Company formation in Dubai and the UAE
We set up companies in Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah. Choose your emirate to see costs, requirements and timelines, or tell us your case and we will recommend where to incorporate.
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How company formation works in Dubai and the UAE
Setting up a company in the United Arab Emirates chains three decisions: the jurisdiction (free zone, mainland or offshore), the emirate with its registration authority, and the licence that covers the real activity. Each combination changes set-up and renewal costs, available visas, access to the local market and the banking route. That is why we compare several alternatives before registering.
The full process usually takes one to four weeks: name reservation, initial approval, corporate documents, licence issuance, establishment card and residence visas. Once the licence is issued, the bank account and tax registrations follow. A free zone allows 100% foreign ownership; a mainland LLC is licensed by the DET to operate across the whole local market; an offshore company serves holding and international operations without physical presence.
On tax, companies pay the 9% Corporate Tax on profit above AED 375,000, standard VAT is 5% with mandatory registration from AED 375,000 of taxable turnover, and there is no personal income tax. Accounting and record-keeping are mandatory from day one, including in free zones.
The emirate should follow the business model.
We compare commercial reach, authority, activity, premises, visas, recurring cost and banking route before registration.
Dubai
Mainland and free-zone ecosystems across a broad range of sectors. It often fits where commercial presence, local clients or a specialist licence matter.
View guide → 02 · Industry, trade and cost structureRas Al Khaimah
RAKEZ combines service, commercial and industrial licences with coworking, offices, warehouses and land.
View guide → 03 · Creative, technology, logistics and industrySharjah
SPC, Shams, SAIF Zone, Hamriyah and SRTI Park serve different operating profiles.
View guide →Free zone, mainland or offshore: the licence follows real operations.
Legal form, jurisdiction and licence follow clients, activity, team, substance and market access.
Free Zone
A company licensed by a free-zone authority with its own activity list, facilities and rules.
View guide → 02 · StructureMainland
LLC company in Dubai: a DET licence to operate locally across the whole UAE market.
View guide → 03 · StructureOffshore
Offshore company in Dubai: a non-resident vehicle for holdings, international transactions or wealth planning.
View guide → 04 · StructureFreelance
An individual permit for eligible professions where a full company is not required.
View guide → 05 · StructureHolding
A structure for shares, assets, intellectual property or investments.
View guide → 06 · StructureFoundation
A governance, succession and asset-protection vehicle in a UAE jurisdiction.
View guide →What we validate before incorporation.
The recommendation must stand up to authority, banking and relevant tax scrutiny.
Activity and clients
We confirm that the licensed activity covers what is invoiced and where it is delivered.
Emirate and authority
We compare mainland and free zones by reach, regulator, facilities and renewal.
Residence and team
We size visas, establishment card, premises, quota and planned hiring.
Tax and substance
We review Corporate Tax, VAT, QFZP, tax residence and accounting from day one.
Banking and payments
We align licence, contracts, funds, markets and risk profile with a realistic route.
Recurring cost
We compare the first year and renewal, not only the entry promotion.
From decision to an operating company.
A coordinated sequence so licence, visa, banking and tax are not selected as isolated decisions.
Assessment
Activity, shareholders, country of residence, clients, revenue, visas and medium-term objectives.
Comparison
We present viable options with incorporation, renewal, premises and compliance costs.
Incorporation
We manage the name, activity, forms, corporate documents, licence and immigration file.
Launch
We coordinate banking, tax registrations, accounting, contracts and the annual calendar.
Incorporation is the start, not the finish.
A company is useful only when it can invoice, collect, hire and comply. The same team can continue with recurring operations.
Accounting and finance
Monthly accounting, reporting, close, financial statements and obligation tracking.
Learn more → 02UAE tax services
Corporate Tax, VAT, substance, transfer pricing and international coordination.
Learn more → 03Corporate services
Visas, renewals, amendments, banking and corporate maintenance.
Learn more →Start with a comparison, not a promotion.
Tell us the activity, country of residence, clients and required visas. We will prepare the alternatives before recommending an emirate, authority or licence.
Related guides and analysis
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.
Read article→02Costly 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.
Read article→03The 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.
Read article→Incorporate around a defensible decision from day one.
You will receive a comparison of jurisdiction, licence, costs, tax, visas and banking route for your case.
Book a consultation →Dubai Marina, UAE