Company
Formation Services in the UAE

It depends on the jurisdiction and office arrangement. Free zone packages typically include an allocation of 1 to 6 visas, expandable with larger office space. Mainland companies can sponsor visas in proportion to their physical office size. We size the license and office to your planned headcount from the start.

For a standard setup with individual shareholders: passport copies, proof of address, and details of the intended business activity. Regulated activities or corporate shareholders require additional documents, such as attested corporate resolutions and constitutional documents. We provide a precise checklist once the structure is confirmed.

Yes. The incorporation itself can be completed remotely by power of attorney in most free zones and on the mainland. A personal visit becomes necessary at the residence visa stage, for the medical test and biometrics, and for most traditional bank account openings. A typical setup requires one trip of 3 to 5 working days, which we schedule and manage for you.

A mainland company can trade anywhere in the UAE and bid for government contracts. A free zone company offers 100% foreign ownership, simpler setup and 0% corporate tax on qualifying income, but limited access to the mainland market. An offshore company is a holding and asset-protection vehicle that cannot do business inside the UAE. The right choice depends on where your customers are and how the structure interacts with taxation in your home country.

Yes, it can. An offshore company incorporated in the UAE is a resident person for corporate tax and must register with the Federal Tax Authority. It is taxed on its worldwide income at 9% above AED 375,000, although dividends and gains from qualifying shareholdings can be exempt. For tax treaties it is not a UAE resident, so it cannot obtain a tax residency certificate or claim treaty relief. Its position in the owners' home country also matters, including CFC and place of effective management rules.

A free zone company cannot trade directly in the UAE mainland market. To serve mainland customers it can appoint a locally licensed distributor, open a mainland branch, or in some cases obtain a dual license where the free zone offers one. If your revenue will come mainly from UAE customers, a mainland company is usually the more practical structure.

The total depends on the licensed activity and office requirements. A complete mainland setup with INCORPORTAS, including the trade license, Memorandum of Association, one residence visa and corporate bank account opening assistance, starts from USD 14,500 with all government and service fees included.