Business Setup & Licensing

Company formation costs vary: Mainland LLC starts from AED 15,000, Free zone from AED 12,000, Offshore from AED 8,000. This includes trade license fee, registration, and basic setup. Additional costs include visa (AED 3,500+), office rent (AED 5,000+ annually), and bank account opening.

Yes! Since June 2021, foreigners can own 100% of mainland companies in over 1,000 business activities. Free zone and offshore companies always allowed 100% foreign ownership. Only a few activities (like security, military) require UAE national partner. We advise on ownership structure for your activity.

Mainland company: Operate anywhere in UAE, invoice government, no restrictions on clients. Requires office lease and Ejari. Free zone company: Operate within free zone or internationally, cannot directly invoice UAE mainland clients (need agent), but easier setup and often cheaper. We recommend based on your business model.

Company setup takes 3-7 working days for trade license issuance. Mainland may take slightly longer (5-7 days) due to office lease requirement. Free zones can be faster (3-5 days). Total setup including visa and bank account takes 2-4 weeks.

For initial setup, you don't need to be in Dubai. We can process trade license with Power of Attorney or digital signatures. However, for visa stamping and bank account opening, you need to visit UAE. Some free zones offer remote bank account opening options.

Best free zone depends on your activity: Trading/commodities → DMCC, Media/creative → Dubai Media City, IT/tech → Dubai Silicon Oasis, Finance → DIFC, Cost-effective → IFZA or Meydan. We analyze your business and recommend the optimal free zone with pros/cons comparison.

Yes! Company owners get investor visa (3-year residence). You can also sponsor employees and family members. Visa quota depends on office size - larger office = more visas. Virtual office packages typically include 2-3 visas. We offer complete visa packages with company formation.