Company registration in Dubai gives you 100% foreign ownership, no personal income tax and access to global markets, via the mainland (DET), a free zone, or offshore. This guide covers the 7 key steps, licence types, legal structures, required documents, cost factors, timeline and benefits of registering a company in Dubai, UAE.
A business idea may be simple to explain, but making it legal will require the help of a corporate advisor like us. Our entire process of company incorporation in Dubai is tailor-made to suit the unique needs of each business or office setup.
Tell us your activity and visa needs. We'll recommend the right route and send an itemised quote.
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The UAE is a centre point of world commerce. It offers no personal income tax, a 9% corporate tax that applies only to taxable profit above AED 375,000, more than 40 free zones, modern digital government services and rapid development, making it one of the best choices for doing business.
There is no doubt that Dubai is one of the biggest, ever-growing economic hubs of the Middle East. Business owners get a highly lucrative environment to experience the valuable benefits of 100% foreign ownership for most activities, up-scaled business infrastructure, a high-class lifestyle, and greater business opportunities.
However, starting a company in Dubai can be a time-consuming and complex process, especially for beginners who don't have proper knowledge and planning of their business activities. The government of Dubai has instilled strict measures to qualify for business registration in Dubai. But with proper guidance and an understanding of the legal terms and facts, your company can be registered legally and quickly.
Business registration in Dubai is not difficult. Government authorities provide detailed steps on how to register a company in Dubai, UAE. Investors can choose from a variety of corporate registration options in the region. In this guide, we cover every aspect of UAE company registration so you can smoothly move into a business setup in Dubai.
Here are the major steps for new company registration in Dubai and the UAE:
First select the type of licence (commercial/trade, industrial, professional or tourism) for your Dubai company.
Choose a business activity such as trading, services, restaurant, and so on.
After choosing a suitable activity, select the proper legal structure, for example a sole establishment, civil company (civil partnership), Limited Liability Company (LLC) or branch. The full list is in the legal structures section below.
Reserve your company's trade name in line with UAE naming rules with the licensing authority.
Secure compliant premises or a flexi-desk and register the tenancy (Ejari) as required by the jurisdiction.
File company documents with the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET, formerly DED) and obtain the trade licence and Chamber of Commerce and Industry registration, and make the company stamp.
Submit your company licence to the immigration department (ICP) to issue a Partner Visa or Investor Visa for the owner and the Emirates ID. Register the company licence with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), then apply for employee visas under company sponsorship.
This licence enables businesses to import, export, distribute and store goods as specified in the licence in Dubai.
An industrial licence is required for businesses manufacturing goods or producing other products.
Businesses like accounting and consulting need a special licence. It's called a professional licence.
Businesses like hotels and tour operators need a tourism licence to operate in tourism.
Looking to register your company in Dubai? The cost varies depending on several factors. Primarily, it hinges on the nature of your business, the number of shareholders involved, visa requirements, and your chosen jurisdiction. Dubai and the wider UAE offer enticing packages, particularly in the free zones, making it an attractive destination for entrepreneurs. One significant advantage is the absence of a minimum capital requirement, whether you opt for mainland or free-zone registration.
In Dubai free zones, the cost of company registration starts from around AED 12,500. On the mainland, Dubai company registration cost starts from around AED 13,900 in government fees, depending on your activity and legal form. What makes starting a company in Dubai even more appealing are the unique benefits it offers: hassle-free setup procedures, no need for a local UAE sponsor for most activities, and relatively lower compliance requirements compared with many other countries. This combination of factors makes Dubai and the UAE an ideal choice for foreigners looking to establish their business ventures.
| Type of company licence in Dubai | Cost starts from |
|---|---|
| Sole Establishment registration | AED 14,150* |
| Civil Partnership registration | AED 18,650* |
| LLC company registration | AED 22,150* |
| Branch office in Dubai | As per requirement |
*Prices are indicative starting points and subject to terms & conditions. The final figure depends on your activity, visas, office and jurisdiction. Use our cost calculator or request a current, itemised quote.
Once a company is registered with a competent authority, it creates a smooth and seamless path to enter the Dubai/UAE market and grow without encountering operational or legal issues. The right registration route depends entirely on your business plan, business type, target market, financial goals and initial budget. You can choose among three types of registration.
Registration with the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET, formerly the Department of Economic Development) is necessary for a Dubai mainland company. A company formed on the mainland can engage in any commercial, industrial, professional or tourism activity. According to procedural rules, companies require the authority's approval for their business activity. Foreign investors can acquire 100% ownership of most businesses established on the UAE mainland.
Learn moreThere are more than 40 free zones in the UAE hosting thousands of companies. A UAE free zone is a designated area where expatriates can fully own and operate their business at an affordable registration fee. Dubai free-zone company registration is a strong business investment for expatriates worldwide.
Learn moreOffshore companies in the UAE, such as those registered with RAK ICC or JAFZA Offshore, are wholly foreign-owned limited liability entities used for holding assets and international trade. An offshore company does not receive a UAE trade licence, so it cannot trade inside the UAE or sponsor residence visas. The UAE is a preferred offshoring destination for many businesses.
Learn moreMainland, free zone, or offshore: we map ownership, visa quota, cost, and licence type to your business model. Free.
Dubai is great for entrepreneurs worldwide. They can pick any legal setup for their business, with easy processes, full ownership, a fast setup and a strategic location. The bustling emirate is a perfect platform for growth, innovation and business expansion.
In Dubai, you can create a legal company in the free zones or on the mainland. When you set up a company alone, you own and run everything.
An LLC in Dubai can be set up on the mainland or in the free zones. This type of company gives you limited-liability protection and operational flexibility.
A business partnership is when two or more entities share the profits and losses of a business. In Dubai, there are two main kinds of partnerships: general partnerships and limited partnerships. Professional firms are usually set up as a civil company (civil partnership).
If you want to split ownership of your business into shares, you can form a Public Joint Stock Company (PJSC) or a Private Joint Stock Company (PrJSC) in Dubai.
Branches in Dubai are extensions of a foreign company. You can start your business as a part of another company, and it must follow UAE laws.
We compare liability, ownership and cost for your activity and recommend the structure that fits.
Talk to a Setup SpecialistRequired document checklist for business registration in Dubai and the UAE, by shareholder type.
Note: the list of document requirements is subject to change according to your desired business activity and the free zone / mainland authority.
An indicative timeline for setting up and getting your first visa issued. It assumes a straightforward activity and complete documents, and matches our usual company formation time of 7–14 days:
Submit your application; issuance of the trade licence and company formation documents.
Immigration card & e-channel application issued.
Entry permit, change of status, medical and Emirates ID issued.
Investor visa issued.
Activities that need external approvals, and corporate bank account opening, can take longer.
Dubai is a great place for your business: a strategic location, friendly rules for companies and excellent facilities. Whether you want to start or expand on the mainland or in a free zone, Dubai has something for every entrepreneur. Some of the prime benefits of registering a new business in Dubai and the UAE include:
Foreign investors in the UAE can fully own their companies in mainland and free-zone areas (for most activities).
Companies in Dubai benefit from a tax-efficient environment with no personal income tax. Corporate tax is 9% on taxable profit above AED 375,000, and qualifying free zone companies can pay 0% on qualifying income if they meet the conditions.
Businesses can repatriate 100% of their profits and capital without restrictions, enabling efficient international fund transfers.
Dubai has simplified forming, licensing and registering companies, so it's faster and simpler now.
Dubai has great infrastructure and modern facilities. Its business-friendly atmosphere helps your company grow and innovate.
Dubai's strategic location connects you to nearby and faraway markets, making it a centre for trade and commerce.
Build your business's bright future with our packages, curated for business setup in Dubai's mainland and free zones. Get easy integration, unique benefits and a helpful community backing your growth.
Government fees · activity dependent
Local market access. Plan separately: office and Ejari, visas and external approvals.
Government fees · zero-visa licence
Flexible business setup. Confirm in your quote: workspace, visa allocation and visa fees.
Government fees · premium address
Premium JLT address. Plan separately: additional visas and optional services.
Government fees · zero-visa licence
Digital-first setup. Plan separately: visas and immigration services.
*T&C apply. Package prices are indicative and depend on your activity and requirements. See current packages or request a tailored quote.
Based in Dubai, Avyanco is licensed by the Department of Economy and Tourism as a corporate service provider (DET CSP #909402) and registered with the Federal Tax Authority. One team handles your licence, visas, bank account assistance, VAT and corporate tax, so your company registration is not passed from firm to firm. You get a dedicated relationship manager and an itemised quote before you commit.
Our DET licence number is public and can be verified on the Invest in Dubai portal. We are also an authorised channel partner of UAE free zones.
Company formation, PRO and visa services, accounting, VAT and corporate tax sit under one roof. Your setup is planned with tax and banking in mind from the first day.
You receive an itemised quote for your activity, visas and office before you pay anything, and a senior advisor replies within one business day.
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Talk to a Setup SpecialistDubai allows many different types of businesses, so you're likely to find what suits you: trading, services, manufacturing, technology and more. You can operate on the mainland or in a free zone appropriate to your industry.
For most business activities, no. Both the mainland and free zones allow foreign investors to own 100% of their company without a local partner. A small number of strategic-impact activities carry ownership or licensing conditions set by the relevant regulator, and some mainland professional set-ups appoint a local service agent, who holds no shares. We check your activity before you apply.
Registering a company in Dubai is straightforward and usually takes 1–2 weeks (7–14 days). The exact time depends on the chosen free zone, business type, completeness of documents and other factors.
Yes, in most cases. Under Dubai Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025, a Dubai free zone company can trade on the mainland through a branch licence, a branch operating from its free zone office, or a temporary permit of up to six months, each approved by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). Only eligible activities qualify, and mainland revenue can affect a free zone company's 0% corporate tax status, so check the tax position before you apply. Mainland companies can operate anywhere in the UAE.
The cost of setting up a business in Dubai's mainland or free zones is based on several factors, including licence fees, office space, government charges and visas. Your business activity and company size also affect costs, so it's worth researching and planning well to estimate your exact expenses.
Under UAE Corporate Tax rules administered by the Federal Tax Authority (FTA), a UAE company's branch in the UAE is treated as part of the same taxable entity. A branch of a UAE company located in a free zone is treated as part of that free-zone entity.
She supports entrepreneurs exploring mainland, free zone and offshore company formation in the UAE, guiding them through jurisdiction selection, licensing and setup costs.
A trade licence in Dubai is the legal permit to run a business — issued as commercial, professional or industrial depending on your activity…
Read the guideTo set up a company in a Dubai free zone you choose a business activity and licence type, select the right free zone, pick a legal structure…
Read the guideA branch office is an extension of the parent company rather than a new legal entity, and that single fact shapes the whole process — two la…
Read the guideVerify current rules on the official portals above before acting, as UAE regulations are updated periodically.
Informational only, not professional advice
This article is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal, tax, financial, or other professional advice. UAE rules, fees, and regulator requirements change, so verify current requirements with Avyanco or the relevant UAE authority before acting on any information. Avyanco Business Consultancy LLC is licensed by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (CSP #909402) and registered with the UAE Federal Tax Authority. Speak with an advisor for engagement-specific guidance.
