The documents you need to set up in Dubai.

Have these ready first

This is what we ask for in a free consultation. With it, we can tell you the exact list for your case, which depends on your activity, company type and jurisdiction.

• A passport copy for every owner and manager
• Your Emirates ID and residence visa, if you already live in the UAE
• What the business will do (its activities)
• Who the owners are, and how the shares are split
• A few trade name ideas
• Where you plan to work from

For a mainland licence in Dubai

Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism issues the licence. Each step produces something the next one needs:

1. Trade name. Registered with the economic department. It must include the legal form (for example LLC) and can’t use religious names or the names of other organisations.
2. Initial approval. The government’s no-objection to your business. It doesn’t let you start trading yet.
3. Memorandum of Association. Needed for an LLC, a joint stock company or a limited partnership. It is prepared and attested by a UAE notary, court or law firm.
4. A local service agent agreement, for some licence types, such as professional (civil) establishments.
5. A lease. Every business needs a physical address. In Dubai the lease is registered with Ejari.
6. Other approvals, if your activity needs them (for example financial services, media or telecoms).

Finally you submit the initial approval, the attested Memorandum of Association, the lease, any other approvals and, where needed, the service agent contract. The licence fee must be paid within 30 days of the payment voucher, or the application is cancelled.

Source: u.ae: Steps to start a business on the mainland

For a free zone licence

Each free zone sets its own list. You pick a company type (for example an LLC, FZ Co, FZE or a branch), check your trade name with the free zone authority, then apply online and upload your documents.

Not sure which to choose? Read Mainland vs Free Zone.

Source: u.ae: Starting a business in a free zone

Documents from abroad

Documents issued outside the UAE, such as a parent company’s certificate of incorporation or a power of attorney signed abroad, need attestation before UAE authorities accept them. It runs in three steps:

1. The foreign ministry of the country that issued the document
2. The UAE embassy or consulate in that country
3. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its website

The document must be in Arabic or English, or come with an official translation. Start early: this is the step that depends on offices in another country.

Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Frequently asked questions (attestation); Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Attestation of official documents

After the licence: corporate tax

Every company subject to corporate tax registers with the Federal Tax Authority on EmaraTax. Registration is free. The FTA asks for:

• The trade licence, including any branch licences
• The certificate of incorporation, Memorandum of Association or partnership agreement, if you have one
• Emirates ID and passport of every owner with more than 25%, and of the authorised signatories
• Proof that the signatory is authorised

Files are PDFs of up to 15 MB each. A new company has three months from incorporation to register: see the corporate tax guide.

Sources: Federal Tax Authority: Corporate Tax registration service; Federal Tax Authority: Decision No. 3 of 2024 on registration timeframes

For your residence visa

Owners and staff who will live in the UAE need a residence visa. For every residence visa, applicants aged 18 and over take a medical fitness test and pass a security check, apply for an Emirates ID, and show medical insurance or a health card.

Thinking long term? See who qualifies for the Golden Visa.

Source: u.ae: General provisions for the residence visa