FAQs
Clear answers to the questions we hear most often about setting up a business, obtaining a visa, and staying compliant in the UAE.
Common Questions
Questions about UAE business and residency
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Ask us directly.The time needed depends on the authority, activity, approvals and documents. Company licensing, residence applications and bank account opening are separate stages. We can outline the steps for your proposed structure, but an authority processing estimate is not a guaranteed completion date.
You do not always need UAE residence to begin company formation. Remote steps and any required visits depend on the authority, ownership structure and documents. A residence visa is a separate application; it is not automatically issued when a company is registered.
A free-zone company is licensed by a free-zone authority, while a mainland company is licensed by the relevant economic department. The appropriate structure depends on your business activity, customers, premises and approvals. Mainland access for a free-zone company requires the appropriate permissions; Dubai has an operating-permit framework for eligible businesses. Free-zone status does not automatically provide a corporate tax exemption: the 0% rate applies to qualifying income where the company meets the Qualifying Free Zone Person conditions.
Yes. Since the UAE Commercial Companies Law amendments of 2021, foreign nationals can own 100% of mainland companies in most commercial and industrial activities without a UAE national partner. 100% ownership has always been permitted in free zones. Some strategic and restricted activities still require a UAE national as a shareholder.
The core requirements are: a valid passport (and for some free zones, a UAE visa copy), passport-sized photograph, business activity description, and proposed company name options. Additional documents may be required depending on the jurisdiction and activity type — for example, professional licences for regulated activities, or a no-objection letter if you are currently employed in the UAE.
Not necessarily. Many free zones offer flexi-desk packages — a shared workspace facility that satisfies the address requirement without committing to a dedicated office. These are a popular choice for startups and SMEs. Dedicated office space is available and required for certain activity types or visa quotas above a certain threshold.
The ordinary UAE Corporate Tax rates are 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above that threshold, unless a different regime applies. A Qualifying Free Zone Person is subject to 0% on qualifying income and 9% on non-qualifying taxable income, without the AED 375,000 threshold for that non-qualifying income. Registration, filing obligations and any available relief must be checked for the entity.
We assist with investor and partner visas linked to company formation, employment visas for staff, the UAE Golden Visa for long-term residency, freelance visas, jobseeker visas, and short-stay travel and tourism visas. We also handle family sponsorship and visa renewals.
Golden Residency is a long-term residence route for eligible applicants, with conditions that differ by category. Investment, qualifications, professional achievements or other evidence may be required. Check the applicable category and renewal conditions; one investment figure is not an eligibility test for every applicant.
Timing depends on the visa category, authority checks, supporting documents and appointment availability. Medical fitness and Emirates ID steps may be separate from the application review. We can explain the expected stages for your route without guaranteeing an authority decision or completion date.
Yes. Residence visa holders who meet the minimum salary or financial requirements can sponsor spouses, children, and in some cases parents. The exact requirements depend on your visa type and emirate. We manage the full family sponsorship process, including document preparation and appointments.
A freelance permit or licence authorises specified professional activities; residence permission is a separate requirement. Some free-zone programmes offer a residence route alongside their permit. Green Residency has its own eligibility conditions. The appropriate option depends on your work, current residence status and the issuing authority.
The UAE jobseeker visit visa allows eligible foreign nationals to enter the country for one trip to explore employment opportunities, without a host or sponsor. Applicants can choose a validity of 60, 90 or 120 days. Eligibility includes an approved professional or recent-graduate route, a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, and the prescribed financial guarantee. The visa does not authorise employment; the required work and residence permissions must be obtained before starting work.
PRO services support government and authority administration, such as licence renewals, visa paperwork and document submissions. The tasks depend on the business and authority. The service can help organise submissions and deadlines, but approvals remain with the relevant authority.
Most businesses with employees or ongoing regulatory obligations benefit from PRO services. If you have staff on UAE employment visas, are subject to Ministry of Human Resources filings, or have a mainland or free zone licence requiring periodic renewal and compliance submissions, a dedicated PRO saves significant time and reduces the risk of missed deadlines or penalties.
ILOE subscription applies to employees within the scheme’s scope, with statutory exclusions. Exempt categories include investors who own and work in their establishment, domestic workers, temporary-contract workers, under-18s, and retirees receiving a pension who join a new job. Check the official scheme for the applicable registration route and policy conditions. Our PRO team can help with enrolment, policy records and renewals for eligible staff.
Yes. Our document services team supports document preparation, relevant attestation work and qualification-recognition applications. The current overseas university-qualification recognition service is provided by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR). Academic recognition and MoFA document attestation are separate processes; we start with the receiving organisation’s request to identify the support needed.
The relevant authority depends on the task: for example, MOHRE for applicable employment matters, GDRFA in Dubai or ICP for relevant residence processes, MoFA for document attestation, and the licensing economic department or free-zone authority for company matters. We identify the route needed for the requested service.
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