Business Setup in the UAE
From choosing the right jurisdiction and business structure to licensing, visas and banking support, we guide you through every stage of setting up your business in the UAE.
- 20+ Years of UAE Business Setup Experience
- 40+ UAE Free Zones, Mainland Jurisdictions & All 3 Offshore Jurisdictions Covered
- 5,000+ Companies Successfully Established
Everything You Need to Establish Your Business in the UAE
Setting up a business in the UAE involves more than obtaining a trade licence. The right jurisdiction, legal structure, business activity, ownership model and operating setup can all have a long-term impact on how your company grows and operates.
Since 2005, Sun Reanda UAE has supported entrepreneurs, SMEs and international businesses in establishing and expanding their presence in the UAE. Our team takes the time to understand your business model, objectives and operational requirements before recommending a structure that is practical, compliant and aligned with your plans.
From initial structuring and incorporation to licensing, visas, banking and ongoing corporate support, we coordinate the process from start to end. Each client is supported by a dedicated consultant, giving you a single point of contact throughout the journey and beyond incorporation.
Our Company Formation Services
Mainland Limited Liability Company (LLC)
A Mainland LLC is one of the most flexible structures for businesses looking to establish and operate in the UAE. Suitable for a wide range of commercial, trading and professional activities, it provides direct access to the UAE market while allowing businesses to build a long-term operational presence. Our team supports you in selecting the appropriate activity and licence, structuring the ownership and management, securing the required approvals and completing the incorporation process from start to finish.
- 100% foreign ownership available for most business activities
- Single-shareholder LLC also permitted
- Access to the UAE mainland market and ability to transact with businesses across the UAE
- Eligibility to participate in government and private-sector opportunities, subject to applicable requirements
- Flexibility to establish additional branches or offices in the UAE, subject to relevant licensing requirements
- Residence visa eligibility for investors, employees and dependants
- Suitable for commercial, trading, industrial and a wide range of professional activities
- Corporate bank account opening support following incorporation
Offshore Company
UAE offshore companies can provide an efficient structure for international holdings, asset ownership, investment activities and cross-border corporate structuring. We assist with offshore company formation through established UAE offshore jurisdictions, including JAFZA Offshore, RAK ICC and Ajman Offshore, and coordinate the incorporation, registered office, statutory documentation and ongoing administration required for the structure.
- 100% foreign ownership
- No requirement for a conventional operating office or employees in the UAE
- Suitable for holding shares, investments, intellectual property and other permitted assets
- Can be used as part of international holding and corporate ownership structures
- Ability to hold UAE real estate where permitted by the relevant offshore jurisdiction
- Registered office and registered agent support
- Relatively streamlined incorporation and ongoing administration
- Corporate banking support, subject to individual bank KYC and onboarding requirements
- Prestigious UAE registered office address on Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, through our registered office service
Branch of a Foreign Company
International companies looking to establish a direct presence in the UAE can operate through a branch of their existing foreign entity without incorporating a separate subsidiary. The branch remains legally connected to and owned by the parent company, allowing the group to extend its existing activities and brand into the UAE. Our team coordinates the entire registration process, including document attestation, authority approvals, licensing, Ministry registration and ongoing corporate requirements.
- 100% owned by the foreign parent company
- No separate shareholder structure required
- Allows an established international business to extend its presence into the UAE
- Activities generally aligned with those of the parent company, subject to authority approval
- Mainland and selected free zone branch structures available
- Full support with document legalisation, licensing and Ministry registration
- Representative office structures also available for eligible foreign companies requiring a non-commercial UAE presence
International Company Formation
Looking beyond the UAE? Through our association with Reanda International, we can connect and coordinate with experienced professional firms across more than 60 countries and territories worldwide, including key markets such as China, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Australia, the Netherlands and other major international jurisdictions. Whether you are establishing a new company, subsidiary, branch or international holding structure, our team can help coordinate your market entry and connect you with local professionals familiar with the legal, tax and regulatory requirements of the relevant jurisdiction.
- Company formation support across 60+ countries and territories
- Access to Reanda International’s network of 150+ offices worldwide
- Coordination with local accounting, tax, legal and advisory professionals
- Support for subsidiaries, branches and international corporate structures
- Cross-border market entry and structuring coordination
- Single UAE point of contact for multi-jurisdiction requirements
Free Zone Company (FZC / FZE / FZCO)
The UAE’s free zones offer specialised business environments designed around different industries, activities and operating requirements. With more than 40 free zones across the country, choosing the right jurisdiction can significantly affect your licence activities, office requirements, visa capacity, costs and tax position. Our team compares the available options and recommends a free zone aligned with your business model, before managing the complete incorporation and licensing process.
- 100% foreign ownership
- Wide range of commercial, professional, industrial and holding company activities
- Possibly 0% Corporate Tax on Qualifying Income for a Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP)
- Full repatriation of capital and profits
- Flexible office solutions, ranging from flexi-desk arrangements to dedicated premises, depending on the free zone and activity
- Investor and employee residence visa eligibility
- Access to specialised industry ecosystems and business clusters
- Setup packages available across a wide range of budgets and operational requirements
Available across: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain.
Popular free zones include: DMCC, Dubai South, DAFZA, Dubai Silicon Oasis, DIFC, ADGM, KEZAD, SAIF Zone, Hamriyah Free Zone, RAKEZ and many others.
Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) & Prescribed Company (PC) – DIFC & ADGM
For clients requiring dedicated holding, investment or asset-structuring vehicles, we assist with Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and Prescribed Companies (PCs) in ADGM & DIFC. These structures are commonly used to ring-fence assets and liabilities, hold investments and real estate, facilitate joint ventures and support sophisticated private and corporate ownership arrangements within internationally recognised Common Law jurisdictions.
- Suitable for holding investments, shares, real estate and other qualifying assets
- Can be used to ring-fence specific assets and liabilities
- Well suited to joint ventures, investment structures, family holdings and private capital arrangements
- Separate legal personality for structured ownership and investment purposes
- Common Law legal and regulatory frameworks in DIFC and ADGM
- Flexible registered office solutions, subject to jurisdictional requirements
- Designed primarily for holding and special-purpose activities rather than conventional operating businesses
Foundation & Trust Setup
For families, entrepreneurs and private wealth holders looking to protect and organise assets across generations, foundations and trusts can provide a robust framework for long-term ownership, succession and wealth preservation. We assist clients in establishing structures within DIFC and ADGM that can consolidate family assets, business interests and investments while creating clear governance and succession arrangements aligned with the founder’s long-term objectives.
- Succession and intergenerational wealth planning
- Consolidation of family assets, investments and business interests within a structured framework
- Asset protection and long-term wealth preservation
- Clear governance and succession arrangements for future generations
- Useful for family businesses, high-net-worth individuals and internationally held assets
- Common Law legal frameworks within DIFC and ADGM
- Can support family governance and continuity beyond the lifetime of the founder
- Flexible structuring for beneficiaries, family members and philanthropic objectives, where applicable
Sole Establishment & Civil Company
For entrepreneurs, independent professionals and specialist service providers, a Sole Establishment or Civil Company can provide a straightforward structure for conducting professional activities in the UAE. Our team advises on the appropriate legal form, activity, ownership and licensing requirements and manages the setup through to final approval.
- Suitable for consultants, professionals and owner-managed service businesses
- Sole Establishment available for single individual ownership
- Commonly used for consultancy and regulated professional activities, subject to relevant approvals
- Residence visa and establishment services available subject to licence requirements
- Full support with licensing, professional approvals and related government registrations
UAE Business Structures at a Glance
| Mainland (LLC) | Free Zone | Offshore | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Foreign Ownership |
100% (most sectors) |
100% (All Sectors) |
100% |
|
|
Trade in UAE |
Yes – Full Access |
Free Zone + International |
International Only |
|
|
UAE Residence Visa |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
|
Corporate Tax |
9% (>AED 375K profit) |
0% (qualifying) or 9%** |
0% or 9%** |
|
|
Office Required |
Yes – Physical |
Flexi-desk or Office |
No |
|
|
Setup Speed |
2-4 Weeks |
1-4 Weeks |
2-4 Weeks |
|
|
Bank Account |
Easy |
Moderate |
Time Consuming |
|
|
Ideal For |
Local market, retail, trade |
Tech, consulting, startups |
Holding, assets, privacy |
|
Why Businesses Choose to Stay With Us
Yash Dongre
Rajkumar Bohra
Andy Gibbons
Get a Tailored Estimate for Your Business Setup
Share your requirements with us and our team will provide a setup estimate based on your preferred jurisdiction, business activity, structure and visa requirements.