Simplifying company formation across the UAE
Company Formation & Registration in UAE
Mainland, free zone or offshore — compare the entity types, see what each one involves, and get a written quote that separates government fees from ours before anything is filed.
GCC business setup specialists
Company formation in the UAE, done properly the first time
Most UAE setups go wrong on the same three things: the wrong jurisdiction for the activity, a licence that does not cover what the business actually does, and visa quota discovered too late. We settle all three before filing.
- Written quote before anything is filed
- Direct with every licensing authority
- One adviser from licence to first filing
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.
Black Swan Business Setup Services•
Black Swan Business Setup Services•
Black Swan Business Setup Services
Choose the right structure
Which UAE entity type fits your business
The jurisdiction decides your ownership position, where you may trade, your visa quota and your running cost. It is the one decision that is expensive to reverse.
| Entity type | Ownership | Where it can trade | Visa quota | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mainland LLC | Depends on the activity — checked against the current activity list before filing | Anywhere in the UAE, including government contracts | Tied to office space | Trading, contracting, retail, services sold inside the UAE |
| Free zone company | 100% foreign ownership | Within the zone and internationally; mainland trade needs a distributor or branch | Fixed by package | Consultancy, e-commerce, holding, regional HQ |
| Branch of a foreign company | Parent company retains 100% | Same activity as the parent only | Tied to office space | Established overseas companies entering the market |
| Offshore company | 100% foreign ownership | Outside the UAE only — no local trade, no visas | None | Asset and share holding, international structuring |
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.
What it costs
UAE company formation fees
Starting prices. Your final price depends on your business activity and, for free zone and mainland companies, the number of visas. You get a written quote before anything is filed.
Free zone
IFZA Free Zone
AED 21,490
Starting from
- 100% foreign ownership
- Licence and establishment card
- Visa quota by package
- No local office required
Mainland
Dubai Mainland
AED 15,000
Starting from
- Trade anywhere in the UAE
- Eligible for government tenders
- Visa quota tied to premises
- Ejari / office required
Offshore
Offshore Company
AED 10,000
Starting from
- Holding and structuring only
- No UAE trading permitted
- No visa entitlement
- Registered agent included
Government fees and our fees, kept separate
Every quote splits the two, so you can see exactly what is payable to the authority and what is payable to us.
| Cost line | Paid to | Amount | When payable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trade name reservation | Licensing authority | Confirmed in your written quote | At application |
| Initial approval | Licensing authority | Confirmed in your written quote | At application |
| Trade licence issue | Licensing authority | Varies by activity — confirmed in your quote | On approval |
| MoA drafting and notarisation | Notary / authority | Confirmed in your written quote | Before licence issue |
| Establishment card | Immigration | Confirmed in your written quote | After the licence |
| Residence visas | Immigration / medical | Per person — confirmed in your quote | Per person |
| BlackSwan service fee | BlackSwan BSS | Quoted up front, fixed | On engagement |
Government fees are set by the licensing authority and can change without notice. We quote the current figures for your activity in writing before anything is filed.
How it works
Three steps from first call to trading
A straightforward UAE company is normally licensed within about a week once the paperwork is in order. Visas and banking follow on the authority's and the bank's timetable.
01
Consultation and planning
We start with the activity you want to licence, who owns the company, how many visas you need and what you are prepared to spend. You leave that conversation with a jurisdiction recommendation and a written quote that separates government fees from ours.
02
Documentation and licensing
Trade name reservation, initial approval, memorandum drafting and notarisation, external ministry approvals where the activity is regulated, and premises registered so the lease can be filed. Then the trade licence is issued and the company is on the register.
03
Visa, Emirates ID and banking
Establishment card, entry permits, medicals, Emirates ID and visa stamping for you and anyone you sponsor, corporate bank account introductions, and corporate tax registration within the deadline — so the company is not just registered but actually operational.
Before you start
Documents you will need
Gathered up front, this is what keeps a formation on the short path rather than the long one.
- Passport copies for all shareholders and directors
- Passport-size photographs, white background
- UAE entry stamp or visa page, if in-country
- Proof of residential address
- Three proposed trade names, in order of preference
- Detailed description of the business activities
- Parent company trade licence, for a branch or subsidiary
- Board resolution approving the UAE entity
- Memorandum and Articles of the parent company
- Attested and legalised corporate documents
- Certified Arabic translations where required
- Ejari or lease agreement for mainland premises
Scope
What is included, and what is not
Stated plainly, so nothing is added once the engagement starts.
Included in the service fee
- Jurisdiction and activity recommendation
- Trade name reservation and initial approval
- MoA drafting, notarisation and submission
- Trade licence application, end to end
- Establishment card and immigration file opening
- Corporate bank account introduction
- Corporate tax registration
- One named adviser throughout
Not included, quoted separately
- Government and authority fees, paid at cost
- Office space, Ejari or flexi-desk rental
- Document attestation and legalisation abroad
- Legal translation into Arabic
- Medical tests and Emirates ID charges
- Sector-specific regulatory approvals
- Ongoing bookkeeping, audit and VAT filing
- Trademark registration
Verify independently
Official UAE authorities
We file directly with these bodies on your behalf.
Federal Tax Authority
Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation
Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security
Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development
IFZA — International Free Zone Authority
UAE Government Portal
Questions
UAE company formation FAQs
Can a foreigner own a UAE company outright?
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 activity list and tell you where you stand before anything is filed.
How long does UAE company formation take?
A straightforward company is normally licensed within about a week once the documents are in order. Activities that need external ministry approval take longer. Visas and bank accounts then run on the authority's and the bank's own timetable.
Do I need to be in the UAE to set up?
Most of the formation can be completed remotely. You will normally need to attend in person for the medical, Emirates ID biometrics and, for most banks, the account opening.
Mainland or free zone — which works out cheaper?
A free zone licence is usually lower on day one. Mainland can work out cheaper over time if you trade inside the UAE, because a free zone company selling to the mainland needs a distributor or a branch. The honest answer depends on where your customers are.
What happens after the licence is issued?
Establishment card, immigration file, visas, Emirates ID, a corporate bank account, and corporate tax registration within the statutory deadline. We treat the company as done when it is operational, not when it is registered.
Does my UAE company have to register for corporate tax?
UAE corporate tax applies under the regime introduced in 2023, and registration is required regardless of whether tax turns out to be payable. Rates, thresholds and the free zone rules depend on your circumstances, so we confirm the current position with you and handle the registration as part of the setup.
Go deeper
Related guides on UAE business setup
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