Remote setup – no trip to the UAE required
Company Formation in Dubai – from AED 17,900
- 16+ yearsin legal and corporate consulting
- 4 jurisdictionsown offices in four countries
- 1,000+companies registered worldwide
Two ways to start
How much does it cost to set up a company in Dubai?
One with a fixed fee, the other for non-standard structures. Both are calculated in full before the work starts.
Standard formation
AED 17,900
Basic package · about USD 4,900
Individual quote
On request
For structures that do not fit the standard Basic package
No extra charges during the setup
License renewal, visas and bank account support are quoted upfront – you know the cost of both the first year and the second before you pay anything.
Register your company in Dubai without leaving home
APK Solution is an IFZA partner.
Partner status lets us file documents directly with the registrar, so you can set up a company in Dubai without coming to the UAE at the registration stage.
Partner status lets us file documents directly with the registrar, so you can set up a company in Dubai without coming to the UAE at the registration stage.
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Fully remote registration
A passport scan and a few lines about your planned activity are enough to start. A trip is needed only for the residence visa: the medical test and biometrics are done in the UAE. -
Support after the license
The license is only the beginning. Corporate tax registration and bank account opening follow one plan with clear timelines, not as separate tasks. -
Team in Dubai
We have our own office in Dubai Silicon Oasis. -
One agreed fee
A full calculation of the service fee is provided before the documents are filed.
What you get with a UAE company
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Corporate tax 0–9%, no personal income tax
Corporate tax is 0% on profit up to AED 375,000 and 9% on the amount above it. A free zone company applies 0% to its qualifying income as long as it meets the Qualifying Free Zone Person conditions, including presence in the zone and an annual audit. VAT at 5% applies once turnover exceeds AED 375,000 – a free zone does not exempt you from it. There is no personal income tax and no social contributions for foreign employees in the UAE; the employer pays medical insurance and the end-of-service gratuity. -
100% foreign ownership, no local partner
In a free zone no local partner share is required by definition. On the mainland full foreign ownership has also been possible since 2021, but it depends on the list of activities and the emirate’s decision – a free zone has no such conditions. No nominee shareholder and no share you do not control. -
A jurisdiction banks and partners trust
Banks and counterparties see the UAE as a reputable business hub. This noticeably shortens negotiations that would drag on for months with a lesser-known jurisdiction. -
A hub between Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe
Dubai sits at the crossroads of routes between Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. For a business that already works across borders this is an operational advantage, not a slogan. -
Predictable property rights and commercial law
Property rights and commercial law in the UAE are predictable. That matters when you plan for years rather than for a quarter.
For a free zone company
UAE corporate tax: how the 9% rate works on real profit
Two worked examples for a company registered in a Dubai free zone.
Two examples
A company in Dubai; the founder and director is a foreign national. All clients are outside the UAE.
Example 1. A profit of USD 100,000 is about AED 367,000, below the AED 375,000 threshold. Corporate tax: zero.
Example 2. A profit of USD 300,000 is about AED 1,101,750. Tax is charged only on the amount above the threshold: 9% × 726,750 = AED 65,408, roughly USD 17,800. The effective rate is about 5.9%.
If the company obtains Qualifying Free Zone Person status, the 0% rate applies to its qualifying income. The status has to be maintained: presence in the zone, the structure of income, an annual audit.
Example 2. A profit of USD 300,000 is about AED 1,101,750. Tax is charged only on the amount above the threshold: 9% × 726,750 = AED 65,408, roughly USD 17,800. The effective rate is about 5.9%.
If the company obtains Qualifying Free Zone Person status, the 0% rate applies to its qualifying income. The status has to be maintained: presence in the zone, the structure of income, an annual audit.
Taxes in your country of tax residence
A UAE company does not by itself change your tax status at home. If you remain a tax resident of your country, its rules on foreign income – controlled foreign company (CFC) rules, double tax treaties, reporting duties – still apply to you, and these rules differ from country to country.
We prefer to say this before the registration, not after. Describe your situation and we will give you an honest assessment of what a UAE structure solves and what it does not.
We prefer to say this before the registration, not after. Describe your situation and we will give you an honest assessment of what a UAE structure solves and what it does not.
What company formation in the UAE includes
- A registered legal entity in the UAE
- A registered address in a free zone
- A license for your business activity
- A full set of constitutional documents
- UAE residence visas – if they are part of your package
- Bank account opening support – as a separate service; the decision is made by the bank
- The renewal cost known before the second year begins
How the company setup process works
Four steps of the business setup, two of which need your input. From a complete set of documents to the license – 5–8 working days.
Scoping –
1 working day
1 working day
We define the business activity, whether you need visas and what banking you will require. The result is a fixed fee.
Documents –
1–2 working days
1–2 working days
You send a passport scan, a photo, contact details, the preferred company name and a short description of the business. That is all we ask from you.
Filing and registration – 3–5 working days
We clear the name, file the documents with the free zone and receive the license and the registered address. Your presence is not required at this stage.
Handover – 1 working day
We hand over the complete set electronically; originals on request. The Establishment Card (the company’s registration with the immigration authority) takes another 2–5 working days. If visas or a bank account are part of the package, we move on to them.
What we need from you
Five items, all in electronic form.
If the founder is an individual, nothing needs to be notarized or legalized. If the founder is a company, its corporate documents will need legalization – we will say so upfront and include it in the quote. If the name is taken or the activity requires a different license category, we come back with workable options. That is part of the job, not an extra service.
If the founder is an individual, nothing needs to be notarized or legalized. If the founder is a company, its corporate documents will need legalization – we will say so upfront and include it in the quote. If the name is taken or the activity requires a different license category, we come back with workable options. That is part of the job, not an extra service.
- Passport scan
- Email address
- Phone number
- Preferred company name
- Information about the company’s planned activity
APK Solution
Over sixteen years of practice, an operating legal entity and a physical office in Dubai.
16+ years in legal and corporate consulting
Accredited IFZA partner
1,000+ companies registered worldwide
Offices in four countries, including the UAE
Who sets up companies in Dubai with us
IT and software development
Work with international clients, revenue in hard currency and a company status your customers understand without explanations.
Consulting and agencies
International contracts without the friction a home jurisdiction adds.
Trading and marketplaces
Closer to logistics, with a license that platforms and payment providers accept without questions.
Foreign trade
Settlements with foreign counterparties where cross-border trade is the norm, not the exception.
Entrepreneurs planning to relocate
When the company becomes the basis for a residence visa and a real presence in the region.
Companies entering the Gulf markets
When contracts are signed in the region and the counterparty needs to see a local legal entity and a UAE bank account.
Send a request and we will send you a detailed quote
A written quote – free of charge
Describe your business and we will come back with a specific figure for your business setup in Dubai, including visas and bank account support where they are needed. We will tell you honestly whether a UAE structure suits you or, in your case, does not solve the task.
FAQ
Questions about company formation in Dubai
Did not find your answer? Write to us.
Not for the company registration itself. The application, the constitutional documents and the license are processed remotely: we need a passport scan, a photo and a description of the activity, and the documents are signed electronically.
A trip is required for the residence visa: the medical test and the biometrics for the Emirates ID are done only in the UAE, and the residency formalities must be completed within 60 days of entry. One trip is usually enough. If you do not need a visa, you do not need to come at all.
A trip is required for the residence visa: the medical test and the biometrics for the Emirates ID are done only in the UAE, and the residency formalities must be completed within 60 days of entry. One trip is usually enough. If you do not need a visa, you do not need to come at all.
The Basic package is AED 17,900 (about USD 4,900): a registered legal entity, an address in a free zone, a license for an activity from the standard list and legal handling of the procedure.
Priced separately: residence visas with the medical test, Emirates ID and insurance, the Establishment Card (the company’s registration with the immigration authority) and bank account opening support.
VAT registration is not required at the start: it becomes necessary later if the company’s taxable turnover exceeds AED 375,000 in a year.
From the second year: renewal of the license and the workspace, visa renewals, preparation of the accounts and, for companies with Qualifying Free Zone Person status, a mandatory audit. We quote the cost of the first and the second year before the documents are filed – in writing and free of charge.
Priced separately: residence visas with the medical test, Emirates ID and insurance, the Establishment Card (the company’s registration with the immigration authority) and bank account opening support.
VAT registration is not required at the start: it becomes necessary later if the company’s taxable turnover exceeds AED 375,000 in a year.
From the second year: renewal of the license and the workspace, visa renewals, preparation of the accounts and, for companies with Qualifying Free Zone Person status, a mandatory audit. We quote the cost of the first and the second year before the documents are filed – in writing and free of charge.
From a complete set of documents to the license – 5–8 working days: one day to scope the task and fix the fee, one or two days for the documents on your side, three to five working days for name approval, filing and issue of the license, and one day to hand over the set. The Establishment Card takes another 2–5 working days.
A residence visa adds 1–2 weeks: the entry permit, entry into the UAE, the medical test, biometrics and the issue of the Emirates ID.
A residence visa adds 1–2 weeks: the entry permit, entry into the UAE, the medical test, biometrics and the issue of the Emirates ID.
Yes. In a free zone one hundred percent of the shares belong to you and no local partner is required. Since 2021 full foreign ownership has also been available on the mainland – the requirement of a mandatory Emirati partner has been abolished. Restrictions remain only for activities of strategic importance: defense, banking, insurance, telecommunications and a few other sectors. For IT, consulting and trading there are no restrictions.
From an individual founder: a passport scan, a digital photo, contact details, the preferred company name and a short description of the activity. UAE residents additionally provide their Emirates ID and visa.
From a corporate founder: passports of the shareholders and the director, the resolution of the authorized body on setting up the company, the constitutional documents, the certificate of registration and a valid license; corporate documents usually require legalization.
Certain activities require approval from the relevant authorities – if that is your case, we will tell you before the work starts.
From a corporate founder: passports of the shareholders and the director, the resolution of the authorized body on setting up the company, the constitutional documents, the certificate of registration and a valid license; corporate documents usually require legalization.
Certain activities require approval from the relevant authorities – if that is your case, we will tell you before the work starts.
Corporate tax: 0% on taxable profit up to AED 375,000 and 9% on the amount above it.
A free zone company may apply the 0% rate to its qualifying income if it meets all the conditions of Qualifying Free Zone Person status at the same time: adequate substance in the zone, a permissible structure of income, the de minimis limit on non-qualifying revenue, transfer pricing rules and audited financial statements. A breach of any condition means losing the status for the current and the four following tax periods.
VAT is 5%; registration is mandatory once taxable turnover exceeds AED 375,000 a year, whether the company is in a free zone or on the mainland.
Corporate tax registration is mandatory regardless of the amount of profit – within three months of the company’s incorporation; the penalty for late registration is AED 10,000. The tax return is filed and the tax is paid within nine months after the end of the tax period.
There is no personal income tax in the UAE and no social contributions for foreign employees, but the employer provides medical insurance and pays the end-of-service gratuity.
A free zone company may apply the 0% rate to its qualifying income if it meets all the conditions of Qualifying Free Zone Person status at the same time: adequate substance in the zone, a permissible structure of income, the de minimis limit on non-qualifying revenue, transfer pricing rules and audited financial statements. A breach of any condition means losing the status for the current and the four following tax periods.
VAT is 5%; registration is mandatory once taxable turnover exceeds AED 375,000 a year, whether the company is in a free zone or on the mainland.
Corporate tax registration is mandatory regardless of the amount of profit – within three months of the company’s incorporation; the penalty for late registration is AED 10,000. The tax return is filed and the tax is paid within nine months after the end of the tax period.
There is no personal income tax in the UAE and no social contributions for foreign employees, but the employer provides medical insurance and pays the end-of-service gratuity.
Yes. The company serves as the basis for the founder’s residence visa, as well as for visas for employees and family members. The standard visa term through a free zone company is two years; the Emirates ID is valid for the same period.
The number of visas depends on the workspace package: a flexi desk usually gives a quota of one to three visas; a larger number requires renting an office.
Two limitations worth knowing in advance: entry into the UAE for the medical test and biometrics is mandatory, and staying outside the country for more than 180 consecutive days cancels the residency.
The number of visas depends on the workspace package: a flexi desk usually gives a quota of one to three visas; a larger number requires renting an office.
Two limitations worth knowing in advance: entry into the UAE for the medical test and biometrics is mandatory, and staying outside the country for more than 180 consecutive days cancels the residency.
We support the account opening: we select a bank to suit the business activity, prepare the compliance package – a description of the business, contracts, proof of the source of funds – and handle the correspondence.
The decision is made by the bank. Under customer due diligence rules a bank must refuse if it cannot complete its checks, so no consultant can guarantee that an account will be opened. Digital banks review applications faster; traditional banks take longer and usually require a meeting in person. If the chances for your structure are low, we will say so before the work starts.
The decision is made by the bank. Under customer due diligence rules a bank must refuse if it cannot complete its checks, so no consultant can guarantee that an account will be opened. Digital banks review applications faster; traditional banks take longer and usually require a meeting in person. If the chances for your structure are low, we will say so before the work starts.
The license is issued for the term chosen at registration and is renewed at its end together with the workspace agreement; residence visas and Emirates IDs are renewed in parallel.
Within nine months after the end of the tax period the corporate tax return is filed; companies with Qualifying Free Zone Person status prepare audited financial statements. The register of beneficial owners is kept up to date, changes are recorded within 15 days and the records are kept for seven years.
If the license is not renewed, the company does not disappear: penalties keep accruing, visa renewals are blocked and the registrar may initiate compulsory liquidation. Closing a company is a procedure – with a liquidator, cancellation of visas and deregistration for tax. We quote the renewal cost before the work starts.
Within nine months after the end of the tax period the corporate tax return is filed; companies with Qualifying Free Zone Person status prepare audited financial statements. The register of beneficial owners is kept up to date, changes are recorded within 15 days and the records are kept for seven years.
If the license is not renewed, the company does not disappear: penalties keep accruing, visa renewals are blocked and the registrar may initiate compulsory liquidation. Closing a company is a procedure – with a liquidator, cancellation of visas and deregistration for tax. We quote the renewal cost before the work starts.
Dubai Digital Park A1, Dubai Silicon Oasis,
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Company formation in Dubai, UAE
APKGLOBAL CORPORATE SERVICES – FZCO
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Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Company formation in Dubai, UAE
APKGLOBAL CORPORATE SERVICES – FZCO
Privacy Policy
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