Operate here under the parent
Foreign Company Branch Registration in UAE
A branch carries your existing name and identity into the UAE. It is not a separate company, which is its main advantage and its main constraint.
GCC business setup specialists
Same company, new jurisdiction
A branch keeps the parent’s name, which is worth a great deal if the brand is why clients buy. The trade-off is that it may only do what the parent is already licensed for, and the parent stays on the hook for what it does.
- Permitted activities checked against the parent licence
- Parent document chain mapped before you start
- Direct with the licensing authority
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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What a branch can and cannot do
The shape of a UAE branch
Most branch problems come from assuming it behaves like a subsidiary. It does not.
| Question | Position for a branch |
|---|---|
| Is it a separate company? | No. It is the parent operating in the UAE, under the parent’s name. |
| What may it trade in? | Only activities the parent is already licensed for — and the authority checks this against the parent licence. |
| Who carries liability? | The parent company. |
| Can it have its own shareholders? | No. There are no shares; a manager is appointed to run it. |
| Can it sponsor visas? | Yes, subject to the usual quota and premises rules. |
| What about a national agent? | Some mainland branch registrations involve a service agent arrangement. Whether yours does is confirmed with the authority before filing. |
Branch rules, including any service agent requirement, differ by emirate and free zone and change over time. Your position is confirmed in writing before anything is submitted.
How it works
Registering the branch
The activity match against the parent licence is the first thing we check, because it decides whether a branch is possible at all.
01
Activity match
We compare what you want to do here against what the parent is licensed for. If they do not line up, a subsidiary is usually the answer and we will say so before you spend anything.
02
Parent documents
Constitutional documents, board resolution appointing the branch manager, specimen signature and, where asked for, parent accounts — attested, legalised and translated.
03
Approval, premises and licence
Authority approval for the branch, premises registered so the tenancy can be filed, then the branch licence issued and the immigration file opened.
From the parent
Documents the authority will want
A branch file leans more heavily on the parent than a subsidiary does.
- Parent certificate of incorporation
- Parent trade licence or registration extract
- Memorandum and Articles of the parent
- Board resolution approving the UAE branch
- Resolution appointing the branch manager
- Power of attorney for the branch manager
- Specimen signature of the manager
- Manager’s passport copy and photographs
- Parent audited accounts, where the authority asks
- Certificate of good standing, where available
- Attestation and legalisation in the country of origin
- Certified Arabic translation where required
Scope
What is included, and what is not
Stated plainly, so nothing is added once the engagement starts.
Included in the service fee
- Activity match against the parent licence
- Branch or subsidiary recommendation
- Attestation chain guidance for your country
- Authority approval application
- Branch licence application end to end
- Manager appointment filings
- Establishment card and immigration file opening
- Corporate bank account introduction
Not included, quoted separately
- Government and authority fees, paid at cost
- Attestation and legalisation fees paid abroad
- Office space, Ejari or flexi-desk rental
- Legal translation into Arabic
- Any service agent fee, where one applies
- Parent-company audit or accounts preparation
- Sector-specific regulatory approvals
- 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
UAE branch registration — FAQs
Can my branch do something the parent does not?
No. A branch is limited to the parent’s licensed activities, and the authority checks. If you need a different activity, a subsidiary is the route.
Do I still need a local service agent?
It depends on the emirate, the authority and the activity. It is one of the first things we confirm, because it changes both the structure and the cost.
Is the parent liable for the branch?
Yes. That is the central difference from a subsidiary, and for some parents it is reason enough to incorporate separately instead.
Does the branch file its own accounts?
It generally has its own record-keeping and corporate tax obligations in the UAE. What exactly applies depends on the authority and activity, and we confirm it in writing.
Can a branch open its own bank account?
Yes, in the branch name. Banks will normally want the parent’s documents as part of onboarding, so the attested set is worth keeping to hand.
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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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