: a licence with the official 7414-06 activity, AED 50,000 share capital, the sector Undertaking and how it is taxed.

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Work meeting between professionals, illustrating human resources consultancy
35 4 min read

Consulting company in Dubai: licence and activity

Consulting company in Dubai: the Management Consultancies licence and activity, why IFZA fits, costs, visas and the taxes your firm will pay.

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Consultant writing on a whiteboard during a strategy session
36 4 min read

Oil and gas company in Dubai: licence and activities

Oil and gas services company in Dubai: a DMCC licence with 5 official activities to operate outside the UAE, AED 50,000 capital and key requirements.

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Industrial energy-sector facilities under a cloudy sky
37 4 min read

Ships and boats trading company in Dubai: licence

Set up a ships and boats trading company in Dubai: licence with activities 5159-67 and 5159-69, AED 50,000 capital and how VAT applies in the sector.

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Yachts moored in a marina, illustrating ships and boats trading in Dubai
38 4 min read

Business residency in Dubai: visas and requirements

How to get UAE residency by forming a company: the 2-year investor visa, the 10-year Golden Visa, the full process and tax residency explained.

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Burj Al Arab in Dubai, landmark of the destination where business residency is arranged
39 5 min read

Car export company in Dubai: licence

How to set up a car export company in Dubai: licence and activity, mainland or free zone, 5% customs duty, 0% VAT on exports and RTA export paperwork.

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Rows of parked cars ready for export from Dubai
40 5 min read

Cryptocurrency company in Dubai: licence and requirements

Cryptocurrency company in Dubai: which licence VARA requires, which activities RAK DAO allows without a VARA licence and which remain regulated.

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Bitcoin coins on a pile of gravel, a symbol of digital assets in the UAE
41 4 min read

Digital marketing company in Dubai: licence and costs

Digital marketing company in Dubai: licence and activities in IFZA, costs and visas, VAT on your services and the steps to set up your agency.

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Professional working on a laptop, image of a digital marketing agency
42 6 min read

Proprietary trading company in Dubai: licence

Proprietary trading company in Dubai: licence and activity in RAK DAO to trade crypto and traditional assets with your own funds, cost and requirements.

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Monitor with a price chart in the foreground, an image of trading with one's own capital