From the tallest building on Earth and the world's only seven-star hotel to the largest dancing fountains and fastest roller coaster, the United Arab Emirates is known for breaking unimaginable records. This is where wishes become reality.
Why choose the United Arab Emirates?
The United Arab Emirates is a cultural melting pot that brings together people from all over the world, each with their own unique story and diverse skills, making this country a great place to be.
The country is strategically located at the crossroads of the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Africa, with excellent air and sea connections to the rest of the world, making it of great strategic importance to global commerce.
The UAE has also begun offering its own Golden Visa, which enables expats to live, work and study in the country without a state sponsor and to own 100% of their business in the UAE. With no corporate taxes, a highly diversified economy and state-of-the-art infrastructure, the United Arab Emirates offers endless opportunities for businesses to thrive.
License options
To set up a company in the United Arab Emirates, there are five main categories of licenses to choose from, depending on your goals:
professional
Business
trading
industry
travel
Available channels
There are three ways to register a company in the United Arab Emirates: the main city for global trade, the free trade zone for 100% foreign ownership, and offshore tax optimization.
Main city
A city company is nothing but an onshore company registered under the government agency of the concerned emirate. The trading license is issued by the Ministry of Economic Development of the particular emirate. The main feature of a city company in the UAE is the relaxed trading conditions. Unlike the other two types of companies, a city company has the advantage of being authorized to trade in the local market of the UAE and outside the UAE.
FTA
A free zone company is a company established in a special economic zone within the emirate that can trade in goods and services. There are more than 40 free zones in the UAE. Free zones have their own regulations and a government regulatory body called the Free Zone Authority. The Free Zone Authority is responsible for issuing trade licenses. The UAE free zones are characterized by 100% foreign ownership and the benefits of tax incentives. Free zone companies are only authorized to trade within the free zone and outside the UAE.
Offshore
An offshore company is a business entity established for the purpose of operating outside its jurisdiction of incorporation and/or its place of ultimate ownership. A company may legally be offshore for the purpose of tax optimization or to benefit from more appropriate regulations.
Available Jurisdictions
Setting up a company anywhere in the world can be challenging – with so many available jurisdictions in the UAE alone, how do you know which one is right for you?
While this may depend on a variety of factors, such as your business activities, company structure and the necessity of a physical office space, our experienced business setup consultants take the hassle out of it with personalized solutions to suit your unique business needs.
Here are some of the best jurisdictions in the UAE:
Dubai City Economic Development Department (DED)
For businesses looking to start operations in Dubai and expand across the UAE, the Dubai City Economic Development Department supports direct trade with customers, other city businesses, and provides essential Dubai Government services.
Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC)
DMCC is globally recognised as a strategically located free zone, ideal for corporate businesses that require a physical presence. To date, DMCC has registered companies for over 19,000 companies and is a hub for commodity trading and enterprise.
Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA)
Renowned for its world-class port and proximity to major markets, Jebel Ali Free Zone serves as an economic and trade hub for industrial companies requiring warehouse space and logistics infrastructure.
Maidan Free Trade Zone
Meydan Free Zone is an ideal location for freelancers and start-ups. With a number of competitive licensing options, the free zone offers a wide range of systems to support emerging businesses entering the UAE market.
Ras Al Khaimah International Corporate Centre (RAK ICC)
RAK ICC is one of the fastest growing company registries in the world. It offers the most time-saving and cost-effective solution for businesses looking to establish an offshore presence in the UAE.
UAE Golden Visa
In addition to business setting options that grant short-term residency status to foreigners, the UAE government has also established a successful long-term residency program. The UAE Golden Visa for public projects and real estate investors provides a 10-year visa to eligible applicants.
The minimum investment requirement is AED 2 million in the form of
Investment fund deposits in the UAE, or
Property purchased or off-plan transaction.
In some cases, there are mandatory minimum holding periods and restrictions on using loans for investment. Advantages:
May include spouse and children, as well as an executive director and an advisor;
Stay outside the UAE for more than 6 months;
Application fee
All application fees charged by the UAE government are subject to frequent changes. These fees depend on the type of jurisdiction, the licensing activity and the complexity of the process.
Contact us to get an accurate quote based on your needs and preferences
population growth | 0.58% |
GDP per capita | $47,792 |
Purchasing power per capita | $686 billion |
Passport visa-free countries | 179 |
Location
middle East
capital
Abu Dhabi
jet lag
UTC +4
National Land area
83,600 km²
Age Demographics
0-14 : 14.94%
15-24 : 12.36%
25-54 : 64.15%
55-64 : 6.59%
65+ : 1.96%
official language
Arabic: 77%, English: 67%
Religious beliefs
Islam: 76%, Christianity: 9%, Hinduism: 8%, Others: 7%
politics
Elective monarchy
currency
United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED)
exchange rate
1 USD = 3.67 AED
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