Company formation in the UAE

Company formation in the UAE: what the work involves

Setting up a company in the Emirates is not a single application but a chain of decisions: which jurisdiction to use, which activities go on the licence, which legal form fits, how to get through bank due diligence and how many visas you will need. Early mistakes tend to surface later, at the bank or at renewal.

We handle the whole project:

• reviewing your business model and choosing a jurisdiction — free zone, mainland or offshore;
• selecting activities and the emirate;
• preparing constitutional documents and the application to the licensing authority;
• an office or flexi-desk where the licence or visas require one;
• support with opening a corporate bank account;
• founder and employee visas, Emirates ID;
• post-registration duties: tax registration, licence renewal, corporate changes.

Three decisions that shape your set-up

1. The type of company. Free zone, mainland and offshore structures differ in where you can do business, whether you need an office, how many visas are available and how tax applies. See the full comparison: Free Zone vs Mainland vs Offshore.

2. The emirate and the free zone. There are seven emirates and several dozen free zones, each with its own focus, rules and pricing model. See company formation by emirate and our free zone catalogue.

3. The business activity. Your activity codes determine the licence type, any additional approvals and the questions the bank will ask. More in business activities and licence types.

Everything in this section

• How to set up a company in the UAE: step by step — the stages and what drives the timeline.
• Company setup costs and free zone comparison — what makes up a first-year budget.
• Free Zone vs Mainland vs Offshore — a side-by-side table.
• UAE free zone catalogue — free zones by emirate and sector.
• Company formation by emirate — how the seven emirates differ.
• Business activities and licence types — licence categories and activities needing extra approvals.
• Legal forms: LLC, FZE, FZCO — which to choose and how liability differs.
• Corporate bank account in the UAE — bank requirements and common reasons for refusal.
• Investor and employee visas — quotas, Emirates ID, family.
• After company registration — tax, UBO, renewals, reporting.
• Company liquidation in the UAE — closing a company without penalties.
• UAE company for Russian citizens — bank compliance and remote registration.

How we work

1. Enquiry. We reply within 30 minutes during working hours — on WhatsApp, Telegram or by email.
2. Diagnosis, 1–2 days. We review the business model, propose a jurisdiction and structure, and send an estimate separating government fees from our fee.
3. Engagement and power of attorney, 1–3 days. Both can be done remotely.
4. Registration. We prepare documents, file applications and send you a weekly status report.
5. Result. You receive the licence, constitutional documents and a plan of first-year obligations.

A trip to the UAE is usually needed only for visa formalities (medical test, biometrics) and, in most cases, a bank meeting — we agree the timing in advance.

Cost of registration

Our registration work is a fixed-price project from AED 5,000. Government fees, the free zone package, office rent and translations are paid separately and itemised in the estimate before we start. For what drives the budget and how free zones price their packages, see company setup costs. Once the company is up and running, it can move onto corporate support on retainer from AED 3,500 a month.

Who we set up companies for

Our clients are entrepreneurs and investors from Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and Russian-speaking businesses in Europe. We have practised in the UAE since 2012, work with you in Russian or English and deal with authorities and banks in English and Arabic. Russian citizens face specific bank compliance questions — covered in UAE company for Russian citizens.