We handle your company formation in Dubai from start to finish: choosing the free zone or mainland licence, incorporation, residence visa, corporate bank account and tax registrations. And unlike a pure formation agent, we are a licensed tax consultant, so the structure is designed around your tax situation — in the UAE and in the country you are coming from.
Everything your company needs to operate in Dubai, not just the trade licence.
01
Free zone or mainland selection
We compare the free zones and the mainland for your activity, visa needs and budget, and recommend the licence that fits.
02
Company incorporation
Name reservation, initial approval, documentation and incorporation until your trade licence is issued.
03
Residence visa and Emirates ID
Establishment card, entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID and visa stamping for you and, if needed, your family.
04
Corporate bank account
We prepare the compliance file and support you through the account opening, the step where most applications stall.
05
Corporate Tax and VAT registration
Registration with the Federal Tax Authority and, where applicable, VAT, so your company starts compliant.
06
Tax structure review
Before incorporating, we check how the company fits with your personal tax residency and where it will really be taxed.
Who it’s for
Is this for you?
Digital entrepreneurs and online businesses that want to operate from the UAE.
Freelancers and consultants with international clients who are moving to Dubai.
Founders who want a UAE company as part of a well-designed international structure.
Companies expanding to the Middle East that need a licence, visas and banking.
Anyone who wants one provider for the setup and the tax work that comes after.
How it works
Step by step.
1
Analysis and free zone
We review your activity, your residency and your plans, and choose the free zone or mainland licence that fits.
2
Documentation
We tell you exactly what is needed and prepare the application with you.
3
Incorporation
We file and follow up the application until the trade licence is issued — around 14 days in total.
4
Visa, bank and registrations
Residence visa, corporate bank account and tax registrations, so the company is ready to operate.
Guide
What you should know before setting up in Dubai.
Setting up is quick. Setting up well means answering a few questions first.
Free zone or mainland
Free zone companies are the usual choice for digital businesses: 100% foreign ownership, a fast setup and a wide range of activities. Mainland companies make more sense if you need to trade directly with the local market.
Almost any free zone can work. What matters is choosing one whose licensed activities, costs and requirements fit your business.
Corporate Tax also applies in free zones
The UAE has a federal Corporate Tax: 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above that. Free zone companies must also register and file returns, even though they can apply a 0% rate on qualifying income when they meet the requirements.
Choosing the right structure and keeping proper accounts from the start is what allows you to apply the right tax treatment.
A company in Dubai does not change your personal tax residency
Having a UAE company does not make you non-resident where you live today. If you still live in Spain, for example, or the company is effectively managed from Spain, both you and the company can be taxed there.
That is why we check your personal tax residency before incorporating, not after.
Founder of Evolve Tax. Nearly a decade in tax advisory across consulting and law firms in Spain and Dubai.
Last updated:
This page offers general information and does not replace personalised advice for your case.
Complete guide
Company formation in Dubai: the complete guide.
Licences, costs, documents, timelines, visas, banking and what happens after the licence is issued.
Which licence you need
Every UAE company operates under a trade licence tied to the activities it is allowed to carry out. The main categories are:
Commercial licence: trading, import and export, e-commerce and general buying and selling of goods.
Professional or service licence: consulting, marketing, design, software, coaching and most digital services.
Industrial licence: manufacturing, processing and assembly.
Tourism licence: travel agencies and tourism-related activities.
The activities on your licence matter more than people expect: invoicing for something your licence does not cover is one of the most common problems we see, and adding activities later means an amendment and extra fees. We map your real revenue streams to the activity list before filing anything.
Mainland, free zone or offshore
Free zone
Mainland
Offshore
Foreign ownership
100%
100% for most activities
100%
Trade in the UAE market
Limited; may need a distributor or permit
Anywhere in the UAE
No
Residence visas
Yes, depending on the package
Yes, depending on office space
No
Office
Flexi-desk packages are common
Physical office lease usually required
Registered agent only
Corporate Tax
9%, with a possible 0% on qualifying income
0% up to AED 375,000 and 9% above
Subject to the same rules
For a digital business selling to clients outside the UAE, a free zone company is usually the right answer. We compare both in detail in Free zone or mainland in Dubai.
What business setup in Dubai costs
There is no single price: the cost depends on the free zone, the number of activities on your licence, how many residence visas you need and whether you need a physical office.
These are the components behind that number:
Concept
When you pay it
Trade licence (free zone or mainland)
Every year
Name reservation and initial approval
Once, at incorporation
Establishment card
Once, then renewed; needed to sponsor visas
Residence visa: permit, medical, Emirates ID and stamping
Per person, renewed every 2–3 years
Office: flexi-desk or lease
Usually included in free zone packages; extra on mainland
Our professional fees
Agreed in writing before we start
Our own fees for the setup are agreed in writing before we start, and we tell you which third-party costs are paid directly to the authorities. We break every line down in how much it costs to set up a company in Dubai.
Documents you will need
Passport copy with at least six months of validity
Recent passport-size photograph with a white background
Proof of address in your current country of residence
Entry stamp or current UAE visa page, if you are already in the country
A short CV or company profile, required by some free zones and activities
A no-objection certificate, if you already hold a UAE employment visa
Attested corporate documents, if a company is going to be a shareholder
Step by step, and how long it takes
1Choose the activity, the legal form and the free zone or mainland route.
2Reserve the company name and obtain the initial approval.
3Prepare and file the application with the documentation.
4Trade licence issued — around 14 days in total in a free zone.
5Establishment card and visa quota for the company.
6Entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID and residence visa stamping.
7Corporate bank account opening.
8Corporate Tax registration and, if applicable, VAT registration.
The licence is the fast part. Visas usually take one to three weeks after the licence, and the bank account depends on the bank and on how well the file is prepared — that is where most of the real waiting time is.
Residence visas and how many you get
The number of visas your company can sponsor depends on the package and the office space. A flexi-desk package typically comes with one or two visa quotas; more visas usually require a larger office.
The visa process runs in stages: entry permit, status change, medical test, Emirates ID biometrics and visa stamping. Once you have a residence visa you can sponsor your spouse and children, and you can apply for a UAE tax residency certificate when you meet the day-count conditions explained in our guide to the UAE tax system.
Opening a corporate bank account
A trade licence does not come with a bank account. UAE banks run their own compliance checks and will ask about your business model, your clients, expected turnover and the source of your funds. Applications are rejected or delayed when the story on paper does not match the activity on the licence.
We prepare the file — licence, corporate documents, passports, business plan, contracts or invoices that prove real activity — and guide you through the options, from traditional banks with minimum balance requirements to digital business banking.
What happens after the licence: tax and compliance
A UAE company has yearly obligations from day one:
Corporate Tax registration: with the Federal Tax Authority, and an annual return within nine months of your financial year end, even if the tax due is zero.
Bookkeeping: proper accounting records, kept for at least seven years.
VAT: registration is mandatory above AED 375,000 of taxable supplies, with periodic returns.
Free zone 0% rate: only available to a Qualifying Free Zone Person with adequate substance, audited accounts and non-qualifying revenue under the de minimis threshold.
Renewals: licence, establishment card and visas renew every year.
Opening a company in Dubai does not, by itself, change where you pay tax. If you keep living in Spain, or you manage the company from there, the Spanish tax authorities can treat the company as Spanish and tax its worldwide profits. Your own tax residency has to change first, and it has to be provable.
The cheapest licence may not cover your activity or may limit how you can operate.
×
Underestimating the bank account
Opening the account can take longer than the incorporation itself if the file is not well prepared.
×
Forgetting about Corporate Tax
Many free zone companies do not register or keep accounts because they assume they pay nothing, and end up with penalties.
×
Running it from another country
Setting up in Dubai while you keep living in and managing the business from Spain can make the company taxable in Spain.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
How long does business setup in Dubai take?
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The trade licence usually takes around 14 days once we have your documentation. The residence visa comes afterwards, normally one to three weeks, and the bank account depends on the bank and the profile of the business.
How much does it cost to set up a company in Dubai?
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As a guide, a free zone company with one residence visa usually costs between AED 15,000 and AED 20,000 for the first year, including licence, establishment card and visa. Mainland companies cost more because of the office lease. We send a written quote with the exact figures for your case.
Which free zone is best for my business?
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There is no single best free zone. Almost any can work for a digital business; the right one depends on your licensed activities, how many visas you need and your budget.
Can I set up a company in Dubai without living there?
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Yes, you can own a UAE company as a non-resident. But if you manage it from another country, that country may consider the company tax resident there, so the structure needs to be analysed first.
Do I need a physical office in Dubai?
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Not in most free zones: a flexi-desk or shared desk package is enough and is included in many licence packages. Mainland companies usually require a physical office lease registered through Ejari.
How many residence visas can my company sponsor?
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It depends on the package and the office space. Flexi-desk packages usually include one or two visa quotas, and more visas normally require a larger office.
Does a free zone company pay taxes?
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Free zone companies are subject to Corporate Tax and must register and file returns. Depending on the type of income and whether the requirements are met, part of the income may be taxed at 0%.
Can I open the bank account remotely?
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Some banks allow part of the process remotely, but most still require an in-person meeting or biometrics. We prepare the file and tell you what each option involves before you travel.
Do you handle the accounting after the setup?
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Yes. Once the company is incorporated we can take care of the bookkeeping, Corporate Tax and VAT, so you have one provider for the setup and for what comes after.
A free zone company with one residence visa usually costs between AED 15,000 and AED 20,000 in its first year. Here is what each line of the quote means, what is missing from most of them and what you pay every year.
The UAE is no longer a zero-tax jurisdiction for companies. Here is how Corporate Tax, the free zone regime, VAT and personal taxation work today — and what it means if you run a digital business.
Free zone and mainland companies differ in where they can trade, what they cost, how many visas they allow and how Corporate Tax applies. Here is how to choose the right option for a digital or international business.
#Dubai
#Free zones
#Mainland
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Initial diagnosis
Start with a diagnosis.
Before designing anything, we need to understand your case. In a one-hour call you tell us your situation and we review it together: what you have, what risks there are and which options make sense for you.
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You tell us about your personal and business situation
We review it together: risks, options and priorities
