Company Formation and Business Setup in UAE
Company registration in UAE leads to running your business in a stable environment in one of the most economically flourishing countries in the world.
- Very low taxation
- GCC Membership
- A steady, growing economy
- Flourishing business environment
Consulting team dedicated into advising the best suitable jurisdiction for your project.
Corporate finance specialist and expert about FinTech regulations worldwide.
Service packages and cost of a Company Formation in UAE
Choose a package that you would like to receive more information on.
Consulting team dedicated into advising the best suitable jurisdiction for your project.
+44 20 4577 0974
Corporate finance specialist and expert about FinTech regulations worldwide.
+44 20 4577 0974
Request information on company formation in the UAE: cost, process and requirements.
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Initial consultation
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Turnkey Company Formation
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Company contact person
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Registered legal company address for 1 year
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Remote incorporation
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Notary Services
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Company Secretary
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Local personnel
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Accounting for 1 year
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Long-term POA
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Apostilled set of documents
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Additional legal support
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Corporate Account
Turnkey company formation, Everything you need to get off the ground. Start now!
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Initial consultation
-
Turnkey Company Formation
-
Company contact person
-
Registered legal company address for 1 year
-
Remote incorporation
-
Notary Services
-
Company Secretary
-
Local personnel
-
Accounting for 1 year
-
Long-term POA
-
Apostilled set of documents
-
Additional legal support
-
Corporate Account
Full turnkey company formation and support in all necessary aspects. Customized pricing!
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Initial consultation
-
Turnkey Company Formation
-
Company contact person
-
Registered legal company address for 1 year
-
Remote incorporation
-
Notary Services
-
Company Secretary
-
Local personnel
-
Accounting for 1 year
-
Long-term POA
-
Apostilled set of documents
-
Additional legal support
-
Corporate Account
And what will you say once we make your project work?
Best company for Crypto Licenses! Kudos to the team for making the incorporation of our company really smooth
The team of LegalBison was very helpful and fast in supporting my company’s structural set up. They are undoubtedly top-level experts when it comes to licensing and registrations in the crypto and web3 industry. Highly recommend!
Very proactive, responsive, and able to provide solutions and advice. The firm is familiar with the new industry of blockchain and cryptocurrency
Business Set-Up in the UAE - Free Consultation
Company formation services in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and all of the United Arab Emirates. Request now. The first consultation is free.
Getting started with company registration in the United Arab Emirates
Find out all the necessary information about company registration in the Emirates. Discover why UAE is a popular jurisdiction and how it may help your business to reach another level. Additional information is on demand, directly from our team of experienced consultants.
- Duration
- Timeline
- Remote incorporation
- VAT
- Documents
How long does it take to form a company in the UAE?
It would be not fair to set your expectations high and assume that the incorporation will be finished within a day. In some jurisdictions, it is extraordinarily fast (for example in Estonia) and in others - slower. It all boils down to one thing: 'When are the necessary (basic) documents ready?' The process is counted from the moment on we have all the needed documents. Please consult with our consultants to understand what documents you need to kick-start the process.
- 5-15 days for a mainland company;
- This includes obtaining the necessary license and other approvals if the chosen business activity requires them.
Procedure to prepare the registration of a company in the UAE
The registration process of a company in Company Formation in UAE with LegalBison is very simple. Contact us for more details on a first primary consultation.
Can I form a company in the UAE remotely?
For the foreign partner, remote incorporation is possible but with the necessary Power of Attorney certified by the Secretary of State.
Without VAT number in the UAE
Non-VAT registered companies can’t charge VAT in their goods and/or services and consequently can’t also claim for input VAT back.
With VAT number in the UAE
- A 5% VAT has been recently imposed on most goods and services;
- For companies, registration is mandatory if their taxable goods and services exceed the threshold of AED 375,000 although companies may also register voluntarily when the optional threshold of AED 187,500 is exceeded;
- Filing of tax returns depends on the company’s business operations cost. These operating more than AED 150 million must file their returns monthly while those operating below should file theirs quarterly.
Required documents to provide to register a company in the UAE
- Passport copies (scans) of all individuals mentioned above and a beneficiary owner if applicable;
- A Power of Attorney (POA) from (all) partners/shareholders is needed (in case of a remote company registration);
- Certified company documents (in case at least one of the shareholders is going to be a foreign company).
Alternatives to company formation in UAE
Our team has curated the following jurisdictions as being worthy alternatives to a company registered in UAE
Company Formation in British Virgin Islands
from 1.320 €-
Top offshore jurisdiction
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Tax-free, no reporting
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High secrecy
Company Formation in Cayman Islands
from 2.915 €-
Complete tax exemption
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Top for investing
Company Formation in Costa Rica
from 2.350 €-
Tax-free
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Discretion of board members
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Not listed as a tax haven!
Company Formation in Hong Kong
from 750 €-
Ideal offshore jurisdiction
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Advantageous taxation
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Fast and cheap process
Company Formation in Thailand
from 3.000 €-
South Asian powerhouse
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Quick incorporation
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Rising economy
Things to know before registering your company in UAE
Cryptocurrency licenses in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates
It is possible to obtain a license for crypto currency activities within the United Arab Emirates. The currently available options include:
Taxation of companies in the UAE
The UAE doesn’t impose federal corporate income tax. Hence, it may vary from one emirate to another.
Although all companies may be required to pay CIT, in practice, only companies engaging in oil-related business activities and foreign bank branches are charged for CIT.
Those engaged in oil-related businesses are taxed up to 55% while branches of foreign banks are taxed at 20%.
DTAA signed by the UAE for companies
To help its investors avoid the payment of tax twice, the UAE also entered into various Double Taxation Agreements with the following countries:
Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Comoro Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech, Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, and Yemen.
Accounting and audit requirements for a company in the UAE
Financial statements must be prepared annually.
Accounting records including annual accounts, general ledgers, purchase day books, tax invoices, credit notes, debit notes, VAT ledgers, and company books must be kept in the UAE office.
Economic substance and residency requirements for companies in the UAE
- For mainland LLC or Commercial License companies, since the ownership is the majority by Emirati nationals, local UAE addresses are required;
- 100% foreign-owned companies must have a local service agent based in UAE.
LegalBison offers help with all of the requirements listed above. Being local in the country, we are well-versed in all the local regulations and requirements for businesses. Get started today with a free consultation with our specialists.
- Crypto Licenses in the UAE
- Taxes in UAE
- Double Tax Treaties
- Accounting and audit requirements
- Residency requirements for company holders
Cryptocurrency licenses in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates
It is possible to obtain a license for crypto currency activities within the United Arab Emirates. The currently available options include:
Taxation of companies in the UAE
The UAE doesn’t impose federal corporate income tax. Hence, it may vary from one emirate to another.
Although all companies may be required to pay CIT, in practice, only companies engaging in oil-related business activities and foreign bank branches are charged for CIT.
Those engaged in oil-related businesses are taxed up to 55% while branches of foreign banks are taxed at 20%.
DTAA signed by the UAE for companies
To help its investors avoid the payment of tax twice, the UAE also entered into various Double Taxation Agreements with the following countries:
Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Comoro Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech, Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, and Yemen.
Accounting and audit requirements for a company in the UAE
Financial statements must be prepared annually.
Accounting records including annual accounts, general ledgers, purchase day books, tax invoices, credit notes, debit notes, VAT ledgers, and company books must be kept in the UAE office.
Economic substance and residency requirements for companies in the UAE
- For mainland LLC or Commercial License companies, since the ownership is the majority by Emirati nationals, local UAE addresses are required;
- 100% foreign-owned companies must have a local service agent based in UAE.
LegalBison offers help with all of the requirements listed above. Being local in the country, we are well-versed in all the local regulations and requirements for businesses. Get started today with a free consultation with our specialists.
About company registration in UAE
UAE is generally a safe place to travel to. It is actually ranked as the 31st safest country in the world. Nevertheless, ordinary caution and diligence are still advised.
It depends on the emirate. In Abu Dhabi, foreign ownership of land is only allowed in investment areas. In Dubai, foreigners may only acquire land with freehold ownership while it is completely prohibited in Sharjah but allows usufruct. The other emirates do not allow any acquisition at all.
Typically, it takes 5-15 days for a mainland company. However, we must consider all the specifics of your project case: contact our team today and we will estimate the timeframe for your company on a first free consultation.
Contact Us
Request more information about incorporation in the United Arab Emirates (including Dubai and Abu Dhabi) now. We will get back to you in 24 business hours for a free primary consultation.
Consulting team dedicated into advising the best suitable jurisdiction for your project.
Corporate finance specialist and expert about FinTech regulations worldwide.
