Where to set up a company in UAE (Dubai)
and how much does it cost?
Unlock the gateway to business success in the United Arab Emirates. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a small business owner, or a corporation aiming to expand, we can help you with the process of registering your company in the United Arab Emirates.
The UAE is known for its business-friendly environment, streamlined regulations and efficient government services, facilitating a smooth company setup process.
With a diverse and skilled workforce, including both local and expatriate talent, businesses in the UAE can tap into a pool of skilled professionals.
The UAE offers political stability, security and a legal framework that safeguards investments, providing a favorable environment for business operations.
We can help you register a Free Zone or a Mainland company in the UAE, as well as help you get the residency permit there. If you do not want to stay the whole year in the UAE and be a nomad, the UAE also has many advantages to offer to nomads.
The benefits of set up a company in UAE (Dubai)?
- One of the Lowest Corporate Taxes Worldwide: 9%
- The First AED 375,000 (Approximately EUR 100,000) Is Tax-Free
- 0% VAT rate in most cases, 5% only for the GCC countries
- No Capital Gains Tax
- Tax-free dividends
- Excellent reputation of the jurisdiction which gives credibility to the company
- No social security contributions (paid only by nationals of GCC)
- Easy to hire highly skilled employees
- UAE has entered into over 137 double tax treaties
- No personal income tax
Company Registration in Dubai Free Zone
UAE has over 50 Free Zones. Some Free Zones allow only an activity in a specific area, for example: Dubai Healthcare City, Media Free Zone etc. Other Free Zones allow a big scope of business activities, for example Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) or Dubai World Centre (DWC).
The federal laws are applicable in both Mainland and all Free Zones. However, each Free Zone has a set of regulations, that are applicable only in a specific Free Zone.
Free Zone companies can operate within a certain Free Zone and internationally. Office of the company can be located only on the territory of a Free Zone in which the company is registered. Thus, it is very important to take into account the geographical location of a Free Zone prior to the registration of the company.
Please find below the allowed and prohibited activities of Free Zone companies:
- Operate in the UAE and internationally.
- Have business transactions with the other entities registered in the Free Zones or Mainland, if the services are provided in its office (for example: consultancy, software development, marketing etc).
- Hire employees, make residents visas for employees, rent office premises.
- Obtain the tax residency certificate.
- Have business transactions with the other entities registered outside of the Free Zone, if the services has to be provided at the premises of the client (for example: installation of the software, delivery of the goods etc).
- Rent office premises outside of the Free Zone.
- Trade and distribute goods outside the Free Zone where the company is registered.
- Participate in government tenders.
Unlike a Mainland company, it is possible to register a Free Zone company remotely, no physical presence of the shareholder is required for the registration of the company in any of the Free Zones in the UAE.
Steps required to start your business in the UAE:
- Register the company in the UAE Free Zone (remotely).
- Obtain a residence visa (requires physical presence in the United Arab Emirates).
- Open a bank account.
The companies registered in the Free Zone will be treated by the banks differently depending on the reputation of the Free Zone they are registered. Registering a company in a Free Zone with a dubious reputation can lead to the negative consequences that would not permit the smooth operation of the business, including but not limited to the inability to open a bank account in the UAE.
To minimize the possibility of the above mentioned complications, the most preferred Free Zones for registration of a company are DMCC, DWC and IFZA.
There are 53 Zones where to create your company in Emirates...
Here are some examples
Register a company in the free zone of DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre)
DMCC is the largest Free Zone in the UAE and has one of the best reputation in the UAE which helps to open a bank account and maintain the company smoothly.
DMCC is located in the Jumeirah Lake Towers district, that is considered one of the most prestigious and well-developed areas of Dubai.
DMCC offers licenses in the following spheres of business activity:
- Automotive Transportation
- Construction, engineering and machinery
- Food & agro
- Energy
- Healthcare
- Media and marketing
- Personal and community services
- Precious metals and gemstones
- Real estate services
- Support services
- Aviation
- Education
- Financials
- General trading
- Hospitality
- Metals and minerals
- Personal and household goods
- Professional services
- Shipping and logistics
- Technology and telecommunications
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Creation time |
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Time required for the registration of your company |
15 business days |
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Time required to obtain a visa: |
From 5 to 7 working days |
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PRICES |
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Registering a DMCC company without a visa: |
*EUR 16,000.00 |
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Registering a DMCC company with 1 visa: |
EUR 19,000.00 |
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Request for an additional visa for a DMCC company: |
EUR 3,000.00 |
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Annual renewal of the company registration in DMCC Free Zone: |
*EUR 12,000.00 |
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The price includes the fee for one Flexi Desk (registered address) with the right to 3 visas and is charged separately at a rate of
EUR 3,000 each.
The price for 1 residence visa is EUR 3,000 and includes: Visa fees, Emirates Identification Document (ID), Medical test and assistance in obtaining your visa.
Register a company in DWC Free Zone (Dubai South Free Zone)
DWC is considered one of the best Free Zones in the United Arab Emirates.
It is located between Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Al Ain, at Al Maktoum International Airport. A company in DWC can operate internationally and also sell products in the United Arab Emirates market through a local agent.
DWC offers licenses for 5 main types of business activities:
- Services
- Trading
- Logistic
- Industrial
- Education
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Creation time |
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Time required for the registration of your company |
3 to 5 business days |
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Time required to obtain a visa: |
From 5 to 7 working days |
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Options for registering a company in the DWC Free Zone |
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Flexi Desk |
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Smart Office |
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PRICES |
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Registering a company in DWC (Flexi Desk) without a visa.
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9.500,00 € |
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Registering a company in DWC (Smart Office) without a
visa |
12.000,00 € |
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Registering a company in DWC (Flexi Desk) with 1 visa. |
12.500,00 € |
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Registering a company in DWC (Smart Office) with 1 visa. |
15.000,00 € |
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Application for an additional visa for a DWC company. |
3.000,00 € |
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Annual renewal of the company registration in the DWC Free Zone. |
9.500,00 € |
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The price for 1 residence visa is EUR 3,000 and includes: Visa fees, Emirates Identification Document (ID), Medical test and assistance in obtaining your visa.
Register a company in the IFZA (International Free Zone Authority of Dubai) free trade zone
IFZA, the Free Zone of the Fujairah Free Zones Authority, stands out as a strategic business enclave in the United Arab Emirates.
Located in the thriving city of Dubai, IFZA offers a dynamic and efficient business environment for companies in various sectors. IFZA provides easy access to global markets and serves as a bridge between Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Companies registered with IFZA can benefit from favorable trade regulations, facilitating international operations and participation in various business sectors. Moreover, IFZA allows companies to conduct business both locally and internationally, providing flexibility and growth opportunities.
IFZA offers licenses for 10 main types of business activities.
- Trading
- Logistic
- Manufacturing
- Services (Consulting, Engineering, IT, etc.)
- Tourism and Hospitality
- Real Estate
- Education
- Healthcare
- Media and Advertising
- E-commerce
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Creation time |
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Time required for the registration of your company |
5 to 7 Working Days |
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Time required to obtain a visa: |
From 5 to 7 working days |
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PRICES |
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Register IFZA company (Flexi Desk) without visa
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EUR 7,000.00 |
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Register company IFZA (Flexi Desk) with 1 visa |
EUR 8,000.00 |
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Application for an additional visa for IFZA company |
EUR 1,000.00 |
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Annual renewal of the company registration in the IFZA Free Zone |
EUR 7,000.00 |
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*Prices include the provision of the Flexi-Desk for 1 year.
*The maximum number of visas allowed is 4, provided that the company has a private office. Each additional visa
is charged at a rate of EUR 1,000.
The price for 1 residence visa is EUR 1,000, and includes: Visa fees, Emirates Identification Document (ID), Medical test and assistance in obtaining your visa.
Company Registration in Dubai Mainland
A company registered in the mainland enjoys the privilege to conduct the activities across the whole UAE and are not confined only to one Free Zone. They are suitable the most for companies, whose business activity requires them to have manufacturing facilities, provision of goods or services in the UAE market.
Advantages of setting up a UAE Mainland company
- Eligibility to conduct business both internationally and in the whole United Arab Emirates.
- UAE mainland companies have a low corporate tax rate of 9%.
- Wide range of allowed activities.
- Eligibility to have an office in any district.
- Unlimited ammount of residency visas granted to investors/managers/employees*
*Please note that the unlimited number of residence visas granted is based on the size of the office space: 1 visa for every 9 square meters.
Visas are issued for a period of 2 years.
The time to obtain a visa depends on the applicant’s nationality and lasts from 5 to 30 working days.
The price for registering a company in UAE mainland depends on the following criteria
- Number of shareholders;
- Share capital;
- Annual rental cost (obtaining a commercial license is done only after the submission of the lease contract);
- Number of commercial activities;
The price starts from EUR 3,000. Physical presence of the owner in the territory of the United Arab Emirates is required for the company registration.
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You are one step away from making your dream of living in Dubai come true.
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- The UAE offers a business-friendly environment, simplified regulations and efficient government services, facilitating a smooth process for establishing a company.
- Access to a diverse and skilled workforce, including local and expatriate talent.
- Political stability, security and a legal framework that protects investments.
- One of the lowest corporate taxes in the world: 9%.
- Tax-free dividends and no personal income tax.
- Over 137 double taxation treaties, facilitating international business.
- 0% VAT rate in most cases, only 5% for GCC countries.
- Regular taxpayers are subject to a tax rate of 9% on profits exceeding AED 375,000.
- Qualified Free Zone Individuals enjoy a 0% rate on qualified income and a 9% rate on non-qualified income.
- It must have an adequate level of substance in the Free Zone.
- It receives qualified income.
- It does not choose to be taxed as a regular taxpayer in the UAE.
- Non-qualified income should not exceed de minimis requirements (no more than 5% of total income).
- Allowed: Operating within the UAE and internationally, conducting commercial transactions within the Free Zone, hiring employees, obtaining a tax residency certificate.
- Prohibited: Renting premises outside the Free Zone, trading and distributing goods outside the Free Zone.
- DMCC, DWC, and IFZA are recommended for their respected and business-friendly environment.
- Conduct business both internationally and throughout the territory of the UAE.
- Low corporate tax rate of 9%.
- Wide range of permitted activities.
- Eligibility to have an office in any district.
Schedule a Strategic Call for personalized advice.
- Registering the company in the Free Zone of the UAE (remotely).
- Obtaining a residence visa (requires physical presence in the UAE).
- Opening a bank account.
- DMCC: 15 business days.
- DWC: 3-5 business days.
- IFZA: 5-7 business days.
