Company Formation

Dubai Company Formation

A free-zone company registers in days and carries a residence visa, and the 0% rate holds only while the substance behind it is real. We build both.

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Why Choose Dubai for Company Formation?

Dubai is the most widely used base in the Gulf for high-risk and regulated operators who want a credible onshore address with a 0% tax outcome on qualifying activity. A free-zone company registers in days, allows 100% foreign ownership, and gives the founder a residence-visa pathway. The DMCC free zone alone hosts tens of thousands of companies, including a large and growing crypto and Web3 cluster. We form and operate companies here regularly, so the practical reality below is what we deliver, not theory.

Expert Comment

The 0% free-zone rate and bank account approval both depend on the same substance test: genuine local activity, not just a registered address. Get the activity code and substantiation right at incorporation—locking these in early eliminates most downstream friction, whether with the regulator or the banking team.

Daniel Tomberg CEO & Senior Partner, Tomberg & Partners
In short: Dubai is the right base for an internationally mobile operator who wants a reputable jurisdiction, a 0% rate on qualifying free-zone income, and residency tied to the company. It is not the right choice for a founder who needs European market access from day one, or who cannot commit to genuine local substance, since the 0% rate and bank onboarding both depend on it. We will tell you honestly if Dubai is wrong for your model.

A 0% Rate That Depends on Substance, Not a Tax-Free Promise

Since 1 June 2023 the UAE levies a 9% federal corporate tax, with 0% applying to a Qualifying Free Zone Person on its qualifying income. The 0% rate is conditional, not automatic: it depends on adequate UAE substance, qualifying income, the de minimis limit and audited accounts. Unlike a pure offshore company such as a BVI Business Company, a Dubai free-zone company sits inside a corporate-tax net and must register and file even at 0%. We structure the entity so the 0% position is defensible from day one.

Speed, 100% Ownership and Clean Standing

A free-zone licence is typically issued in 3–5 working days, with same-day options in some zones, and foreign founders own 100% with no local sponsor. Since the 2021 Commercial Companies Law reform, most mainland activities also allow full foreign ownership, dropping the old 51% Emirati-shareholder rule. The UAE left the FATF grey list in February 2024 and the EU AML high-risk list from 5 August 2025, removing the automatic enhanced-due-diligence presumption on UAE flows. The route from a Dubai company to a VARA, ADGM or DIFC licence is direct, and the Dubai crypto licensing routes build on the same entity we form here.

Which Business Models Suit Dubai

Dubai is not a one-size jurisdiction. It rewards operators who will commit to real local presence and use the entity as an operating base rather than a paper address. The verticals below are the ones we form here most often, and the ones where the 0% qualifying-income outcome and the residency pathway genuinely earn their place.

  • Crypto and Web3 operators wanting an onshore base with a clear route to a VARA, ADGM or DIFC virtual-asset licence.
  • Forex and trading businesses serving global or Gulf clients and seeking a credible, low-tax home jurisdiction.
  • Fintech and payments companies building toward a regulated authorisation under common law in DIFC or ADGM.
  • Internationally mobile founders who want residency tied to the company and are willing to be present for visa and banking steps.
  • High-risk ecommerce and digital businesses that need a reputable base off the FATF grey list with multi-currency banking.
Dubai is the wrong base if you need systematic access to EU clients from day one (that points to an EU CASP authorisation, which we also deliver), if you cannot commit to genuine UAE substance, or if you are a US person, whom we do not take on as a client. We say so before you spend, not after.

Entity Types Under UAE Law

The UAE offers three formation environments: free zones, the mainland under Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021, and the common-law financial centres DIFC and ADGM, each with its own companies law and registrar. For high-risk and regulated operators the free-zone company is the standard vehicle, and the one we form most often; DIFC and ADGM are used where a regulated financial-services authorisation is the target. We choose the environment with you and form the entity directly.

Definition: Free Zone Company (FZCO / FZE)

A Free Zone Company is a limited-liability company incorporated under a UAE free-zone authority’s own regulations rather than the federal Commercial Companies Law. An FZE has a single shareholder; an FZCO has two or more. It permits 100% foreign ownership, carries no statutory minimum capital for most activities, allows corporate directors, and is eligible for a residence-visa quota. It is the standard operating entity for high-risk and regulated operators and the base from which a VARA, DIFC or ADGM licence is pursued.

EntityMin. CapitalDirectorsOnline RegistrationUsed For
Free Zone Company (FZCO / FZE)No statutory minimum (most activities)1+ (corporate permitted)YesStandard operating vehicle for high-risk and regulated operators
Mainland LLC (FDL 32/2021)No fixed minimum (“adequate”)1+ (resident general manager)PartialCompanies needing to trade directly in the UAE domestic market
DIFC Private Company (Ltd)None for most; PLC USD 100,0001+YesRegulated financial services, funds, holding (common law)
ADGM Private Company (LTD)No fixed minimum (“adequate”)1+YesRegulated financial services, SPVs, foundations (common law)
Branch of a foreign companyMirrors parentMirrors parentYesExpansion of an existing group into the UAE
Forming the company is not the same as holding a licence. A trade licence permits its listed activities; regulated virtual-asset, payment or financial services need a separate authorisation from VARA, FSRA, DFSA or the Central Bank. A mismatched activity code is a common cause of later bank-account refusal, so we match the activity to the intended licence before incorporating.

Formation Process

We file the registration through the free-zone authority directly. A licence is realistically issued within 3–5 working days once documents are complete, with same-day options in some zones. The longer part is post-registration: the residence visa, Emirates ID and corporate bank account together take most companies 4–8 weeks, all of which we manage and keep on the critical path.

What You Need to Prepare

The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so foreign corporate and personal documents need full consular legalisation rather than an apostille, which we coordinate. The items below are what we gather and certify with you before filing.

Document / ItemDetailsNotes
Passport copy (each shareholder and director)Clear colour copy; original sighted at visa stageValidity at least six months
Proof of residential addressUtility bill or bank statementDated within three months
Curriculum vitae / business profileActivity description and backgroundUsed in the zone’s due-diligence check
Company name (pre-checked)Two or three options; no restricted termsReserved with the free-zone authority
Free-zone activity selectionMust match intended operations and any future licenceMismatch is a common bank-onboarding failure point
Shareholder and UBO structureOwnership percentages, ultimate beneficial ownersUBO declared under Cabinet Decision No. 58 of 2020
Legalised corporate documents (corporate shareholder)Notarised, then legalised by UAE embassy and attested by UAE MOFANo apostille route; allow extra time
Source-of-funds evidenceBank references, contracts, audited accountsIncreasingly requested at incorporation and by banks
Registered addressFlexi-desk minimum, or physical officeProvided by the free zone or leased
Step 1: Select the Zone and Activity 1–3 days

Select the Zone and Activity

We choose the free zone and the precise activity code with you: a general-purpose zone for a lean operator, DMCC for a crypto or commodities profile, DIFC or ADGM for regulated financial services. We align the activity code with your real operations and planned licence, because that code is what the bank later scrutinises.

Step 2: Reserve the Name and File the Application 1–3 days

Reserve the Name and File the Application

We reserve the trade name, file the KYC and UBO documents, and clear the zone’s background check, submitting the legalised parent documents here for a corporate shareholder.

Step 3: Pay Fees and Receive the Licence Same day to 3 days

Pay Fees and Receive the Licence

The trade licence and establishment card are issued. The company now has legal personality and can sign contracts, but cannot conduct regulated activity without the relevant licence.

Step 4: Immigration and Emirates ID 1–3 weeks

Immigration and Emirates ID

We open the immigration file and run the entry permit, medical, biometrics, Emirates ID and residence visa. This step requires the founder to be in the UAE at least once.

Step 5: Open the Bank Account 2–6 weeks, sometimes longer

Open the Bank Account

We drive the corporate account, the real bottleneck rather than a formality (see Banking). Substance evidence, residency and a clear business model materially shorten the timeline.

Step 6: Register for Tax Within deadlines

Register for Tax

We register the company for Corporate Tax (mandatory even at 0%) and for VAT where turnover exceeds AED 375,000 or it elects to register voluntarily above AED 187,500.

Residency Through Company Formation

Forming a UAE company is the standard route to residency for a foreign founder. The company sponsors a renewable investor or partner residence visa that lets the holder and their family live in the UAE, with the ten-year Golden Visa available to larger investors. It is a genuine benefit of forming here, though often confused with tax residency, which is separate.

ProgrammeWhat it grantsWhat it does NOT grant
Investor / partner residence visaRenewable UAE residence tied to company ownership; family sponsorship; Emirates IDAutomatic tax residency; mainland trading rights for a free-zone company
Golden Visa (investor)Five or ten-year renewable residence on AED 2,000,000≈ $544K investment in company capital or property; extended time outside the UAEUAE citizenship; eligibility on the basis of crypto or digital-currency holdings, which are excluded

A standard investor visa costs roughly AED 3,500–5,000 per person including the medical and Emirates ID, and is valid for two years; we secure it alongside the company and assess Golden Visa eligibility where it applies. The key limitation to understand is that a residence visa does not by itself make you UAE tax-resident. Tax residency is a separate test, established mainly through 183 days of presence or a permanent home and centre of vital interests in the UAE and evidenced by a Tax Residency Certificate. Founders who continue to spend most of the year elsewhere usually remain tax-resident there, and a free-zone visa does not grant mainland trading rights.

Requirements

The minimum is one shareholder, one director, a registered address (flexi-desk accepted), and legalised documents. Complexity rises with regulated-licence intent (capital and governance), corporate shareholders (legalisation burden), and the substance needed for the 0% rate. The two make-or-break elements are the activity-to-licence match and genuine local substance, and we get both right at the structuring stage, before anything is filed.

RequirementStandard FZCOFor a Regulated Licence (VARA / FSRA / DFSA)
Min. Directors11+ with fit-and-proper assessment
Corporate DirectorsPermittedRestricted; natural-person directors expected
Foreign Ownership100%100%
Min. Share CapitalNone for most activitiesCapital adequacy set by the regulator (see Licensing Pathways)
Registered AddressFlexi-desk acceptedPhysical office in the relevant zone usually required
Contact Person / AgentFree-zone authority acts as registrarRegulator-facing compliance function required
UBO DisclosureYes, to the free-zone registrarYes, plus regulator scrutiny
Nominee Directors / ShareholdersDiscouraged; UBO must be disclosedNot accepted in practice
Annual FilingLicence renewal; CT returnLicence renewal; CT return; audited accounts; regulatory returns

Address, Substance and Beneficial Ownership

Every UAE company needs a registered address. A flexi-desk satisfies incorporation and the basic visa quota, but it is thin substance: for a Qualifying Free Zone Person relying on the 0% rate, and for a bank assessing the company, a dedicated office with demonstrable local activity carries more weight. Separately, under Cabinet Decision No. 58 of 2020, companies must disclose the ultimate natural persons who own or control them, with changes notified within 15 days. Nominee arrangements that hide the true UBO are not consistent with these rules and are not accepted by banks. We build defensible, bankable ownership structures, never ones designed to conceal who is behind the company.

Costs

A Dubai free-zone company is mid-priced: dearer than a pure offshore company but far cheaper than a DIFC or ADGM regulated setup. The figure that misleads buyers is the headline “from AED X” licence fee, which excludes the visa, establishment card, medical, Emirates ID and office costs that make a company operational. The government and free-zone fee schedules below are current as of June 2026, so you can budget the real all-in cost. For our fee, book a free consultation and we will give you a fixed quote.

In short: The third-party all-in cost of a single-founder free-zone company with one visa is roughly AED 30,000–55,000 (USD 8,200–15,000) in Year 1 including basic accounting, with ongoing annual cost around AED 16,000–22,000. A DIFC or ADGM non-regulated entity starts materially higher. We quote our own fee separately and up front.

Government and Free-Zone Fees

Fee ItemAmountNotes
Free-zone licence (zero-visa, cheaper zones)From AED 12,900≈ $3,509 per yearIFZA-tier example; renews annually
Free-zone licence (one-visa package)From AED 14,900≈ $4K per yearSingle-founder operating package
DMCC standard packageFrom AED 35,484≈ $10KIncludes flexi-desk and one visa; crypto and commodities cluster
Establishment cardAED 2,000–2,500≈ $544–680One-off plus renewal
Investor / partner visa (per person)AED 3,500–5,000≈ $952–1,360Includes medical and Emirates ID; valid two years
Dedicated office (premium zone)AED 25,000+ per year≈ $7K+Optional; flexi-desk sufficient for incorporation
DIFC non-regulated setupRegistration AED 29,000–44,000 plus licence AED 14,700–18,000≈ $8K–12K registration plus $4K–5K licencePhysical office mandatory
ADGM non-regulated setupUSD 1,500–5,500 per year plus officeCommon-law registrar

Underlying Third-Party Cost Summary

Cost ComponentAll-in cost (AED)
Free-zone licence (one visa)AED 14,900–20,900≈ $4,053–5,685
Establishment cardAED 2,500≈ $680
Investor visa, medical, Emirates IDAED 5,000≈ $1,360
OfficeFlexi-desk to dedicated AED 10,000+≈ $2,720+
Bookkeeping and annual accountsAED 6,000–12,000≈ $1,632–3,264
Total Year 1 (third-party)AED 30,000–55,000≈ $8K–15K
Annual Ongoing (Year 2+)AED 16,000–22,000≈ $4,352–5,984

Taxation

The UAE levies a 9% federal corporate tax on profit above AED 375,000, with 0% on the first AED 375,000 and 0% on the qualifying income of a Qualifying Free Zone Person, in force since 1 June 2023. There is no personal income tax, no individual capital gains tax, and no withholding tax.

Tax TypeRateNotes
Corporate Income Tax9%0% up to AED 375,000; 0% on qualifying free-zone income (since 1 June 2023)
VAT5%Standard rate since 2018; registration mandatory above AED 375,000
VAT on crypto servicesExempt (transfers and conversions)Virtual-asset transfers and conversions exempt, retroactive to 1 January 2018
Withholding tax on dividends0%No withholding tax regime
Withholding tax on interest0%No withholding tax regime
Withholding tax on royalties0%No withholding tax regime
Social / employer contributions0% for foreign staffGPSSA contributions apply to UAE and GCC nationals only
Payroll income taxNoneNo personal income tax

Free Zone Tax Benefits and Substance

The 0% qualifying-income rate is the headline attraction, and it is conditional. A Qualifying Free Zone Person keeps it only by maintaining adequate UAE substance, earning qualifying income, staying within the de minimis limit (the lower of 5% of revenue or AED 5,000,000), meeting transfer-pricing rules, and filing audited statements. The rate is earned through real activity in the free zone, not granted by an address, so we build the company to satisfy the test rather than fail it later. The separate Economic Substance Regulations no longer impose standalone reporting for financial years ending after 31 December 2022; substance is now assessed through the corporate-tax qualifying-person test.

CRS, CARF and Pillar Two

The UAE participates in the OECD Common Reporting Standard and has committed to the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework and CRS 2.0, with first reporting from 2027, so we treat 2027 as the planning horizon for crypto-asset reporting readiness when we structure your company. A separate 15% Domestic Minimum Top-up Tax applies only to multinational groups with at least EUR 750,000,000 in consolidated revenue; standalone Dubai companies below that threshold are unaffected.

Banking

Banking is the hardest part of operating a Dubai high-risk or regulated company, and it is harder than incorporation by a wide margin. The company forms in days; the corporate account can take weeks to months. Difficulty is highest for non-resident-owned companies, virtual-office-only structures, and businesses in crypto, forex and gaming. It is the single factor most worth planning for before you incorporate, and the part of the job we take off your hands.

A free-zone trade licence does not guarantee a bank account. UAE banks assess the activity, the substance, the ownership and the source of funds independently of the free zone that issued the licence. A company set up purely on a flexi-desk with a non-resident owner and a high-risk activity is the profile most likely to face a long onboarding or a refusal. We pre-qualify the business before incorporation, which is the difference between a workable banking stack and months of delay.

Three institution archetypes serve this market: large UAE domestic banks (strongest credibility, conservative policies, higher minimum balances around AED 25,000–150,000), UAE digital banks (faster onboarding, low minimums, for lean startups with local activity), and specialist banks and EMIs including multi-currency platforms (the realistic route for higher-risk or non-resident profiles, at higher fees). Onboarding runs roughly 7–21 working days for a clean resident-led profile and several weeks to months otherwise.

This is where we earn our keep. We pre-qualify the company before incorporation, match it to the right institution, prepare the substance and source-of-funds file, and manage the onboarding directly with our banking contacts in the region. Where a UAE account is not the right fit, we arrange settlement through a licensed EU EMI or a credit institution we work with directly. Banking is a supporting part of the engagement, not a separate sale, and our banking capability sits behind every formation we deliver.

Annual Compliance

Every UAE company carries ongoing obligations, and non-compliance brings penalties, licence non-renewal and ultimately strike-off. The obligations rose with the introduction of corporate tax, which requires registration, record-keeping and annual filing even on the 0% rate.

Filing, Renewal and Audit

All UAE companies register for corporate tax and file a return within nine months of the financial year-end, regardless of whether tax is due, and keep accounting records for seven years. A Qualifying Free Zone Person on the 0% rate must also maintain audited statements under IFRS, and VAT-registered companies file periodic returns. Free-zone trade licences renew annually, with renewal fees broadly mirroring the first-year licence minus one-off establishment costs, and beneficial-ownership changes must be notified within 15 days. We can run the bookkeeping, audit coordination, renewals and filings so none of this slips.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Late corporate-tax registration carries an AED 10,000 penalty, with monthly interest on unpaid tax, and beneficial-ownership breaches can attract penalties up to AED 100,000. Persistent non-renewal or non-filing escalates to licence cancellation and strike-off, after which directors can face difficulty forming again. Penalty amounts are current as of June 2026.

Licensing Pathways from a UAE Company

A Dubai company should be structured with its intended licence in mind, because capital, governance and substance requirements differ sharply between regulators. Forming the entity is the first step; the licence is a separate authorisation from the relevant UAE regulator. We structure the company for the licence you are heading toward and guide the application itself. The cards below map the main routes; the dedicated licensing pages carry the detail.

[Crypto

Virtual Asset Licensing (VARA, ADGM, DIFC)

VARA authorises virtual-asset activity in and from Dubai; ADGM’s FSRA and DIFC’s DFSA cover institutional crypto under common law. Capital and substance set by the regulator.](/crypto-licensing/dubai/) [Crypto Licensing

VASP, CASP and MiCA Overview

How UAE virtual-asset licensing compares with EU CASP authorisation under MiCA, and which route fits a given market.](/crypto-licensing/)

A company is not a licence, and not EU access. A free-zone entity does not confer the right to provide regulated virtual-asset, payment or financial services until the relevant authorisation is granted, no mainland trading rights, and no EU market access. MiCA has no third-country equivalence regime, and ESMA reads the Article 61 reverse-solicitation exemption narrowly: any EU-targeted marketing, EU-language promotion or geo-targeted advertising voids it. For systematic EU access we obtain a separate CASP authorisation in an EU member state for you.

Advantages and Limitations

Dubai offers a credible onshore base with a conditional 0% rate, fast formation and a residency pathway, traded against banking friction, a real substance requirement, and no access to the European market. The honest picture is that Dubai rewards operators who commit to genuine local presence and disappoints those treating it as a paper address.

  • 0% on qualifying free-zone income. A Qualifying Free Zone Person pays 0% corporate tax on qualifying income, with 9% only on the rest.
  • 100% foreign ownership. No local sponsor in free zones, and across most mainland activities since 2021.
  • Fast formation. A free-zone licence issues in 3–5 working days, with same-day options.
  • Residency pathway. The company sponsors a renewable investor visa, with a Golden Visa route for larger investors.
  • Strong regulatory standing. Off the FATF grey list since February 2024 and off the EU AML list since August 2025.
  • No personal income tax or withholding tax. Distributions and salaries are not taxed at source.
  • × Banking is difficult for non-resident and high-risk profiles. Onboarding runs weeks to months. How we handle it: we pre-qualify the business before incorporation and build demonstrable local substance.
  • × The 0% rate is conditional, not automatic. It depends on substance, qualifying income and audited accounts. How we handle it: we structure the company as a genuine Qualifying Free Zone Person from the outset.
  • × No EU passporting. A UAE company cannot serve EU clients systematically. How we handle it: where you target EU clients, we obtain a separate CASP authorisation in an EU member state for full passported access.
  • × Document legalisation is slower than apostille. The UAE is not in the Hague Apostille Convention. How we handle it: we begin consular legalisation early, in parallel with name reservation.
  • × A free-zone licence does not allow mainland trading. Direct domestic sales need a mainland presence. How we handle it: we set up a dual-licence or mainland branch where domestic trade is genuinely required.
  • × Residency is not tax residency. A visa alone does not relocate tax residence. How we handle it: we secure a Tax Residency Certificate against the 183-day or centre-of-vital-interests test where tax residence is the goal.

How Dubai Compares

Dubai sits between pure offshore and the established Asian hubs. Singapore and Hong Kong offer deeper institutional banking at higher headline tax; the British Virgin Islands (BVI) is the traditional zero-tax offshore alternative, with weaker standing since its grey-listing. The comparison below positions Dubai within that set.

FactorDubai / UAESingaporeHong KongBVI
Entity TypeFree Zone Company (FZCO)Private Limited (Pte Ltd)Private Limited CompanyBusiness Company (BC)
Timeline3–5 working days1–3 daysAbout 1 week1–2 days
State FeeFrom USD 3,510 (free-zone licence)About USD 235 (ACRA)About USD 500 (incorporation plus BR)About USD 1,750 all-in
Min. CapitalNone (most activities)SGD 1HKD 1None
Corporate Tax9%; 0% qualifying free-zone17% (with exemptions)8.25–16.5%0%
EU PassportingNoNoNoNo
FATF StatusClearClearClearGrey-listed
Remote ManagementYes (licence remote; KYC and bank in person)Limited (resident director required)Yes (local secretary required)Yes (registered agent)
Crypto BankingDifficultModerateDifficultDifficult
Best For0% qualifying income plus residencyAPAC institutional credibilityChina-facing trade and APAC reachHolding and SPV structures

Compare every formation jurisdiction side by side →

When Dubai Is the Right Choice

Dubai’s distinguishing combination is the conditional 0% rate, clear FATF standing and a residence-visa pathway in one base. Choose it if you can commit to genuine local substance and your market is global or Middle Eastern rather than EU-resident. Consider alternatives if you need institutional banking depth from day one (Singapore), China-facing reach (Hong Kong), a pure zero-tax holding vehicle (BVI), or systematic EU access, which points to an EU CASP authorisation. We deliver across all of these, so our advice on the right base is not tied to selling you one product.

What We Do for You

We are not a directory or a lead generator. We form your Dubai company ourselves and stand behind the outcome. In-country work is done by lawyers, accountants and licensed specialists we have personally vetted and work with directly, never offloaded to a stranger. You deal with one accountable firm from the first call to the open bank account.

  • We structure and form the entity. We choose the right free zone or financial centre with you, match the activity to your intended licence, and file the registration directly.
  • We handle the documents and legalisation. We manage the consular legalisation the UAE requires in place of an apostille, and prepare the UBO and source-of-funds file properly the first time.
  • We secure residency. We open the immigration file and run the investor-visa, medical and Emirates ID steps, coordinating your visit so it covers visa and banking in one trip.
  • We drive the banking. We pre-qualify the company before incorporation and manage onboarding with a credit institution or a licensed EU EMI, the part most providers leave to chance.
  • We build the licence route. Where you are heading for a VARA, ADGM, DIFC or EU authorisation, we structure for it now and guide the application.
  • We keep it compliant. We can run the corporate-tax registration, bookkeeping, audit coordination and annual renewals so nothing lapses.
Accountability, in plain terms: we tell you honestly what we can deliver, we do it ourselves or through specialists we control, and we are on the hook for the result. If Dubai is the wrong base for your model, we will say so and point you to the jurisdiction that fits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Formation Basics
Can a foreigner own 100% of a Dubai company?

Yes. A free-zone company permits 100% foreign ownership with no local sponsor, and since the 2021 Commercial Companies Law reform most mainland activities also allow full foreign ownership. The pre-2021 requirement for a 51% Emirati shareholder no longer applies to most commercial activities. A small number of strategic-sector activities remain restricted. For crypto, fintech and high-risk operators, the free-zone company is the standard vehicle and gives the founder both full ownership and a residence-visa pathway. As of June 2026 this is the settled position across the major Dubai free zones.

How fast can you form a company in Dubai?

We typically secure a free-zone trade licence in 3–5 working days once documents are complete, and several Dubai zones offer same-day issuance for simple single-shareholder structures. The licence gives the company legal personality immediately. The longer part of the process is becoming fully operational: the residence visa, Emirates ID and corporate bank account together take most companies 4–8 weeks. A corporate shareholder adds time because its documents need consular legalisation rather than an apostille, which we manage for you.

Do I need to live in the UAE to form a company?

No. There is no residence requirement to own a Dubai company, and the investor visa is optional. However, the founder usually needs to be physically present in the UAE at least once for the medical test and biometric capture if taking the visa, and banks generally expect in-person or video identity checks. Holding a residence visa does not by itself make you UAE tax-resident: tax residency is a separate test based mainly on 183 days of presence or a centre of vital interests in the UAE.

Tax
Is a Dubai free-zone company really tax-free?

Not automatically. Since June 2023 the UAE levies a 9% corporate tax, with 0% on the first AED 375,000 and 0% on the qualifying income of a Qualifying Free Zone Person. The 0% rate is conditional: the company must maintain adequate UAE substance, earn qualifying income, stay within the de minimis limit on other income, and file audited accounts. A company that fails these conditions pays 9%. There is no personal income tax and no withholding tax, but every company must register and file for corporate tax even at 0%. We structure the company as a genuine Qualifying Free Zone Person so the 0% rate is defensible.

Banking, Licensing & Compliance
Can a high-risk business get a bank account in Dubai?

It is possible, and it is the hardest part of operating here, harder still for non-resident-owned and high-risk profiles. We pre-qualify the business before incorporation, prepare the substance and source-of-funds evidence that improves the outcome, and manage the onboarding with a credit institution or a licensed EU EMI directly.

Does forming a company include a crypto licence?

No. Forming a free-zone company gives you a trade licence for the listed activities; it does not authorise regulated virtual-asset, payment or financial services. Those require a separate authorisation: VARA for virtual assets in and from Dubai, ADGM’s FSRA or DIFC’s DFSA for institutional crypto under common law, or the Central Bank for payments. We structure the company with the intended licence in mind and guide the application. See the Dubai crypto licensing guide for the detail.

What are the annual obligations for a Dubai company?

Renew the trade licence annually, register for corporate tax and file a return within nine months of the financial year-end (even at 0%), keep accounting records for seven years, maintain the beneficial-ownership register and notify changes within 15 days, and file VAT returns if registered. A Qualifying Free Zone Person must also keep audited financial statements under IFRS. We can manage the renewals, filings and bookkeeping so nothing lapses.

Form your Dubai company, banking-ready

We form the company, secure residency, drive the banking and structure your licence route, end to end, with one accountable firm. Book a free consultation and we will map the route and give you a fixed quote.

Banking & Payments

A company and a licence still need a bank account

Banking is one of our three core services. We help high-risk and regulated businesses open the bank and payment accounts that others refuse: we work directly with EU EMIs, payment institutions and crypto-aware banks, confirm appetite before you apply, and make the introduction. Take it with your company and licence, or on its own.

Explore banking & payments →

Tomberg & Partners

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