Dubai and the United Arab Emirates: company formation
Free zones and mainland · Middle East
Updated on 3 November 2026 · Published under the responsibility of Jason Pivron, director · Who we are
FZ-LLC · LLC in the United Arab Emirates — company, registered office, banking file and annual upkeep, run by us, with a local correspondent where we have one.
Who this jurisdiction suits
- 0 % up to AED 375,000 of profit, then 9 % — and 0 % personal income tax.
- Two-year residence visa for the investor and family.
- Twenty free zones, one of which matches your activity precisely.
What it does not solve
- Corporate tax registration mandatory even at nil rate, with accounts to keep.
- The zone determines everything: choosing wrongly forces a full rebuild.
Conditions to meet
Source (30 September 2026): tax.gov.ae (to be checked)
Usual time, from our files; to be checked.
Good with a serious substance file. Very high know-your-customer requirements since 2023.
The registered office takes the form of a flexi-desk or an office, depending on the zone and your visa quota. Some zones require a closed office beyond two or three visas. The zone determines the cost, and choosing the wrong one forces a full rebuild.
Our assessment for the United Arab Emirates; to be checked.
Closed office by zone, on quotation. Mandatory above a certain visa quota.
Our offer in the United Arab Emirates, internal catalogue.
Services and prices
Starting prices excluding tax, government fees included.
See the other 12 services in this jurisdiction
Firm price after the call: several shareholders, indirect ownership or a regulated activity change it.
Financial licences in the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates compared with Qatar and Bahrain
| United Arab Emirates | Qatar | Bahrain | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Usual company form | FZ-LLC · LLC | LLC · QFC | WLL |
| Corporate taxation | 0 % up to AED 375,000 then 9 % · registration mandatory even at nil rate | 0 to 10 % depending on regime and shareholding | 0 % outside oil and gas |
| Share capital | Not established | QAR 200,000 | BHD 20,000 |
| Incorporation time | 2–4 weeks | 1–3 months | 2–3 months |
| Banking access | Accessible | Demanding | Demanding |
| Substance requirement | Real presence required | Real presence required | Real presence required |
| Our services | On request | from 21,590 € | from 8,690 € |
To be checked against each profile. The page for Qatar → · The page for Bahrain →
Compare this jurisdiction
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Our guides on this subject
The twenty free zones, in Dubai and the other emirates
Registered office and premises in the United Arab Emirates
From 1,490 €. Registered office service →
How it runs
- Scoping and choice of zone
- Name reservation and initial approval
- Licence issue
- Visa and identity
- Tax and bank account
For the United Arab Emirates, the usual time is 2–4 weeks.
Steps as recorded on 21 September 2026.
Group: Gulf licence · Our fees → · What we do for you →
Company formation in the United Arab Emirates: frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to set up a company in the United Arab Emirates?
The price for United Arab Emirates is set on quote, after the scoping call. Firm quote before signature.
How long does it take to register a company in the United Arab Emirates?
About 2–4 weeks once the file is complete (usual time from our files; to be checked).
What is the corporate tax rate in the United Arab Emirates?
0 % up to AED 375,000 then 9 % · registration mandatory even at nil rate (data as of 21 September 2026; source: tax.gov.ae; to be checked). Not tax advice.
Why set up a company in the United Arab Emirates?
0 % up to AED 375,000 of profit, then 9 % — and 0 % personal income tax. Two-year residence visa for the investor and family. Twenty free zones, one of which matches your activity precisely.
What are the drawbacks of a company in the United Arab Emirates?
Corporate tax registration mandatory even at nil rate, with accounts to keep. The zone determines everything: choosing wrongly forces a full rebuild.
United Arab Emirates or Qatar or Bahrain: where do our services start?
from 21,590 € in Qatar; from 8,690 € in Bahrain, excluding tax.
United Arab Emirates or Qatar or Bahrain: how does corporate tax compare?
United Arab Emirates, 0 % up to AED 375,000 then 9 % · registration mandatory even at nil rate; Qatar, 0 to 10 % depending on regime and shareholding; Bahrain, 0 % outside oil and gas; to be checked.
United Arab Emirates or Qatar or Bahrain: which is faster to register?
United Arab Emirates in 2–4 weeks; Qatar in 1–3 months; Bahrain in 2–3 months, usual times.
Where these figures come from
Recorded on 21 September 2026; to be checked; banking and substance: our assessment. How we source these figures →