Company Incorporation 
in Dubai & across the UAE

Mainland companies are licensed by the Department of Economic Development (DED) of their respective emirates, while free zone entities must receive a license from the relevant free zone authorities. Currently, 100% foreign ownership is allowed in free zone entities as well as mainland companies. Free zone companies benefit from jurisdiction-specific tax incentives but cannot trade directly in the mainland without a mainland branch or distributor. Offshore companies are non-resident structures that are used mainly for international holding, asset protection, and IP. Such companies cannot trade inside the UAE, grant residency visas, or receive a UAE trade license. Skrooge advises entrepreneurs on the correct route based on their specific business model and tax position.

Entrepreneurs must start the incorporation process by choosing the jurisdiction (mainland or free zone) and defining the business activities, legal form, and shareholding structure. Then, you must reserve a trade name and obtain initial approval from the relevant authority, which could be the chosen Emirate’s Department of Economic Development (DED) or the relevant free zone authority. The next steps would be signing the Memorandum of Association (MOA), securing an office or flexi-desk lease, and applying for a trade license. Then, you will need to apply for the establishment card, investor and employee visas, Emirates ID, open a corporate bank account, and register for Corporate Tax and VAT if applicable.

In the UAE, you can apply for commercial, professional, industrial, or tourism business licenses. However, in free zones, you can also apply for specialized licenses such as e-commerce, media, fintech, holding, and freelance permits tied to your sector focus. Your licence type will determine your activity codes, visa quota, office requirements, and tax treatment. Skrooge can help you pick the licence that matches your business model and activities, ensuring the best tax and banking position.

We offer incorporation packages starting from AED TBD. The initial fee depends on the chosen jurisdiction, activities, visa quota needs, and shareholding structure complexity. You can rest assured that we will always provide a transparent breakdown of government and free zone authority fees in our invoices.

The incorporation cost varies by activity, jurisdiction, and visa quota needs alongside the chosen emirate. For instance, Abu Dhabi Mainland LLC incorporation costs start around AED 12,000-14,000 all-in (licence, flexi-desk, and notarisation). This is much cheaper than Dubai Mainland LLC (commercial licence), which can cost anywhere between AED 15,000 and AED 25,000. Free zone incorporation can cost even lower from around AED 7,000-12,500. However, this route often comes with restrictions on trade with the mainland. The cheapest option may not be the right one if you consider your business’s banking needs, visa quota needs, and client locations. Skrooge can help you pick an appropriate structure and assist in the actual incorporation process.

Typically, to incorporate a company in the UAE, you will need:

• Passport copies of all shareholders, directors, and managers
• Recent passport-size photos
• UAE entry stamp or visa copy where required
• Proof of address issued within the last 3 months
• CV or professional profile of shareholders
• Proposed trade name and list of business activities
• Draft shareholding structure

If you are incorporating in the Dubai mainland, under a single trade license, you can only list 10 compatible activities. Similar caps apply across all other emirates. However, the number of listed activities in free zone licenses varies widely. Some will allow only 1-3 activities, while others allow you to bundle a wider range as long as the sector remains consistent. Generally, mixing incompatible activities, like trading and regulated consulting, in one license will add layers to the approval process. Skrooge can help you map your business model and identify the right activity codes so you do not pay extra later for license amendments.

Typically, Skrooge can help you set up a company in the UAE within 2-4 weeks from the moment all required data and documents are shared. We also assist in bank account opening and visa issuance, which takes additional time depending on the bank and its jurisdiction.

Yes. 100% foreign ownership of UAE companies, whether free zone or mainland, is now possible. Contact us today to gain clarity on the ownership rules of specific jurisdictions and activities before you commit.

Generally, you do not need Emirati sponsors or service agents anymore. More than 1,000 commercial and industrial activities allow 100% foreign ownership. However, a UAE national service agent or partner is still required for certain strategic sectors like oil & gas, banking, telecoms, defence, and certain security-related activities, and for branches of some foreign professional firms. Contact us today to gain clarity on the ownership rules of specific jurisdictions and activities before you commit.

Yes, most free zones and many mainland setups in Dubai can be completed remotely without flying in. Trade name reservation, initial approval, MoA signing (via power of attorney or e-signature), and trade licence issuance can all be handled online. However, residency visa stamping, Emirates ID biometrics, certain bank account openings, and a few other steps still require an in-person visit. Skrooge can coordinate the remote-friendly steps end-to-end and schedule your visit only for steps that genuinely warrant it.

In most jurisdictions, you need a registered address, which can be a flexi-desk, shared desk, or physical office, depending on your visa quota and activity. We can help you choose the most cost-effective option that still satisfies licensing and banking requirements.

A Certificate of Incorporation is issued by the Department of Economic Development (DED) for mainland companies or the relevant Free Zone Authority. It proves your company’s existence. A Trade Licence permits you to operate in the UAE. It outlines your approved business activities and licence category (commercial, professional, industrial, or tourism). Both documents are needed to operate in the UAE, and Skrooge ensures they align with your intended activities and banking needs.

Trade licences must be renewed annually; however, some free zones offer multi-year licences. Renewal requires a valid Ejari or lease contract, up-to-date shareholder documents, and payment of the renewal fee via the DED or Free Zone portal. Missing the renewal deadline exposes you to fines and even disruption of operations. On the other hand, a Certificate of Incorporation is permanent and only needs to be reissued if you change company details such as the trade name, legal form, shareholders, or registered address. We can track renewal deadlines for you and re-file amendments so you never lose good standing.

Yes, holding company and operating company are common structures used by founders who want asset protection, clean ownership, and a more investor-ready cap table. Typically, founders go for a setup where a free zone, ADGM, or DIFC holding company (HoldCo | used for IP shareholding and investment) owns a mainland or free zone operating company (OpCo | used for day-to-day operations, hiring staff, and trading). Such setups require you to carefully design MoAs, board resolutions, notarisation, and Arabic translation across jurisdictions. This is especially true in setups involving free zone HoldCos and mainland OpCos. Skrooge can help you ensure consistency in corporate documents, ownership chains, and tax positions across your HoldCo-OpCo setup.

Corporate Tax registration is mandatory for all UAE companies. VAT registration is mandatory once taxable turnover exceeds AED 375,000 and voluntary above AED 187,500. Consider relying on Skrooge for Corporate Tax and VAT registration. We ensure timely registration so you remain compliant from day one.

Yes, as part of our incorporation packages, our team coordinates bank account applications with the UAE banks we work with and also supports the visa process, spanning the issuance of establishment cards and investor and employee visas to Emirates IDs.

To incorporate a company in the UAE, you must take the following steps:

1. Choose your jurisdiction (Mainland, Free Zone, or Offshore)
2. Select your business activities and the matching licence type (Commercial, Professional, Industrial, or Tourism)
3. Decide the legal form and shareholding structure
4. Reserve a trade name and obtain initial approval from the DED or Free Zone authority
5. Sign the Memorandum of Association and secure an office or flexi-desk lease
6. Receive your trade licence and establishment card
7. Apply for investor and employee visas and Emirates ID
8. Open a corporate bank account
9. Register for Corporate Tax and VAT where applicable

As part of our incorporation service, Skrooge coordinates with a licensed UAE setup partner to structure your entity, reserve the trade name, obtain initial approvals, sign the MoA, issue the trade license, arrange the establishment card and visas, assist with bank account opening, and handle Corporate Tax and VAT registrations when required.