01 · Company Formation
Your company, licensed
in the right jurisdiction.
Mainland, free zone and offshore are the three routes to a UAE trade licence. The right choice depends on market access, ownership, banking and how the company will be taxed — not on which is cheapest to set up.
Mainland
Department of Economy & Tourism
A Department of Economy and Tourism licence: full access to the domestic market, government contracting and unrestricted onshore trade, with 100% foreign ownership across most activities.
Typically suits
Retail, contracting, professional services, local distribution
Free Zone
DMCC · IFZA · DIFC · JAFZA · Meydan
100% foreign ownership, a licence matched to your sector, flexible visa allocations and an internationally recognised registry — administered by the free zone authority itself.
Typically suits
Trading, consultancy, technology, holding, regional headquarters
Offshore
RAK ICC · JAFZA Offshore
A holding vehicle rather than a trading licence: used to consolidate ownership, hold property or shares, and plan succession across borders.
Typically suits
Holding companies, property ownership, family structures
Preparation
What we need from you to start.
A complete file at the outset is the single largest factor in how quickly your licence is issued. We gather everything below with you before we submit a single application.
- 01Passport copies of all shareholders
- 02Proposed trade names and activity list
- 03Shareholding split and capital position
- 04Registered address or flexi-desk arrangement
- 05Ultimate beneficial ownership declarations
- 06Bank reference or source-of-funds summary
Get the structure
right the first time.
Restructuring a company after formation costs more, in time and fees, than choosing carefully at the outset. Let us set out your options in writing before you commit.
