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Access to key Persian Gulf markets and infrastructure for global presence
Establishing a company in the UAE supports global business strategy and the international scaling of commercial activity. Foreign principals have access to mainland companies, free economic zone structures, offshore organisations, trusts and holdings.
That breadth supports confidentiality and flexible tax planning, and allows a financial and operating centre to be established — with tax resident status — in a developed Persian Gulf jurisdiction.
The UAE functions as a global trade hub and distribution centre, positioned at the intersection of European, African and Asian routes with free access to Arab markets.
Streamlined fiscal and customs administration, with preferential trade under the duty-free agreements between Gulf Cooperation Council states.
Despite its privileged tax treatment, the UAE is regarded internationally as a stable jurisdiction complying with OECD principles and FATF standards.
A developed legal framework ensures strict confidentiality of foreign investors' personal information across all structure formats.
No currency restrictions, unimpeded international transfers, and streamlined client-verification procedures for dirham operations.
Founders selling cross-border who need a licensed base in a jurisdiction that does not tax the margin.
Service businesses billing outside the UAE, for whom a free-zone licence is the operative requirement.
Owners for whom the investor visa and Emirates ID matter as much as the corporate structure.
Companies selling inside the UAE and bidding for government contracts, where free-zone status will not serve.
A company registered on the mainland of the UAE, outside free economic zones. It has the right to conduct business across the entire country and participate in government tenders.
An enterprise registered in one of the UAE's 50 free economic zones. Provides maximum benefits for international business with restrictions on local trade.
A parent company owning shares in other enterprises. Ideally suited for managing multiple businesses, optimising taxation, and protecting assets from risks.
A specialised structure for managing family capital, inheritance planning, and asset protection. Registered in free zones DIFC or DMCC.
From USD 6,600 — 2–3 working weeks. Online sales, no UAE office, simple reporting.
From USD 10,000 — 2–3 working weeks. IT, services and consulting with clients outside the UAE.
From USD 17,000 — 2–3 working weeks. Priority processing and concierge service.
From USD 11,500 — 2–4 working weeks. Sales inside the UAE, office, retail or warehouse.
From USD 17,600 — 2–3 working weeks. Rapid market entry with concierge service.
Passports and identification documents for all founders.
A description of the business concept and activity profile.
Current address confirmation for each founder.
A local or virtual office address in the chosen jurisdiction.
Medical examination and biometrics for visa processing.
Cross-border decisions with clarity — from relocation and structuring to long-term planning, risk reduction, and private coordination.
Speak with a partnerMirsatori's corporate lawyers examine your business specifics and set out the UAE registration procedure in full.
We analyse the free economic zones against your activity and objectives, and recommend mainland or a specific free zone.
Our lawyers and business consultants secure the commercial activity permit best matched to your project.
We compile the full document set, including founder identification and activity profile, and manage the filing with the government bodies.
We expedite your Emirates ID and residency, and open accounts with the country's leading banks.
| Category | UAE | Bahrain | France | Montenegro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum share capital | USD 0 | USD 0 | EUR 1 | EUR 1 |
| VAT | 5% | 10% | From 5% | 21% |
| 100% foreign ownership | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Audit | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Corporate tax | 0–9% | 0% | From 15% | 9–15% |
| Personal income tax | 0% | 0% | From 0% | From 9% |
| Dividend tax | 0% | 0% | 30% | 15% |
| Double taxation treaties | 130+ | 40+ | 110+ | 50 |
| Currency control | No | No | No | Yes |
Mirsatori's packages start from USD 6,600 for an e-commerce free-zone company and from USD 11,500 for a mainland LLC. Share capital runs from AED 1,000 (USD 272) to AED 50,000 (USD 13,600) in the free zones, and from AED 300,000 (USD 82,000) for a mainland LLC.
Yes. In the free zones this applies without restriction, and on the mainland 100% foreign ownership has been permitted since 2021 for most activity types, except strategic sectors such as banking, telecommunications, and oil and gas.
A mainland company may trade across the whole of the UAE and bid for government contracts. A free zone company is confined to its zone and the international market, but benefits from the zone's tax and customs regime. The choice follows your activity and target market.
Company ownership with a valid licence grants an investor visa for 2–3 years with renewal options, and tax residency subject to presence. A Golden Visa of 5–10 years is available to major investors, and the company can sponsor visas for family and key employees.
Three principal types: trade (commercial) for buying and selling goods, professional for services and consulting, and industrial for manufacturing and processing.
Requirements vary by zone; in most free zones physical presence is not mandatory. To maintain an investor visa, spending at least one day in the UAE every six months is recommended, and tax residency requires more than 183 days per year.
Send a one-paragraph brief on the decision in front of you. You will have a considered reply within one business day, under signed NDA — the first conversation carries no fee. Where the structure is complex, we scope a written memo from there.
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