Dubai Company Incorporation
Setup a Company in Dubai

Setting up a company in Dubai

Dubai Company Formation

Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) located in the Middle East, known for its fast-growing economy, luxury tourism, and diverse business opportunities. Company formation in Dubai is a popular option for businesses looking to incorporate in a jurisdiction with a dynamic business environment and favorable tax laws.

There are several types of companies that can be formed in Dubai, including:

Free Zone Companies: These are companies that are formed in one of Dubai's many free zones, which are special economic zones with their own set of laws and regulations. These companies are 100% foreign-owned, and are exempt from corporate and income taxes.
Mainland Companies: These are companies that are formed in the mainland area of Dubai, and are subject to UAE federal laws and regulations. These companies can be 100% foreign-owned and are also eligible for corporate and income tax exemptions.

To form a company in Dubai, the following steps must be taken:

Choose a company name that is not already in use and is not similar to any existing company names.
File articles of incorporation with the relevant government agency, such as the Department of Economic Development (DED) for mainland companies or the relevant free zone authority for free zone companies.
Appoint at least one director for the company.
Obtain a registered office address in Dubai.
Obtain any necessary licenses or permits for the company's intended business activities.
File annual returns and pay annual fees to the relevant government agency.

It's important to note that Dubai has strict regulations in place to prevent money laundering and other illegal activities. As a result, all companies formed in Dubai are required to maintain accurate records and provide information to the relevant authorities when requested. Additionally, Dubai has implemented the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) and the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) to ensure compliance with international tax regulations.

In summary, Dubai offers a dynamic business environment and favorable tax laws for company formation, with various types of companies to choose from such as Free Zone Companies and Mainland Companies. The process of incorporating a company in Dubai typically involves choosing a company name, filing articles of incorporation with the relevant government agency, appointing at least one director, obtaining a registered office address, obtaining any necessary licenses or permits, and filing annual returns and paying annual fees. Dubai has strict regulations in place to prevent illegal activities and companies are required to maintain accurate records and provide information to relevant authorities as and when required. Additionally, Dubai has implemented the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) and the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) to ensure compliance with international tax regulations.

Register your Dubai company in 3 easy steps

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Company Details

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We offer a Dubai company formation package for $299 all-inclusive

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Everyone has questions forming a corporation or LLC. You are not the only one. Therefore we have put together this FAQ page to address the most important issues.

See below for the questions we hear the most, and read the answers you need to know. If you don’t see your question below, please call or email us.

Which Type Of Company Is Right For Me?

The registered agent is responsible for receiving important legal and tax documents on behalf of the business. Service of Process (sometimes called notice of litigation), which is the document that initiates a lawsuit, is served to the registered agent for a business. Proper handling of and timely response to this document are vital, as not doing so can result in significant adverse consequences to the business. Additionally, the registered agent often receives mail and tax documents from the state and government on behalf of business. Timely handling of these documents is also important as states typical impose deadlines for annual report and franchise tax payments.

General "C" Corporation

The general corporation is the most common corporate structure. This type of corporation is a separate legal entity that is owned by stockholders. A general corporation may have an unlimited number of stockholders that, due to the separate legal nature of the corporation, are protected from the creditors of the business. A stockholder"s personal liability is usually limited to the amount of investment in the corporation and no more.

Sub-Chapter "S" Corporation

With a sub-chapter "S" corporation you can deduct the profits and losses from your corporation on your personal tax return. You will no longer be considered a "C" Corporation. Prior to March 15 you must file an IRS Form 1120-S. To qualify as a "S" corporation, you must be a US citizen or qualified resident filing a personal tax return with the IRS.

Close Corporation

There are a few minor, but significant, differences between general corporations and close corporations. In most states where they are recognized, close corporations are limited to 30 to 50 stockholders. In addition, many close corporation statutes require that the directors of a close corporation must first offer the shares to existing stockholders before selling to new shareholders.

This type of corporation is particularly well suited for a group of individuals who will own the corporation with some members actively involved in the management and other members only involved on a limited or indirect level.

Can the same person be shareholder, officer and director?

What Is A Registered Agent? Do I Need One?

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