Business setup in Dubai
Where you incorporate decides who you can sell to, what tax rate you pay and how easily you open a bank account. We help you choose well, then form the company.
- Jurisdictions
- Mainland, free zone or offshore
- Foreign ownership
- 100% for most mainland activities
- Corporate tax
- Register within 3 months of incorporation
- VAT
- Register when turnover passes AED 375,000
Set up the right company, the first time
Business setup in Dubai is quick. Choosing the wrong structure is what costs people time and money: a free zone licence when the customers are on the mainland, an activity that does not match what the business actually does, or a set-up that loses the 0% free zone tax rate without the owner realising.
Because we are a tax and accounting firm, we look at company formation from the other end. We ask what the business will earn, from whom and where, and work back to the licence and structure that fit.
Then we handle the incorporation, and you leave with more than a licence: a corporate tax registration, a set of books and a calendar of what is due and when.
Figures on this page reflect UAE rules as understood in October 2026. We confirm what applies to your company before any filing.
Our business incorporation services
Business structuring
Mainland or free zone, legal form, shareholders and holding structure, chosen with tax in mind.
Registration and licensing
Trade name, initial approval, constitutional documents and the trade licence.
Approvals
External approvals for regulated activities, and establishment card and visa quota.
Bank account support
Preparing the company profile and documents banks ask for, and introductions to suitable banks.
Office space
Guidance on flexi-desk, shared and physical office options and what each allows.
Tax and accounting from day one
Corporate tax registration, VAT assessment and bookkeeping set up as soon as the licence is issued.
How company formation works
The exact steps vary by authority. This is the usual path.
Plan
We discuss your activity, customers, shareholders and visa needs, and recommend a jurisdiction and structure.
Reserve and apply
Trade name reservation and initial approval from the licensing authority.
Documents and premises
Memorandum of association signed and a registered address or lease arranged.
Licence issued
Fees paid and the licence released. The establishment card and visas follow.
Bank and tax
Bank account application, corporate tax registration and accounting set-up.
Mainland or free zone?
A simplified comparison. Each free zone has its own rules.
| Item | Mainland | Free zone |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing authority | Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai | The free zone's own authority |
| Where you can trade | Anywhere in the UAE and abroad | Inside the zone and abroad; mainland trade is restricted |
| Ownership | 100% foreign ownership for most activities | 100% foreign ownership |
| Corporate tax | 9% above AED 375,000 | 0% on qualifying income if conditions are met, otherwise 9% |
| Office | Physical address required | Flexi-desk options usually available |
| Audit | Depends on size and bank requirements | Often required by the authority; required to keep the 0% rate |
The 0% free zone rate is conditional. A company that sells mainly to mainland customers or lacks real substance in the zone will usually pay 9%.
What to settle before you incorporate
Five questions that decide most of the structure.
- Who are your customers? Mainland consumers, UAE businesses or overseas clients
- What exactly will you do? The licensed activity has to match the real business
- How many visas will you need in the first two years
- Who owns the company, and will that change
- How will you take money out: salary, dividends or both
How long does it take to set up a company in Dubai?
A straightforward free zone or mainland company can often be licensed within one to two weeks once documents are complete. Regulated activities and bank account opening take longer.
Can a foreigner own 100% of a company in Dubai?
Yes. Free zone companies have always allowed full foreign ownership, and most mainland commercial and industrial activities now do as well.
Do new companies have to register for corporate tax?
Yes. A newly incorporated company must apply for corporate tax registration within three months of incorporation, even before it earns anything.
Is a free zone company tax free?
Not automatically. A free zone company pays 0% only on qualifying income and only if it meets the Qualifying Free Zone Person conditions each year. Otherwise it pays the standard 9% rate.
Do I need an office to get a licence?
Every licence needs a registered address. Free zones commonly offer flexi-desk packages. Mainland licences generally require a tenancy contract.
How much does business setup in Dubai cost?
Costs depend on the jurisdiction, activity, number of visas and office type. We give you a written breakdown of authority fees and our fee before you commit.
Related services
Corporate Tax Registration
Corporate tax registration through EmaraTax with the right dates, documents and financial year.
Accounting & Bookkeeping
Monthly bookkeeping, management accounts and year-end financial statements for Dubai companies.
VAT Registration
VAT registration in Dubai: threshold check, documents, EmaraTax application and TRN certificate.
Free zone corporate tax
How corporate tax applies to free zone companies and what it takes to keep the 0% rate.
Start your Dubai company on the right footing
Tell us what you plan to do and who you will sell to. We will suggest a structure and a cost estimate.