Business Setup in Dubai & the UAE

Key facts: Business Setup

Service

Business setup and company formation in Dubai and across the UAE

Jurisdictions

Mainland (DET), free zones, offshore

Who it is for

Entrepreneurs, SMEs, foreign companies opening a UAE entity, and existing UAE businesses restructuring

Typical timeline

About one to two weeks for a straightforward license once documents are ready; bank account opening and external approvals can add time

Ongoing obligations

License renewal, VAT and corporate tax registration where applicable, visa renewals, bookkeeping

Office

M-23, New Al Safiya Building, Abu Hail, Dubai

Mainland, free zone or offshore: how the options compare

The jurisdiction you choose determines where you can trade, how many visas you can sponsor and how the company is regulated. Start from your customers and revenue model, not from the cheapest package.

Business setup services

Each part of the setup has its own page with process, documents and FAQs: mainland company formation, free zone company formation, offshore company formation, trade license processing, business activity consultation, business structure advisory and shareholder structuring.

After the license: visas, banking, tax and compliance

A trade license is the start, not the finish. Most new companies next need an establishment card and investor or partner visas, employment visas for staff, and a corporate bank account.

From the first day of trading you need proper bookkeeping. Most businesses must also register for UAE corporate tax, and VAT registration becomes mandatory once taxable turnover passes AED 375,000.

Later changes such as share transfers, new activities or restructuring are handled through corporate amendments. Growth plans are covered on our business development page.

Business setup across the other emirates

Most of our clients set up in Dubai, but Brown Bros. also supports company formation in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain. Each emirate has its own economic department and free zones, and each sets its own costs, office rules and activity lists. We compare options across emirates when location isn't fixed by your customers or operations.

How company formation in Dubai works

1. 1

   Define the business activity

   The licensed activity decides the license type, the approving authority and whether external approvals are needed. Mismatched activities are the most common reason applications stall.

2. 2

   Choose the jurisdiction and legal form

   Mainland, free zone or offshore, and then an LLC, sole establishment, branch or free zone entity, based on customers, visas and ownership.

3. 3

   Reserve the trade name and obtain initial approval

   Names must follow UAE naming rules and must not conflict with existing trade names or trademarks.

4. 4

   Arrange the office

   Mainland companies need a physical office with a registered Ejari. Free zones offer flexi-desks and shared offices.

5. 5

   Submit documents and pay license fees

   Shareholder documents, the memorandum of association where applicable and any external approvals are submitted, then the trade license is issued.

6. 6

   Visas, establishment card and bank account

   Immigration file, investor and employee visas, Emirates ID and corporate bank account opening.

How long does it take?

Once documents are ready and no external approvals are needed, a straightforward license is usually issued in about one to two weeks. Activities that need approval from other authorities, attestation of foreign documents, visa processing and corporate bank account opening can extend the overall timeline.

Frequently asked questions