Business Setup · UAE

Business setup in the UAE, explained before it's sold.

Most founders arrive at a consultant's desk having already been told which freezone to pick. We work the other way. We start with your activity, your customers, and your five-year plan — then we recommend the jurisdiction that fits. Sometimes that's mainland. Sometimes it's a freezone you've never heard of. Occasionally it's an offshore structure layered beneath an operating company. What matters is that the choice is yours, made with full numbers.

Start your setup Book a 20-minute call
+20 years inside UAE government relations
3 structures compared honestly, every time
7 emirates, one point of contact

Mainland LLC

A company licensed by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) in Dubai, or the equivalent DED in each emirate. You can trade anywhere in the UAE, open a shop on any street, and bid for government work. Since 2021, most activities allow 100% foreign ownership — no local sponsor required.

Best for retail, F&B, construction, professional services selling to UAE clients, anyone needing a physical shopfront.

Freezone Company

Incorporated inside one of 40+ designated freezones — JAFZA, DMCC, IFZA, Meydan, RAK ICC, Ajman Free Zone, and others. 100% foreign ownership, 0% corporate tax if you qualify as a Qualifying Free Zone Person, streamlined visa quotas. Under Cabinet Resolution No. 11 of 2025, freezone companies can now operate on the mainland with a branch licence or temporary permit — compliance deadline March 2026.

Best for international trading, holding companies, tech, media, consulting aimed at foreign clients.

Offshore Company

A non-resident structure (RAK ICC, JAFZA Offshore, Ajman Offshore) used for asset holding, IP ownership, and international invoicing. No UAE trading rights, no physical presence, no visas. Often paired with an onshore operating company.

Best for asset protection, family office structures, holding real estate or shares.

What the process actually looks like

  1. Week 1. Activity selection, trade name reservation, jurisdiction lock-in, document collection (passport, proof of address, CV, photos, entry stamp).
  2. Week 2. Initial approval, MOA drafting (for LLCs), lease agreement or flexi-desk allocation, licence issuance.
  3. Week 3. Establishment card, visa quota, medical, Emirates ID, visa stamping.
  4. Week 4. Corporate bank account file submission, VAT registration if thresholds apply, Corporate Tax registration with the FTA.

Some freezones compress weeks 1 and 2 into 48 hours. Our team will tell you which ones, and whether the cost is worth it for your business.

What you actually pay for

Cost line Typical range (AED)
Trade licence (freezone, 1 visa)12,500 – 22,000
Trade licence (mainland LLC)18,000 – 35,000
Flexi-desk / virtual office8,000 – 15,000 / year
Physical office (mainland, Ejari-registered)Market rate
Establishment card~2,000
Each employment visa4,500 – 6,500
Emirates ID (10-year)~1,070
Medical fitness test325 – 750
Our PRO feeQuoted per engagement

No hidden percentages. No "processing" surcharges. If a government fee changes mid-process, we show you the receipt.

Ready when you are.

Every engagement starts with a free, no-jargon scoping call. Bring your questions. Leave with a written cost map for mainland, freezone, and offshore paths side by side.

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Business setup — frequently asked

I'm a solo founder. Do I need a full LLC?
Not necessarily. A freezone FZE (free zone establishment, single shareholder) or a mainland sole-proprietorship licence can be faster and cheaper. The right answer depends on whether you need to sell to UAE clients directly.
Can I keep my current job while I set up the company?
Yes, if your employment contract allows it. We can structure the shareholder visa so it activates only when you're ready to transition. Some freezones allow investor status without an active employment visa conflict.
I already have a company abroad. Should I open a branch or a new entity?
A branch carries the parent company's name and liabilities into the UAE. A fresh entity gives you a clean legal wrapper. For most founders, fresh is cleaner — but holding groups often prefer branches for consolidation. We walk through both in the first call.
What's the deal with UAE Corporate Tax?
Since June 2023, the UAE levies 9% on taxable profits above AED 375,000. Freezone companies that meet the Qualifying Free Zone Person criteria — qualifying income, adequate substance, no election to be taxed at 9% — remain at 0%. The rules are strict. We flag before you sign, not after.
Do you help if I want to close or restructure later?
Yes. Licence cancellation, shareholder changes, activity amendments, and liquidation are part of what we do — not just setup.

About Golden Wasl

Who is Golden Wasl?
A UAE PRO firm with two decades of experience in government relations — handling business setup, freezone licensing, and Golden Visa applications across all seven emirates. Bilingual in Arabic and English. Direct working relationships with Immigration, the Ministry of Labour, and multiple embassies.
What does Wasl mean?
Wasl (وصل) is Arabic for link or connection. It is also the historical name of the area that became Dubai. The name reflects our role: the connection between you and the authorities — not a layer of middlemen, a direct line.
Do you work with clients outside Dubai?
Yes. We work across the UAE — Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, and Fujairah. One point of contact for all seven emirates.
How do you charge?
Fixed quotes per engagement, issued in writing before any work begins. Government fees are paid at cost with receipts attached. We do not take referral commissions from freezones, banks, or insurance brokers.
What's the first step?
A 20-minute scoping call. No charge, no obligation. You leave with a written comparison of your realistic options.