Company Registration in Dubai & the UAE
Step-by-step company registration in Dubai and the UAE: trade name, initial approval, licence, establishment card, visas and tax registration. Fees and timelines for 2026.
Business Setup AE editorial review Last reviewed 2026-09-09
Quick answer
Company registration in Dubai and the UAE takes 3 to 10 working days and costs AED 12,500 to AED 30,000 in year one. The sequence is trade name reservation, initial approval, licence issuance, establishment card, residence visa, bank account and corporate tax registration.
- Total time
- 3 – 10 working days
- Year-one cost
- AED 12,500 – 30,000
- Registries
- DET, ADDED, 45+ free zones
- Remote filing
- Available in most free zones
Company registration in the UAE is a sequence, not a single transaction. Each stage has its own authority, its own fee and its own failure mode. Founders who understand the order avoid the classic delays: renting premises before approval, choosing a name that gets rejected, or applying for visas before the establishment card exists.
There are three registration paths. A free zone authority registers and licenses in one place. An emirate economic department (DET in Dubai, ADDED in Abu Dhabi, SEDD in Sharjah) registers mainland companies. An offshore registry such as RAK ICC incorporates non-resident holding vehicles.
This page documents the full registration process, the documents each stage requires, the fees involved and the post-registration obligations that begin immediately after the licence is issued.
| Stage | Free zone (AED) | Mainland Dubai (AED) |
|---|---|---|
| Trade name reservation | Included | 620 – 1,000 |
| Initial approval | Included | 120 – 500 |
| Licence (1 year) | 9,500 – 15,000 | 9,000 – 15,000 |
| Registration / incorporation | 1,500 – 3,000 | Included |
| MOA notarisation | Not applicable | 900 – 2,500 |
| Premises | 1,000 – 4,000 flexi-desk | 10,000 – 25,000 Ejari |
| Establishment card | 1,200 – 1,800 | 1,500 – 2,500 |
| Market fee | None | 5% of annual rent |
Trade name rules that cause rejections
- No religious references, no names of governments, countries or their institutions
- Abbreviations of personal names are not allowed — "A. Khan Trading" fails, "Ahmed Khan Trading" passes
- If you use a personal name it must be the full name of a shareholder
- The name must reflect the licensed activity or add a legal suffix such as LLC, FZE or FZCO
- Foreign-language and non-Arabic names attract a higher reservation fee in Dubai
- Reservation is valid for a limited period and must be renewed if the file stalls
Registration routes compared
| Route | Authority | Time | Cost from (AED) | Visas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free zone | Zone authority (IFZA, SHAMS, RAKEZ...) | 3 – 7 days | 12,500 | 1 – 6 |
| Mainland | DET / ADDED / SEDD | 5 – 10 days | 15,200 + rent | Area-based |
| Offshore | RAK ICC / JAFZA Offshore | 2 – 5 days | 8,000 | None |
| Freelance permit | Zone authority | 2 – 5 days | 7,500 | 1 |
Share capital and shareholding
Most UAE free zones and DET mainland LLCs require no paid-up capital deposit — capital is stated in the MOA but not blocked in a bank. Certain zones and regulated activities do require evidence of capital, typically AED 50,000 to AED 1,000,000 depending on the activity.
Corporate shareholders are permitted in most registries. A foreign parent must supply attested and legalised corporate documents: certificate of incorporation, memorandum, board resolution and a certificate of good standing, attested up to the UAE embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
After registration: what starts immediately
- Corporate tax registration with the Federal Tax Authority within the prescribed deadline
- VAT registration once taxable turnover crosses AED 375,000 in a rolling 12 months
- UBO register filing with the licensing authority and updates within 15 days of change
- ESR notification where a relevant activity is carried on
- Bookkeeping from day one — retrospective accounting costs several times more
- Licence and establishment-card renewal diarised before expiry
Who this option suits best
- First-time founders who want the process sequenced clearly
- Foreign companies opening a UAE subsidiary or branch
- Founders comparing free zone, mainland and offshore registration
- Businesses relocating operations to the UAE
Step-by-step process
- 1
Choose jurisdiction and activity1 day
Free zone, mainland or offshore, matched to your customer base and visa needs.
- 2
Reserve the trade name1 day
Submit three compliant options to the authority.
- 3
Apply for initial approval1 – 3 days
The authority confirms no objection and flags any external regulator approval.
- 4
Prepare and attest documents1 – 10 days
Passports, photos, proof of address; attested corporate documents for company shareholders.
- 5
Sign constitutional documents1 – 2 days
MOA/AOA plus lease or flexi-desk agreement; notarisation for mainland LLCs.
- 6
Pay fees and receive the licence1 – 3 days
Trade licence, certificate of incorporation and share certificates are issued.
- 7
Register with immigration2 – 5 days
Establishment card and e-channel unlock visa applications.
- 8
Visas, bank and tax2 – 6 weeks
Residence visa and Emirates ID, corporate bank account, FTA corporate tax registration.
Documents required
- Passport copies (valid 6+ months) for every shareholder and manager
- Passport-size photo with white background for each applicant
- Proof of address or a recent utility bill / bank statement
- Three proposed trade names in order of preference
- Business activity list and a short business description
- Emirates ID and visa copy or entry stamp if you are already in the UAE
- Attested certificate of incorporation and MOA for corporate shareholders
- Board resolution appointing the manager and approving the UAE entity
- Certificate of good standing for foreign parent companies
Realistic timeline
| Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
| Name and initial approval | 1 – 3 working days |
| Document attestation (if corporate shareholder) | 1 – 2 weeks |
| Licence issuance | 1 – 4 working days |
| Establishment card | 2 – 5 working days |
| Visa and Emirates ID | 7 – 14 working days |
Attestation and legalisation of foreign corporate documents can add AED 2,000 to AED 6,000 and one to two weeks — start this first if a company will be a shareholder.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Starting attestation late
Fix: Foreign corporate documents take the longest — begin on day one.
Submitting a non-compliant trade name
Fix: Check the naming rules before you print branding.
Applying for visas before the establishment card
Fix: The card is a prerequisite; the file will simply reject.
Choosing activities you cannot evidence
Fix: Regulated activities need qualifications and regulator approval.
Delaying corporate tax registration
Fix: Register within the FTA deadline to avoid administrative penalties.
Compliance after licensing
- Corporate tax registration with the FTA — 9% applies on taxable profit above AED 375,000; 0% below it. Small Business Relief may apply to revenue under AED 3m.
- VAT registration is mandatory once taxable turnover passes AED 375,000 in 12 months, and voluntary from AED 187,500.
- Economic Substance Regulations (ESR) notifications for relevant activities such as holding, IP, headquarters and distribution.
- Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) register kept with the licensing authority and updated within 15 days of any change.
- Anti-Money Laundering (AML) registration on the goAML portal for designated non-financial businesses and professions.
- Annual licence and establishment-card renewal, plus audited financials where the free zone or activity requires them.
Regulators referenced: Ministry of Economy (UAE) · Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) · Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) · Federal Tax Authority (FTA) · General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) · Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE)
Frequently asked questions
How do I register a company in Dubai?
How much does UAE company registration cost?
Can I register a UAE company online?
What documents do I need?
Is share capital required?
How long is a UAE trade licence valid?
People also ask
Can a foreigner register a company in the UAE?
Yes, with 100% ownership in every free zone and in most mainland activities, without a UAE partner.
Do I need a local sponsor?
Not for free zones and not for most mainland activities. Professional sole establishments appoint a Local Service Agent who holds no equity.
What is an establishment card?
The company's immigration registration card. Without it you cannot apply for any residence visa.
Can I register a branch of my foreign company?
Yes. Branches are registered in free zones and on the mainland with attested parent-company documents and, for mainland, a national agent.
Founder checklist
- Confirm the exact activity codes you need before paying any fee
- Compare at least three verified providers on total year-one cost, not licence cost alone
- Check the visa quota attached to your chosen facility (flexi-desk vs office)
- Ask what is excluded: establishment card, e-channel deposit, medical, Emirates ID, PRO fees
- Confirm bank-account support and which banks the provider actually opens with
- Register for corporate tax within the deadline after licence issuance
- Diarise your licence renewal date and UBO/ESR filing dates
Why you can trust this guide
- Independent marketplace — Business Setup AE does not form companies and takes no commission on provider pricing
- Every listed provider holds a valid UAE trade licence and publishes fixed prices
- Costs reviewed against 2026 published government schedules
- Written and reviewed by advisers who have processed UAE licences and residence visas
Editorial ownership: Business Setup AE Editorial Team. See our editorial and corrections policy and package verification method.
Related guides and services
Official government sources
Fees, thresholds and licensing rules on this page are checked against these official UAE government and regulator sources.
- Invest in Dubai — company registrationOfficial registration workflow and required documents
- GDRFA Dubai — residency and visasEstablishment card and residence visa procedures
- Ministry of Economy — UAEFederal commercial registration, trade names and company law
Topics covered
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