COMPANY FORMATION IN DUBAI, UAE

COMPANY REGISTRATION
IN DUBAI, UAE

Legal support for company registration in the United Arab Emirates without the need to travel outside Kazakhstan

BUSINESS REGISTRATION IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

COMPANY REGISTRATION IN DUBAI

We are an independent advisory firm and do not act as a governmental authority, public body, or official registrar. We provide legal support for company registration in the United Arab Emirates without the need to travel outside Kazakhstan. Our team is based in the Republic of Kazakhstan and is an official partner of the IFZA Free Zone, which enables us to lawfully and directly handle the entire company registration process in Dubai remotely.

YOU WORK WITH US IN KAZAKHSTAN – WE HANDLE THE ENTIRE PROCESS IN THE UAE

KEY BENEFITS OF SETTING UP
A COMPANY IN DUBAI FOR KAZAKHSTAN-BASED CLIENTS

No physical presence in the UAE is required at the registration stage
Communication, agreements and support are provided in English, Russian and Kazakh and within your time zone
Transparent pricing with no unexpected or hidden fees
Experience working with Kazakhstan residents and understanding of tax and currency-control considerations

Free zone or mainland: where to set up a company in the UAE

There are two main registration formats in the UAE: a company in a free economic zone (free zone) or a company on the “mainland”. Since June 2021, 100% foreign ownership has been available in both formats – for mainland companies, the requirement to have a local partner holding 51% has been abolished for most business activities. The choice of jurisdiction determines where the company can operate, what tax regime it will have and what office requirements apply. We help you choose the option that fits your specific business model – the basic guidelines are set out below.

Mainland (Dubai, DET license)

Registration in the emirate itself rather than in a free zone. The company can operate on the UAE domestic market without restrictions, work with local customers and take part in public procurement. 100% foreign ownership is available for most business activities (the exception being sectors of “strategic importance”). Suitable for those planning to sell goods and services within the Emirates.

IFZA (International Free Zone Authority)

A free zone in Dubai with a campus in Dubai Silicon Oasis (Dubai Digital Park) – where our Dubai office is also located. More than 2,000 business activities, licenses for consulting, services, trading and holding structures, including multi-year licenses. No paid-up share capital requirement. Fast registration and flexible visa packages. We are an official IFZA partner and handle registration directly, without intermediaries.

Meydan Free Zone

A fully digital free zone in the Meydan City area (Dubai): documents are filed and the license is issued online, with no paper-based workflow. More than 2,500 available business activities. Ideal for consulting, IT, e-commerce and remotely managed businesses.

DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre)

The largest free zone in the UAE with more than 24,000 member companies, located in Jumeirah Lakes Towers. A multiple winner of the “Global Free Zone of the Year” award from fDi Intelligence (Financial Times). Its focus is international trade, commodities, financial and Web3 projects. More expensive than other zones, but it offers the most recognizable address: banks are traditionally more receptive to DMCC companies.

RAKEZ (Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone)

The economic zone of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, home to more than 30,000 companies. The most affordable option for manufacturing, warehousing and logistics projects: industrial plots, warehouses and preferential rates. Also suitable for service companies with a limited budget.

Timelines are indicative and depend on the business activity, the composition of shareholders and the completeness of the documents. Since 2025, Dubai has had a mechanism that allows free zone companies to obtain a permit to operate on the mainland without setting up a second legal entity (under a separate DET procedure) – we will advise whether this applies to your case.

How to set up a company in Dubai: a step-by-step guide

The registration itself – from the submission of a complete set of documents to the issuance of the license – usually takes 2–7 working days, depending on the zone and business activity. The preparatory stage (choosing the structure, approving the name, providing the documents) is not included in this timeframe and depends on how quickly you are ready on your side. We carry out the entire registration process remotely – you do not need to travel to the UAE at this stage. A personal visit will only be needed later if you apply for a residence visa (the medical examination and biometrics are done in the UAE).

Consultation and choice of structure – 1–2 days

We determine the jurisdiction (free zone or mainland), business activity, composition of founders and number of visas. We calculate the full cost of the project straight away – with no hidden charges.

Name and documents – usually 1–3 days (depending on how quickly you provide the documents)

We check and reserve the company name and collect the basic package: copies of the shareholders’ passports, application forms and a description of the business activity. If the founder is a legal entity, its corporate documents will also be required.

Submitting the application to the registrar

We prepare and submit the set of documents to the administration of the selected zone (or to the DET for mainland companies) and handle the registrar’s queries.

Issuance of the license and constituent documents – usually 2–7 working days for free zones

You receive the license, the certificate of incorporation and the company’s constituent documents. From this moment, the legal entity in the UAE exists.

Establishment Card (the company’s immigration card)

Registering the company with the immigration system is a prerequisite for obtaining residence visas for founders and employees.

Residence visas and Emirates ID – 2–3 weeks per person (optional)

We arrange visas for founders and employees. This is the only stage that requires your personal presence in the UAE. See the section below for details.

Corporate bank account – from 1–2 weeks

We select a bank to match your business profile, prepare the file and support you through the compliance procedures. See the section below for details.

After registration, the company must register for corporate tax with the UAE Federal Tax Authority (FTA, EmaraTax portal) – this applies to all companies, including free zone companies, even if the tax payable is zero. Late registration is subject to a penalty of AED 10,000. We take care of the registration and ongoing compliance.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR COMPANY FORMATION IN DUBAI

Passport copy
Email address
Proposed company name
Contact phone number
Brief description of the intended business activity

COMPANY FORMATION IN THE UAE

SERVICE FEES

BASE PACKAGE

AED 17,900*

* Payable in KZT at the exchange rate applicable on the payment date.
NO HIDDEN FEES

YOU KNOW IN ADVANCE WHAT YOU ARE PAYING FOR AND WHAT RESULT YOU WILL RECEIVE

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BASE PACKAGE

AED 17,900*

* Payable in KZT at the exchange rate applicable on the payment date.

NO HIDDEN FEES

You know in advance what you are paying for and what result you will receive.

COMPANY FORMATION IN DUBAI

THE BASE PACKAGE INCLUDES:

Formation of a UAE legal entity
Registered office address in a UAE free zone
One-year license for an eligible business activity under the base package

Bank account opening support is provided as an additional service

CUSTOM PACKAGE

Get a cost estimate for your specific case

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CUSTOM PACKAGE

Get a cost estimate for your specific case

COMPANY FORMATION IN DUBAI

THE FINAL COST DEPENDS ON:

business activity
number of visas
company structure
bank account requirements

Submit a request – we will calculate the registration cost based on all details of your project.

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WHY SET UP A COMPANY IN DUBAI

Low and predictable tax environment
Internationally recognized and reputable jurisdiction
Developed infrastructure for operating and scaling a business
Stable legal and financial system
Ease of working with international counterparties and banks

TAXES IN THE UAE

Corporate tax – 0% on profits up to AED 375,000, 9% on the amount above that
VAT – 5%; registration is mandatory where taxable supplies and imports exceed AED 375,000 over 12 months; the export of services outside the UAE is zero-rated, subject to the established conditions
Payroll taxes and social security contributions – none (the obligations are effectively covered by the visa cost for its validity period)

Until the end of 2026, companies with annual revenue of up to AED 3 million can use the Small Business Relief regime – upon election, their taxable income is treated as zero. Free zone companies with Qualifying Free Zone Person status have a separate regime: 0% on qualifying income, subject to certain conditions. We will assess whether these regimes apply to your case during the consultation.

EXAMPLE

You have registered a company in the UAE.
The shareholder and director is a citizen of Kazakhstan.
The company provides services outside the UAE and works only with foreign clients.

Revenue: USD 500,000
Expenses: USD 200,000
Profit (revenue less expenses): USD 300,000 (approximately AED 1,100,000).

UAE tax liability:
the first AED 375,000 of profit – at 0%
the remaining AED 725,000 – at 9%

Tax: AED 725,000 × 9% = AED 65,250 (approximately USD 17,800)

UAE residence visa and Emirates ID through company formation

A registered company gives its founders and employees grounds for obtaining a UAE residence visa. The number of available visas depends on the selected zone and package (in free zones, the quota is usually tied to the office format). The standard validity of a residence visa obtained through a free zone company is 2 years, renewable.

How the process works

Entry permit. The entry permit is issued online and is valid for 60 days. If you are already in the UAE on another visa, your status is changed without leaving the country.
Medical examination. Taken at an accredited center in the UAE: a blood test and a chest X-ray. Results are usually available within 1–2 working days.
Biometrics and Emirates ID. Fingerprints and a photo for the Emirates ID card.
Visa issuance. The residence visa is issued electronically – visa stickers have not been placed in passports since 2022. Resident status is evidenced by the Emirates ID; the plastic card is produced within a few working days.

The whole cycle usually takes 2–3 weeks. This is the only stage that requires personal presence in the UAE.

What you need to know

The Emirates ID is the resident’s main document: it is needed to open bank accounts, rent accommodation, get a SIM card and access government services.
As a general rule, a residence visa is canceled if you stay outside the UAE for more than 180 consecutive days (different rules apply to certain categories, such as the Golden Visa).
Once the founder has obtained their own visa, they can sponsor visas for their spouse and children.

Opening a corporate bank account in the UAE

Opening an account is the most sensitive stage of launching a business in the UAE. Banks carry out full compliance checks: KYC/AML, screening of beneficial owners against sanctions lists and, often, an interview with the signatory. Company registration in itself does not guarantee that an account will be opened, so the file needs to be prepared in advance and tailored to the requirements of the specific bank.

What improves the chances of approval

a clear business model: a specific business activity instead of “general trading”, with a description of customers and suppliers;
a residence visa and Emirates ID for the signatory – most traditional UAE banks require at least one signatory to be a resident;
evidence of real business activity: a website, contracts or invoices, relevant experience of the founder;
a transparent source of funds and a predictable geography of incoming and outgoing payments.

What makes it harder: high-risk industries (cryptocurrencies, precious metals, weapons), offshore companies in the ownership structure, a vague description of the business.

Timelines: digital banks – usually 1–2 weeks; traditional banks – 2–6 weeks; for complex structures with foreign corporate shareholders, the review may take longer.

We provide bank account opening as a separate service: we select a bank to match your business profile, prepare the compliance file and handle communication with the bank until the account is activated.

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COMPANY REGISTRATIONIN DUBAI, UAE