Company Setup in UAE

In order to establish your company, you must first find out what business zone or ownership kind would best suit you. Dubai Economic Department has a list of over 2100 (business) activities you can select from.

To determine the appropriate zone for your business formation in Dubai and the wider UAE, it's important to understand that the UAE offers various types of economic zones: Free Zone, Offshore, and Mainland. Each zone has its own advantages depending on your business category and activities.

Free Zone Companies

Company formation in UAE Free Zone offers the extravagance of 100 percent foreign national ownership which is Dubai's way of attracting and inspiring foreign investment by making it stress-free to set up a business and easing down the immigration and labor procedures. There are around 45 Free Zones in the UAE, of which around 25 are in Dubai, each of which caters to precise categories of business. Free zone rules are far less strict and the timeframes for setting up companies are much faster, as the paperwork and administration requirements are minimal and there is no need for appointment of a UAE local sponsor to obtain a license.

Step 1 – Pre-Approval Stage

The application for freezone company registration in UAE is submitted through the free zone's registrar. Some of the free zones have their own online portals through which clients can process the initial application instead of going to the registrar for submission. This phase includes completion of application forms, registering the shareholder and officers' details, company name reservation, activity, management and compliance approvals.

Step 2 - Registration

This is where company registration, invoice issuance and submission and verification of the original legal documents take place. At this stage, most of the free zones require the shareholder or the authorized signatory to visit the registrar to sign and verify various documents such as passports and IDs.

Step 3 - Licensing

Signing of the Lease Agreement and finalization of the license by the registrar take place at this stage. Once the management approval is granted, the license and corporate documents of the company shall be issued.

Mainland Companies

If you wish to setup a mainland business in UAE you have to register with the Department of Economic Development (DED), which will then grant you a Dubai business license.

The most common way to establish a mainland business in the UAE is through the reliable and well-established Limited Liability Company (LLC), although there are other options available as well.

  • Sole proprietorship
  • Civil Company
  • Limited Liability Company (LLC)
  • Private Limited Company (PLC)
  • Public Joint Stock Company (PJSC)
  • Branches, regional headquarters, and representative offices of foreign companies
  • Single Family Offices

Register Trade Name

The trade name of your new business must reflect your chosen activity, and it must get approved by the authorities before formal usage. Approval is subject to the trade name not already being in use by someone else, or it being previously registered. Further, the trade name must not offend public morals or the public order of the UAE.

You can check the availability of trade names on the websites of the Department of Economic Development (DED) in every emirate except Fujairah, where it is listed on Fujairah Municipality's Rukhsati app. Licensed trade names can also be found on the UAE Ministry of Economy Unified Commercial Registration System, and the National Economic Register.

Alternatively, you can shortlist trade names that reflect the nature of your business, and our team will check its availability and secure its registration. Business setup consultancy in Dubai can guide you through this process to ensure compliance and timely approval. When approved, the trade name will be followed by the acronym of your legal structure, ex: LLC, PLC or PJSC.

Get required approvals

Complete all the paperwork and all the processes to get you the Initial Approval. This early approval is a prerequisite for almost all ensuing steps towards setting up a business in the UAE mainland.

Thereafter, based on your chosen business activity, there may be other government approvals and translations of such approvals, and various attestations and notarizations. Carefully timed and coordinated, these steps will lead towards collection of the final approval of your UAE Mainland Company's Trade License.

Confirm workspace

You may have a preference about where your new office needs to be located.

There are multiple choices for new business set up in the UAE's mainland, each catering to specific needs and budgets:

  • Virtual office
  • Leased office
  • Fully owned office
  • Office building
  • Workshop
  • Warehouse
  • Confirm workspace
  • Comply with labor rules

If you do not wish to take up the process of procuring visas yourself, our team of business setup consultants in UAE, will handle everything on your behalf: opening an official governmental file, processing your Establishment Card, applying for the required number of employment and/or residence visas for members of staff and family. This also includes the verification, translation, and attestation of various documents.

Open bank account

Opening a corporate bank account is an integral part of the formation of a UAE mainland company. Businesses are legally required to separate personal and professional funds. Business setup consultants in UAE provide guidance to ensure smooth compliance and accurate documentation during this process.

The UAE offers numerous choices, from prestigious international banks, well-established local banks, and digital-only banks. Each offers distinct advantages to entrepreneurs, start-ups, small businesses, or large foreign corporations.

Seek professional support

Often, mainland company setup in Dubai can be an overwhelming affair if you start operations immediately without a network of alliances and partnerships in place.

We offer comprehensive assistance with every aspect of company incorporation in Dubai and the wider UAE and provide ongoing professional support as needed. Our rapidly growing team develops and implements innovative solutions that address the evolving demands of business and help overcome the challenges companies face.

  • Types of licenses: Based upon the kind of business activity, you will be obliged to first identify the category of license you want. Again, DED is accountable for the issuance of the license. There are three kinds of licenses you can look at: Commercial (for Limited Liability Companies or LLCs) License, Industrial License, and Professional License. Business setup consultancy in Dubai facilitates this process by guiding you through the requirements, documentation, and approvals for each license type.
  • Need for local sponsors: For opening any type of business in UAE under a DED license, you need a local sponsor, an agent, or a partner. Though this is not compulsory, having local support can help you in several ways. So, do a little research and discover how your business will benefit from this addition, in case it is not an obligation for your kind of business. Partnering with business setup agencies in Dubai can simplify this process and ensure compliance.

Now that you distinguish about the background and requirements to initiate with the official process of registering your company, here’s how you can apply for and obtain a business license in Dubai:

Getting your Business Registered

To register company in UAE, entrepreneurs must follow a structured process that includes the following steps:

  • Select the category of business: The primary step you have to be assured about is the type or category of business you have. In case you discover it problematic to define your business and cannot find your category in the official lists of the business activities as per DED, you can check directly at the Department of Economic Development (DED) to ensure your activity aligns with the requirements of company formation in Dubai, UAE.
  • Find the right legal form: Contrary to what the name may suggest, this is not a legal document or a form to be completed. The structure of your business will depend on the type of business and its location, whether you're considering a business setup in UAE mainland or a free zone. It's important to verify which business activities align with the appropriate authorized forms for your specific situation.
  • Choose a trading name: This is an imperative part of the company incorporation in Dubai. You are expected to choose a trading name that matches the type of services your company plans to offer. You then have to pay trade name reservation fees within 72 hours of receiving this voucher.
  • Minimum investment: Different businesses have varying requirements, and in most cases, an initial investment is not mandatory when you register company in UAE. The process begins with obtaining initial approvals. At this stage, you must secure a "no-objection" certificate from the Department of Economic Development (DED) and navigate through several channels to obtain it. You can visit one of the Service Centres or explore the Happiness Lounge for assistance.
  • Prepare agreements and select premises: Based on the authorized form of your business, you might need to generate and sign a Memorandum of Association (MOA) or a Local Service Agent (LSA) / Corporate Agent agreement with local support (UAE national). Also, in this phase, you will have to finalize a physical address for your company, whether under mainland or freezone business setup in UAE.
  • Submit documents and get a license: Before proceeding with the next step in the business registration process, make sure that your type of business does not require any additional approvals. Once everything is in order, submit all the necessary documents and complete the payment process. You must pay for your trade license within 30 days of receiving the payment voucher. If the payment is not made within six months, the transaction will be automatically cancelled. This stage is commonly handled by company formation services UAE to ensure timely submission and compliance.