Formation · UAE
A free-zone company in the UAE.
A licence from a free-zone authority, owned fully by you, with the activities your business actually runs. Add a residence visa and Emirates ID if you want them; that part needs a short visit.
- Full foreign ownership
- Licence set up remotely
- Visa needs a visit
The phases
Licence first, residence if you want it.
The licence can be done from anywhere. The visa steps are booked around one short trip.
Zone and activities
We compare free zones on your activities, office options, visa quota and renewal costs.
Remote
Licence application
Shareholders, manager and activities go to the free-zone authority.
Authority decides
Licence issued
The trade licence, the incorporation certificate, the memorandum and the share certificate.
Remote
Entry permit
If you want residence: the permit to enter, or a status change if you're already in the UAE.
Medical and biometrics
A medical test and fingerprints for the visa and the Emirates ID.
In person
Accounts
Bank and payment applications, once the licence and, often, the visa are in hand.
What you get
From choosing a zone to the first account.
A free zone that fits
Each zone has its own authority, activity list, office options and fees. We compare them for your business.
The licence application
Activities matched to what you actually do, the shareholders and the manager, filed with the authority.
Company documents
The trade licence, the certificate of incorporation, the memorandum of association and the share certificate.
Residence visa and Emirates ID
Optional. The entry permit, the medical test, biometrics and the ID card, booked with you.
Bank and payment applications
UAE banks and payment providers, prepared with you. Each runs its own checks and decides.
Corporate tax registration
Every UAE company registers for corporate tax with the Federal Tax Authority. We make sure it's on the list.
Who it's for
For digital and trading businesses.
A good fit
- Consultants, agencies, software and e-commerce businesses
- Founders planning to live in the UAE, or to trade across the region
- Owners who want full ownership without a local partner
Not a fit
- Regulated activities, such as finance or health, until the extra approvals are in view
- Businesses that mainly sell to UAE mainland customers, which may need a mainland licence
- Anyone treating the company as a way out of tax at home
What you'll need
For each shareholder and manager.
- Passport, valid for at least six months
- A passport-style photo
- Home address
- What the company will do, in a few lines
- For the visa: your current visa or entry stamp, if you're already in the UAE
- For a company shareholder: its registration documents and owners
Things to know
Before you choose a zone.
- Renewal is yearly
- The licence and the office or desk facility renew each year, with the zone's renewal fee.
- Visas follow the quota
- Your package sets how many residence visas the company can sponsor.
- Corporate tax applies
- Registration is required for every company. The rate depends on income and on whether free-zone conditions are met.
- Accounts take their own time
- Bank checks often take longer than the licence itself.
What it costs
The zone's fees and ours, side by side.
Quoted by email.
Each free zone sets its own licence, facility and visa fees. We quote them beside our own, so you can compare zones on the full figure.
What moves the fee
- Which free zone and which activities
- Office, desk or shared facility
- How many residence visas
- Whether you want the account applications too
Can I own the company outright?
Yes. Free-zone companies can be wholly owned by foreign shareholders, with no local partner.
Do I need to visit the UAE?
Not for the licence in most free zones. For a residence visa, yes: the medical test and biometrics are in person, and the visit is usually short.
Can the company sell inside the UAE?
Free-zone companies trade within their zone and internationally. Selling to customers on the UAE mainland can need a local distributor or a mainland licence, depending on the activity.
How long does a licence take?
It depends on the zone and the activities. Regulated activities need approvals from other authorities and take longer. We give you the zone's current timing in the reply.
Will a UAE bank open an account?
Banks run their own checks and decide. Many ask for a residence visa, and some for a meeting in person.
Does a UAE company mean no tax?
No. The UAE has charged corporate tax since 2023, at 9% above a threshold, and some free-zone income can qualify for 0% if conditions are met. Moving abroad does not by itself end tax duties at home. Ask a tax adviser in both places.
Related
Often asked for together.
- Bank and payment accountsBusiness bank and payment-account applications, prepared with you once the company exists.See the service
- Accounting and bookkeepingBookkeeping, annual accounts and filings through accountants who know these companies. Tax advice comes from them.Inquire by email
- Crypto Visa cardsSpend crypto with a card issued by our partner. High limits set by the issuer.See the service
Pick a zone that fits.
Tell us what the company will do, who will own it, and whether you want a residence visa.
Talk to us: [email protected]
The fee and the current timing come in the reply. Institutions run their own checks and decide.