How to set up a company in the UAE: the overall route
Every UAE business is registered with a licensing authority: on the mainland, the emirate's economic department — in Dubai, the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET); in Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Registration and Licensing Authority (ADRA); in a free zone, the free zone authority itself. The steps are much the same everywhere:
- choose the business activity;
- choose the jurisdiction and emirate;
- decide the legal form and ownership structure;
- reserve the trade name and obtain initial approval;
- prepare constitutional documents;
- arrange an office or flexi-desk;
- licence issue and company registration;
- bank account;
- visas and Emirates ID;
- post-registration obligations.
Steps 1–3: activity, jurisdiction, legal form
Activity. Everything starts with what the company will do. Activities are chosen from the authority's official list and determine the licence type, any additional approvals and the questions your bank will ask. See business activities and licence types.
Jurisdiction. The mainland gives direct access to the UAE market, a free zone suits international trade and services, and an offshore company is used for holding purposes with no operations in the UAE. Compare them in Free Zone vs Mainland vs Offshore.
Legal form. Mainland companies are usually LLCs; in free zones you will see FZE/FZCO or FZ-LLC, depending on the zone. A shareholder can be an individual or a company; a corporate shareholder will need legalised documents from its parent. See legal forms.
Steps 4–7: trade name, documents, office, licence
Trade name. The name is reserved with the licensing authority. It must not offend public morals, duplicate an existing registered name or use the names of government bodies, and some authorities expect it to reflect the activity.
Initial approval. On the mainland this confirms the government has no objection to the registration; certain activities also need sign-off from a sector regulator.
Documents. Typically: passports and photographs of shareholders and the manager, address details, sometimes a CV and business plan. We draft the Memorandum/Articles of Association, the manager appointment and the beneficial ownership (UBO) declarations. Documents issued outside the UAE generally need legalisation and translation.
Office. The mainland requires a registered lease (in Dubai, via Ejari). Free zones offer flexi-desks and shared workspaces, though the number of visas often depends on office size.
Licence. Once fees are paid, the trade licence and company registration documents are issued.
Steps 8–10: bank account, visas, ongoing duties
Bank account. UAE banks run their own KYC review: ownership structure, source of funds, counterparties, business model. This is often the longest stage — see corporate bank account in the UAE.
Visas. The company is registered with the immigration system, then residence visas are processed for the founder and staff: entry permit, medical test, biometrics, Emirates ID.
After registration. Every legal entity must register for Corporate Tax with the Federal Tax Authority (FTA), and for VAT once turnover passes the threshold; keep accounting records, renew the licence and maintain the UBO register. See after company registration.
How long it takes
Nobody can promise an exact timeline up front. It depends on:
- the jurisdiction — many free zones issue a licence within a few working days of a complete file, while the mainland involves more approvals;
- the activity — regulated sectors need approval from the relevant authority;
- the shareholder — foreign corporate documents must be legalised;
- the bank — KYC review can take several weeks;
- visa formalities and your travel dates.
Our estimate gives an indicative timeline for each stage of your project.
How we help
We handle structuring, document preparation, filings and all contact with the authority, the bank and immigration. Registration can be done remotely under a power of attorney; a visit is usually needed for the visa and the bank meeting. Our fee is a fixed project price from AED 5,000, with authority fees and packages paid separately (see company setup costs). You get a status report every week.
FAQ
Many free zones allow remote registration under a power of attorney. A visit is needed for the residence visa and, in most cases, for opening the bank account.
Yes. For most activities, both free zones and the mainland allow a single-shareholder company with 100% foreign ownership.
The mainland requires a registered lease. In free zones a flexi-desk is enough, but office size can affect how many visas you get.
Open the bank account, process visas and register for Corporate Tax with the FTA. We give every client a first-year compliance calendar.