For founders based outside the UAE
Foreign-Owned Company Setup in UAE
Four routes are open to overseas shareholders, and they differ on where you may trade, what premises you need and what you must file. We settle which one fits before anything is submitted.
GCC business setup specialists
Owning a UAE company from abroad
The ownership question is rarely the hard part. What catches overseas founders out is the activity list, the premises requirement attached to the route they picked, and documents from home that need attesting before they are accepted here.
- Ownership position confirmed against your activity
- Attestation and legalisation handled end to end
- One adviser across time zones
20+
Mainland, free zone and offshore jurisdictions we file in — so the recommendation is based on your activity, not on which authority we happen to be registered with.
7,000+
Companies successfully established.
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Choose the route
Ownership routes for overseas founders
All four allow foreign shareholders. They differ on where you may sell, what premises you must hold, and what the parent company has to produce.
| Route | Ownership position | Premises required | Where you may trade | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mainland company | Depends on the activity — checked against the current activity list before filing | Registered premises with a tenancy filed | Anywhere in the UAE, including government contracts | Selling goods or services inside the UAE |
| Free zone company | 100% foreign ownership | Flexi-desk or office within the zone | Inside the zone and internationally; mainland sales need a distributor or branch | Consultancy, e-commerce, holding, regional HQ |
| Branch of a foreign company | Parent company retains 100% | Registered premises | The same activity the parent is licensed for | Established overseas companies entering the market |
| Offshore company | 100% foreign ownership | Registered agent only | Outside the UAE only — no local trade, no visas | Holding shares, property or other assets |
Ownership rules and permitted activities vary by authority and change over time. Your specific activity is checked against the current activity list before any recommendation is given.
How it works
From overseas enquiry to a licensed company
Most of this runs remotely. You travel once, late in the process, and only if you are taking residence visas.
01
Route and activity
We take the activity you want to licence, who the shareholders are, whether a corporate shareholder is involved, and whether anyone needs residence. That decides the route, and you get a written quote separating government fees from ours.
02
Documents from home
Shareholder passports, proof of address, and for a corporate shareholder the parent licence, board resolution and constitutional documents — attested and legalised, with certified Arabic translation where the authority requires it. This is the step that sets your timeline.
03
Filing and licence
Trade name, initial approval, memorandum drafting and notarisation, premises registered, external approvals where the activity is regulated, then the licence is issued and the immigration file opened.
Before you start
What overseas shareholders need to produce
Gathered early, these are what keep a remote formation on the short path.
- Passport copies for every shareholder and director
- Passport-size photographs, white background
- Proof of residential address in your home country
- Three proposed trade names in order of preference
- A clear description of the activities you intend to run
- Parent company trade licence or certificate of incorporation
- Board resolution approving the UAE entity
- Memorandum and Articles of the parent company
- Specimen signature of the authorised signatory
- Attestation and legalisation in the country of origin
- Certified Arabic translation where the authority requires it
- Power of attorney if you will not attend in person
Scope
What is included, and what is not
Stated plainly, so nothing is added once the engagement starts.
Included in the service fee
- Route and activity recommendation
- Trade name reservation and initial approval
- Memorandum drafting, notarisation and submission
- Licence application end to end
- Guidance on the attestation chain for your country
- Establishment card and immigration file opening
- Corporate bank account introduction
- One named adviser throughout
Not included, quoted separately
- Government and authority fees, paid at cost
- Office space, Ejari or flexi-desk rental
- Attestation and legalisation fees paid abroad
- Legal translation into Arabic
- Medical tests and Emirates ID charges
- Sector-specific regulatory approvals
- Courier of original documents
- Ongoing accounting and tax filing
Verify independently
Official UAE authorities
We file directly with these bodies on your behalf.
Federal Tax AuthorityMinistry of Human Resources & EmiratisationIdentity, Citizenship, Customs & Port SecurityAbu Dhabi Department of Economic DevelopmentIFZA — International Free Zone AuthorityUAE Government Portal
Questions
Foreign-Owned Company Setup in UAE — FAQs
Can I own a UAE company outright as a foreigner?
In the free zones, yes — 100% foreign ownership is standard. On the mainland it depends on the specific activity, and the position has changed considerably in recent years. We check your activity against the current list and tell you where you stand before anything is filed.
Do I need a local partner?
For most mainland activities the local-partner requirement no longer applies in the way it once did, but some activities still carry conditions. Which camp yours falls into is confirmed at the activity-check stage, not assumed.
Can a company be the shareholder instead of a person?
Yes. A corporate shareholder is common, particularly for branches and holding structures. It changes the document set: you will need the parent licence, constitutional documents and a board resolution, all attested.
Do I have to come to the UAE?
Most of the formation can be done remotely, often under a power of attorney. You will normally need to attend in person for the medical, Emirates ID biometrics and, for most banks, the account opening.
How long does attestation take?
It depends entirely on your country and its process, and it is the single most common cause of a slow formation. We tell you the chain your documents must go through at the quote stage so it can be started immediately.
Will I get a residence visa?
Residence is available through most mainland and free zone routes, subject to quota and the premises you hold. An offshore company carries no visa entitlement at all, which is why the route decision matters before you file.
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At Black Swan Business Setup Services, our mission is simple: to empower entrepreneurs and companies of all sizes to establish and expand their presence in the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and beyond.
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