How it Works

Contact Us

We provide you free consultation on UAE incorporations

Company Type

Our experts offer you many company formation options and help you choose the best business form

Local sponsor

Some business forms require a local sponsor. With our contacts and network, we can easily find the right one for your business

Bank Account

We assist our clients to open a corporate onshore or offshore bank accounts

Other Legalities

We take care of all legalities for your business formation and make sure that all your rights are secured and you don’t have to worry about approvals and filing proper documents

Company Formation Overview

Onshore Company

Operating inside
UAE

License required

Corporate tax

 51% UAE national partner

Require  office

FIND OUT MORE

Offshore Company

Operating outside
UAE

No license required

No Corporate tax

100% Foreign Ownership

–

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Free Zone Company

Operating inside & outside UAE

License required

No Corporate tax

100% Foreign Ownership

Require office

FIND OUT MORE

Branch
Offices

Operating inside
UAE

License required

Corporate tax

UAE national
agent

Require office

FIND OUT MORE

Onshore Company

The UAE Commercial Companies Law requires that each company established in the UAE have one or more UAE national partner(s) who hold at least 51% of the company’s capital. Companies that undertake certain activities are exempt from the 51% requirement, including oil companies with concession agreements, companies involved in the oil and gas industry, companies that produce electricity and gas, companies involved in treatment of water and transmission and distribution. Foreign banks are exempt from having to appoint a sponsor. Companies established in free zones are exempt from the 51% requirement, if the relevant free zone has special provisions regulating the company.

According to the Companies Law, onshore companies may be incorporated under different forms among which limited liability companies, private and public shareholding companies. Foreign companies also have the possibility of registering branch offices or subsidiaries as onshore companies in UAE. All types of onshore companies have different shareholding structure and share capital requirements as it follows Limited liability companies must have at least one UAE national partner holding at least 51% of the paid-up capital,

Licensing requirements are applicable to all types of companies.

An office space is mandatory and residence visas are possible depending on the size of the office / work premises.

There are no accounting or auditing requirements.

According to the UAE , Federal Law No. 2 of 2015 concerning Commercial Companies, investors may set up the following forms of companies: There are seven categories of  Permanent Establishments and other form  business organization listed below.

  • Joint Liability Company,
  • Simple Civil Company,
  • Limited Liability Company,
  • Public Joint Stock Company,
  • Private Joint Stock Company,
  • Branches or Representative Offices of Foreign Companies
  • Free Zone companies,

  • Branch Offices vs. Representative/Liaison Offices
  • Civil /Professional Firms
  • Dubai Fast-Track License
  • Commercial Agency Agreement
Your Advantages:

  • The simple regulatory system,
  • The tax-free economy,
  • The lack of capital gains and corporate tax in Dubai,
  • The possibility of owning real estate,
  • Multiple currency available bank account for companies,
  • The skilled Dubai workforce.
There are three categories of licenses for all business activity in UAE :

  • Commercial licenses: covering trading activities.(49% Foreign Partner shares and 51% Local Partner )
  •  Industrial licenses: for establishing an industrial or manufacturing activity.
  • Professional licenses: covering professional services, craftsmen and artisans.(100% Foreign Partner Shares)

All businesses, must also obtain a trade license from the emirate concerned before it can begin the business.Licensing procedures may vary from emirate to emirate. Specific information is available through the following Chambers of Commerce & Industry:

The required documents to obtain the license and more can be required depend upon the nature of activity

  • Copy of the applicant’s passport (with a residence permit / visa for citizens of countries)
  •  Naturalization identification copy( UAE National only)
  • A letter of NOC from the current sponsor (employer has no objection to the dismissal of the employee)
  • Passport copy of the director and a letter of NOC from the current sponsor / director. Resolution of the Board of Directors of the company at the opening of the new establishment, if the partner is an active entity in the UAE or abroad (permission must be officially translated into Arabic, certified at the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, the consulate or embassy of GCC, the consulate and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates).

Offshore Company

An offshore company is a company which does not conduct substantial business in its country of incorporation and is formulated in a law of no tax jurisdiction for the purposes of legally minimizing any type of tax payment and improving one’s wealth management.
Primarily one would open an offshore company to gain confidentiality over their financial affairs and grow wealth without intrusion.
The name of an offshore company cannot contain the words: insurance, re-insurance or banking in its composition. Any name of the offshore company must contain the termination ‘’Ltd.” or “Limited”.

An offshore company in UAE can be formed by at least one shareholder and it can have maximum 50 members. This type of company must be managed by at least two directors and a secretary. Their names are kept in the register of directors from the Dubai Registered Office, but their details are not available for the public. It’s not mandatory for the general meetings of the offshore company to take place in Dubai.

An offshore establishment can have any of the following legal structure.

  • Offshore company
  • Offshore partnership
  • Offshore trust
  • Private foundation

Main activities of UAE Offshore Company

  • General Trading
  • Consulting and Advisory Services
  • Holding Company (Buy/Hold/Sell stakes of companies) 
  • Investments and Joint Investments Company
  • Property Owning
  • International services 
  • Professional Services 
  • Shipping and ship management companies 
  • Commission Agents Company – Intermediary Brokers (IB’s) 

You can register International Business Companies bearing the status of ‘Limited’ or ‘Ltd.’ at RAK Offshore.

Following the introduction in 2003 of the Regulations for Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZ) Offshore Companies, international companies can establish JAFZ offshore companies, with benefits similar to other international offshore jurisdictions.  Ras Al Khaimah has, since 2006, allowed for the establishment of offshore companies.

UAE has two main Offshore Authorities:

  • Ras Al Khaimah (RAK)
  • Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA)

  • Insurance & Banking & Financial
  • Military
  • Consulting
  • Intellectual Property
  • Media & Movie Production
  • Publishing & Advertising
  • Casino &Game/ Win
Your Advantages :

  • No personal, corporate, capital tax, profit or VAT (except for the foreign banking branches or oil producers)
  • No Minimum Capital Requirement
  • anonymity and privacy protection are guaranteed;
  • 100% Foreign Ownership Permitted
  • Dubai Offshore Bank Account
  • No obligation to deposit the capital in a bank
  • No Accounting or Reporting Requirements or Auditing (no fees for accountants)
  • No minimum share capital requested in the free zones
  • It’s not necessary to submit the company’s account. These accounts are only presented to the shareholders.
  • Nominee Services through Lawyers
  • The Offshore Company can own Real Estate Properties in UAE
No license required
Requirements:

  • Applicants Personal Profile (CV)
  • Bank Reference Letter
  • Proof of residence (recent Utility Bill such as an Electricity Bill or Telephone Bill in the name of applicant not more than 3 months old)
  • Passport Copies for the shareholders (with at least 6 months validity)

Free Zone Company

The UAE has long been recognized as the Middle East’s leading economic and commercial hub. The country has literally transformed itself into a liberal and attractive business zone thanks in part to its massive investment in local Free Zones. UAE Free Zones, especially free zones in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman offer the most cost effective mix of production, transportation and distribution solutions across the Middle East. They also serve as a gateway to the international markets

Each free zone has its own set of laws in UAE.  However, you can set up your business by one of the following ways:

  • Free Zone Establishment (FZE) (One individual shareholder)
  • Free Zone Company(FZC) (More than one member)
  • Branch Office of a foreign firm (outside UAE) or a branch of an offshore establishment

all of the above types may not be available to every free zone, therefore an investor should seek the advice of a consultant to finally arrive at whether his choice is possible in the concerned free zone and also to know about the details of documents needed.

Free Zone Limitations

  • A Free Zone Company is not allowed to trade directly with the UAE market. The Free Zone Company can undertake the local business only through locally appointed distributors
  • Custom Duty 5% is applicable for the local business

Even though all free zones provide many attractive schemes for the benefit of the investors, not all are the same when we consider the facilities offered by them. Therefore it will be worthwhile to have a glance over the facilities offered by each, one by one. The details mentioned below are for the guidance of the investors, and the facilities may be subject to change from time to time when such decisions are being taken by the Free Zone Authorities.

Listings of most UAE free zones are included below:

  • Ahmed bin Rashid Free Zone

Advantages of a UAE Free Zone Company
  • No personal or corporate tax
  • 100% Repatriation of Capital and Profits
  • Exemption from all Import and Export Duties (within the area)
  • Free capital transfer
  • 100% Foreign Ownership
  • Liberal Visa regulations
  • speedy business setup & licensing
  • Low overhead
  • Inexpensive Workforce and Easy Recruitment Procedures
  • Availability of an ample, skilled workforce
  • Ready access to a potential market of 2 billion consumers
Corporation is approved for the Free Trade Zone establishment provided with  one of the following licenses .However, free zone companies may only operate within the free zone boundaries and are generally limited to performing solely those activities listed in their license(s). But services and products can be obtained from and within the UAE

Different types of licenses that can be issued in a Free Zone are:

  • General Trading License
  • Trading License
  • Industrial License
  • Service License  National Industrial License

All businesses require a license, and licensing procedures vary from Emirate to Emirate. Specific information is available through the following Chambers of Commerce & Industry:

There are some similar formalities to be completed with regards to the documents which are submitted to each free zone depending upon the type of business an investor chooses. In general, for the advantage of the investors, descriptions of documents commonly needed are being listed below:

  • Application form duly filled
  •  Business profile of the owner
  • Passport copy of the owner  
  •  Original banker’s reference

  • Business profile of individuals
  • Passport copy of owners
  • Original bankers reference
  • Board Resolution
  • Manager’s valid passport copy
  • Specimen signature of the manager
  • Original FZCO application

  • Certificate of Registration
  • Memorandum and Articles of Association
  • Board Resolution
  • Manager’s passport copy and his attested signature
  • Parent company‘s profile

Note: Application for license, Passport copy & Bank reference of each individual, Project summary and Application for registration are common for any business set-up

Branch vs. Representative/Liaison Offices

The UAE Companies Law, permit foreign companies to

  • open branches or representative offices within the UAE
  • A branch or a representative office of a foreign company wholly owned by foreigners (100% to the parent companies abroad, carry their names and are not considered independent legal entities)
  • No start capital is required, but it still provides the possibility for a physical and legal presence in the country
  • Does not require a local partner, but only a so-called “National Service Agent”
  • A branch or a representative office is only permit to engage in non-commercial business —such as the provision of engineering, medical and consultancy services
  • A branch office must only engage in those activities that are carried out by its parent company
  • A branch office license permits the holder to open and operate bank accounts, to lease office and residential premises, to sponsor residence visas and labour permits for expatriate employees and to take other actions within the scope of the licensed objectives
  • Limited to employing the number of foreigners permitted under its business licence

Alternatively, a representative/liaison office is limited to promoting its parent company’s activities. This means that a representative office is only permitted to perform such activities as gathering information, soliciting orders, and marketing projects to be performed by the company’s head office. This type of office is also limited in the number of employees that they sponsor (usually three to four).

The documents required for initial approval to be submitted with the Ministry of Economy are:

  • Registration and a license application forms
  • Proof of the reserved business name
  • A copy of the director’s passport and a letter of no-objection issued by the parent company
  • A copy of the UAE representative’s passport and naturalization book
  • The foreign company’s management board resolution for opening the branch in UAE
  • A power of attorney for the director
  • The parent company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association (The Memorandum, Articles of Association and Certificate of Incorporation must translate into Arabic and duly notarized)
  • A copy of the parent company’s Certificate of Incorporation
  • Approval issued by the Government for carrying out the specified trading activities

Once the initial approval is obtained, the local agent will go the Department of Economic Development and submit the following documents:

  • the approval received from the Ministry of Economy
  • a copy of the property lease agreement
  • copies after the documents submitted with the Ministry of Economy
  • a statement issued by the parent company on the business activities to be carried out
  • the parent company’s audited financial statements for the last two years

Once the license from the Department of Economic Development it can register with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and start operating.

Service Agent
This person can only be a citizen of the United Arab Emirates. He bears no responsibility for the legal and financial obligations of the company and has no voice in the business concerns of the company. His range of duties refers solely to the assistance in obtaining entry and residence visas and the annually incurring renewal of licenses. A service agent agreement between the company and the service agent is made which governs the legal relations between both parties. Additional activities of the service agent can be attached to the agreement. The service agent receives an annual allowance based on his social position and the economic impact he can bring to the market. For other tasks, such as the acquisition of contracts etc. a commission agreement is made. The service agent agreement may be terminated at any time in accordance with the contract conditions. The service agent has no right of severance and compensation payments at any time.

PRO Services

We will handle and process your complete business documentation for company registration process in UAE. We provide exceptional services to our clients which includes:

  • Company Formation
  • Introducing you to the right sponsor
  • Assisting you in the processes of business registration
  • Converting commercial name or activities
  • drafting and notarizing the company’s memorandum and articles of association
  • Annual License Renewal and Amendment
  • Visa Processing Services ( Partners Visa, Employment Visa, Family Visa, Visa Cancellation)
  • Labor Card (New, Renewal & Amendment)
  • Assistance for Bank Account opening, Credit Card application, Cheque Book, etc
  • P O Box Registration New & Renewals
  • Searching for best office premises and house rental
  • Providing certified translation to all legal documents in Arabic, English and Chinese languages.
  • Providing personal interpreter for Chinese language.

Other Business Services

Workplace Services

Our experts help our business clients to buy or rent

  • Full Offices
  • Shared Offices
  • Warehouses
  • Land & Plots
  • Business Center

We provide all you need for an effective, efficient workplace wherever and however you want. Whether you need commercial or private residency in UAE, serviced office space, a sophisticated location, furnished space, we can find the lowest possible prices for the best locations in UAE and all the details taken care for you.

Businessmen Services

We help our Businessmen by

  • Visa Services (Visit Visa, Tourist Visa, Investor Visa, Entry Service permit Visa)
  • Airlines and Hotel Reservations
  • Airport Pick & Drop Services
  • Assistance during stay

Obtaining the UAE investor visa can be done by creating your own UAE company or investing in a UAE real-estate.

Our team consist of experienced professional which advise ,guide and process your case with fast pace as we value your time