All services
Founder and Managing Partner
Egor Chernyshev
Structures, holdings and foundations
UAE
Responsible for
AED 5,000 for the mainland
To work with clients on the Dubai mainland, a free zone company needs a DET permit — AED 5,000 for 6 months, as of October 2026. If most of your clients are there, compare it with Mainland.
All services
Business in the UAE: company, bank account, visas and a lawyer
In the UAE a foreigner can own 100% of a company and choose between the mainland, more than 40 free zones and offshore, and corporate tax is 0 or 9%. That is why many keep their main company and account here and build their business in Asia and Turkey around them. We handle the whole path — structure, licence, account and visas — and then renewals, taxes, contracts and disputes.
- 100%
- Foreign ownership — for most business activities
- 0 or 9%
- Corporate tax: 9% on profit above AED 375,000
- from 5 working days
- Free zone licence; on the mainland — from 2 weeks
- 2–8 weeks
- Usual time to open a corporate account
Structure finder
Which UAE structure fits your goal?
Four questions show which form to start with. There may be two: an operating company for clients and visas, with a holding company or foundation above it.
01What is the company for?
02Where will revenue come from?
03Do you or your team need residence visas?
04Do you need a shop, a city warehouse or government contracts?
Answer the questions — we will show what fits and why.
Free zone
A free zone company: a quick start, 100% ownership and visas within the quota
Mainland
A mainland company: clients across the UAE and government contracts
Offshore
A company for holding assets — no office or visas
Holding or SPV
The top of a group, a deal with an investor or a separate asset — under ADGM and DIFC law
Foundation
Family assets and succession: the foundation itself is the owner
Fits
Free zone
A free zone company: a quick start, 100% ownership and visas within the quota
from 5 working days
licence
100%
ownership
40+
zones to choose from
Why
- Working with clients requires a company licensed for the activity — a free zone or the mainland.
- Revenue from foreign clients and other free zones is a job for a free zone: a licence from 5 working days.
- Visas are sponsored by a company with a licence and an establishment card; in a free zone, the quota is set by the office solution.
A foundation or SPV needs no office or staff. Visas are sponsored by the operating company, and a holding company or foundation can own it.
Fits
Mainland
A mainland company: clients across the UAE and government contracts
from 2 weeks
to the licence
up to 100%
foreign ownership
whole market
clients in the UAE
Why
- Working with clients requires a company licensed for the activity — the mainland or a free zone.
- If most revenue comes from individuals and companies on the mainland, that means Mainland: clients across the UAE.
- Visas are sponsored by a company with a licence and an establishment card; on the mainland, the quota depends on the office area registered in Ejari.
- A shop, a warehouse in the city, work at client sites and government procurement — that means the mainland.
To work with the Dubai mainland, a free zone company needs a DET permit — AED 5,000 for 6 months — or a licence for a branch operating from the zone — AED 10,000 a year. Fees as of October 2026.
Fits
Offshore
A company for holding assets — no office or visas
from 5 working days
registration
100%
ownership
no visas
and no office
Why
- A company that holds assets needs neither an office nor visas — that is a job for an offshore company.
- With no operating revenue, an offshore company is the easiest form to maintain: an agent, a renewal, a tax return.
Not every offshore company can hold property in Dubai: the list of accepted registries changes — we check with the DLD before the contract.
Fits
Holding or SPV
The top of a group, a deal with an investor or a separate asset — under ADGM and DIFC law
from 1–2 weeks
SPV registration
common law
ADGM and DIFC law
from 5%
stake for the dividend exemption
Why
- A separate asset — property, IP, a stake in a project — can be ring-fenced in an SPV so that it can be sold or pledged on its own.
- Several companies under one parent, a shareholders’ agreement and a law investors understand — that is a holding company or SPV in ADGM or DIFC.
- In a family structure, the holding company and SPVs sit under the foundation.
- Dividends from stakes of 5% or more can qualify for a corporate tax exemption — this is holding company income, not operating company income.
Managing third-party money or setting up a fund for outside investors requires a licence from the DFSA or FSRA, not just an SPV.
Fits
Foundation
Family assets and succession: the foundation itself is the owner
from 3 weeks
setup
no shareholders
the foundation is the owner
not published
by-laws and beneficiaries
Why
- A foundation sets out in advance who manages the assets and who will receive them — without a lengthy inheritance procedure or disputes between heirs.
For one apartment and one account, a will registered with the DIFC or with the Abu Dhabi court for non-Muslims is often enough.
UAE
What we do in the UAE
Company
Company Registration- MainlandMainland company: clients across the UAE and government contracts
- FreezoneFree zone company: a fast start and 0% on qualifying income
- OffshoreA company for holding assets — no office or visas
- FoundationA foundation for family assets and inheritance
- Holding & SPVHolding and SPV for stakes, investments and separate assets
Bank account
Bank AccountsBusiness support
Business Support- PRO ServicesGovernment paperwork — most filings without your involvement
- VisasResidence visas for you, your family and employees
- Licence RenewalAnnual licence renewal: we remind you of the deadline in advance
- TrademarkBrand registration with the Ministry of Economy
- Annual SupportYear-round company administration: document deadlines, visas and government procedures
- LegalisationConsular legalisation and MOFA attestation
- Business CounselOngoing legal support: contracts, corporate matters, advice — a fixed monthly fee
Legal services
Legal Services- Contracts and TransactionsDrafting, review and negotiation — EN + AR
- Employment MattersHiring and dismissing employees, employment contracts — with minimal risk of MOHRE claims
- Company Due DiligenceChecking a business before you buy it: assets, debts, litigation risks
- Legal AuditA company check-up: contracts, corporate documents, licence — a report with risks
- Disputes and LitigationA contract has been breached or a claim has been filed against you
- Debt RecoveryA counterparty or borrower won’t pay back the money
- Corporate DisputesA partner is siphoning off money or blocking management
- Criminal CasesSummoned by the police, reported or accused
- Enforcement of JudgmentsYou have a court judgment or arbitral award, but no money yet
- Buying and SellingProperty and transaction checks before signing
- RentalDisputes with a landlord or tenant — the RDC route
- Developer DisputesConstruction delays, quality, refunds
- Inheritance and DIFC WillsEstate planning and wills
- Personal DebtsRecovering private loans — or defending against claims
- Other Private MattersFamily and immigration matters — together with GOFIRM visa support
Team
Who handles your matters in the UAE
Head of Legal Practice
Violetta Absalyamova
Business support and legal matters
UAE
Responsible for
Junior Lawyer
Vera Tsareva
Legal practice
UAE
How business works in the UAE
A licence is issued in days or weeks, but problems with the bank, visas and taxes are built in on day one — through the choice of legal form, zone and activity code. So we start with the business model, not the price list.
Mainland for the UAE market, a free zone for the rest of the world
Clients inside the UAE, a shop, government procurement — Mainland. Consulting, IT and trading with foreign counterparties — a free zone. Holding shares, property or family assets — a holding company, an offshore company or a foundation.
The hub of the structure
The UAE company is often the main one: a company in Hong Kong, China or Turkey is added to it, and a UAE holding company can become their shareholder. Accounts in other countries complement the main UAE account.
Taxes from day one
Corporate tax registration with the FTA is required even with no profit. Not every free zone company gets the 0% rate — only one that meets the conditions: presence, qualifying income, audit.
The usual route
Structure and activity codes, licence, establishment card and visas, then a bank account. Realistically, allow one and a half to three months before the first payments.
Expert tip
Compare options by the cost of ownership over two to three years, not by the first-year price. Switching free zones or moving to the mainland usually means a new company, new visas and a new bank review.
Egor ChernyshevFounder and Managing Partner · Structures, holdings and foundationsWho does what
What you do and what we do: from licence to account
We prepare and file the documents; the decisions are made by the zone, DET, immigration and the bank. From you: passports, signatures and, if you need visas, a trip for the medical test and biometrics. Stage timelines are based on our experience as of October 2026; the decision to open an account rests with the bank.
From you: passports, the choice of package, signatures (remotely in many zones) and a trip for the medical test and biometrics; we plan it so that everything fits into one visit. We file the corporate tax registration with the FTA within three months of incorporation.
From you: signing the MOA before a notary, a decision on the office and a trip for the medical test and biometrics; we file everything else. The timeline depends most on the lease: no licence is issued without Ejari.
From you — only the KYC documents: an offshore company needs neither an office nor visas. The bank takes longest — here the timing and outcome depend on it more than at any other step.
What you get
What you’ll have after launch — and how long it’s valid
The set depends on the legal form. A free zone or mainland company gets a licence, an immigration file and visas; an offshore company gets corporate documents and tax registration, with no office or visas.
Licence
Zone authority
The right to carry out the activities listed in the licence.
Usually one year; several years in some zones
Certificate, articles, register of shareholders
Zone authority
From this point the company legally exists: it’s clear who owns it and in what shares.
Establishment card
GDRFA or ICP
The company’s immigration file — no visas can be issued without it.
Renewed while the licence is valid
Residence visa and Emirates ID
Per person: founder, employees, family
Entry permit, change of status, medical test and biometrics — all you need to do is be in the UAE.
Usually 2 years; Emirates ID — for the term of the visa
Bank account
UAE bank
We choose a bank where your zone and activity don’t raise unnecessary questions; the decision rests with the bank.
Usually 2–8 weeks
FTA registration
Federal Tax Authority
Corporate tax — registration within three months of incorporation, even with no profit; being late costs AED 10,000. VAT — from a turnover of AED 375,000 over 12 months.
Licence
DET — in Dubai
Working with clients across the UAE.
Usually one year; Dubai law allows up to 4 years
MOA — articles of association
Notarised
Shares, the manager, powers and decision-making; with several partners — exit and dispute rules from the start.
Ejari
Tenancy registration; in Abu Dhabi — Tawtheeq
The office determines the visa quota; without Ejari the licence is neither issued nor renewed.
Chamber of Commerce membership
Dubai Chamber of Commerce
As a rule, mandatory on the Dubai mainland; issued together with the licence.
Renewed with the licence
Establishment card and MOHRE file
Immigration and MOHRE
The immigration and labour files — without them the company can’t sponsor visas for you or your employees.
Residence visa and Emirates ID
Per person: founder, employees, family
Entry permit, change of status, medical test and biometrics — all you need to do is be in the UAE.
Usually 2 years; Emirates ID — for the term of the visa
Bank account
UAE bank
We build the file around the company’s profile and support you at the meeting; the decision rests with the bank.
Usually 2–8 weeks
FTA registration
Federal Tax Authority
Corporate tax — registration within three months of incorporation, even with no profit; being late costs AED 10,000. VAT — from a turnover of AED 375,000 over 12 months.
Certificate and constitution
Registry: RAK ICC, JAFZA Offshore or Ajman Offshore
Plus registers of shareholders and directors — a company for holding assets, with no office or visas.
Share certificates and UBO register
Prepared by us
The first directors’ resolutions and the ultimate beneficial owner register; if needed — a certificate of incumbency and legalisation for use abroad.
Registered agent
Registry agent
A registered address, liaison with the registry and document storage: without an agent the company can’t be renewed.
Every year, with the renewal
FTA registration
Federal Tax Authority
Within three months of incorporation, otherwise AED 10,000; the tax return — within nine months of year-end, even if no tax is due.
Bank account
A bank that works with offshore companies
The file: ownership structure, source of funds, purpose of the account. Here the timing and outcome depend on the bank more than anything else.
From 4 weeks
FAQ
Expert answers
Egor Chernyshev — Structures, holdings and foundations
Corporate tax is 0 or 9%: 0% on profit up to AED 375,000, 9% on the amount above. A free zone company with Qualifying Free Zone Person status pays 0% on qualifying income if it meets the conditions. VAT is 5%, and registration is mandatory once turnover exceeds AED 375,000 over 12 months. Every company must register for corporate tax, even with no profit.
Egor Chernyshev · Structures, holdings and foundationsWhere we work
Other countries
Not sure which country fits?
Next step
Describe your business — we’ll put together a UAE plan
Tell us what you do, where your clients are and how many people need visas. We’ll propose a structure, a bank and visas, and give you the timeline and the budget breakdown — for the first year and for annual maintenance.
Egor ChernyshevFounder and Managing Partner · Structures, holdings and foundations