Company Incorporation Dubai – A Detailed Guide

Dubai is for hustlers, dreamers, and achievers. Every year, with dreams in their eyes and ambition in their veins, thousands of expats move here. The location, infrastructure, and business environment, everything is perfect, which is what catches the eyes of foreign entrepreneurs and investors.

Company incorporation Dubai remains a top choice for entrepreneurs in 2025, and this is evident in the number of registrations the Dubai Chamber of Commerce witnesses every year. Entrepreneurs can explore numerous opportunities across various industries such as finance, healthcare, education, IT, media, communication, agriculture, tourism, and more.

If you are also planning to expand your business abroad, Dubai company registration could be your lucky break. This guide will walk you through every essential detail, including the process, cost and legal requirements of successfully registering a company in Dubai.

Inside the company incorporation in Dubai, UAE

Dubai stands at the forefront for being a leading technical and innovation hub. Looking back at the year 2024, a total of 70,500 new companies joined the Chamber of Commerce Dubai, which further strengths Dubai’s position as global investment hub. Businesses gain competitive advantages in Dubai that they cannot find in any other nation.

What makes Dubai a great destination for business and investment is not just the brilliant opportunities but also the immense support of the UAE government for foreigners. Whatever business idea you may have, Dubai offers the full support and ensures it thrives.

Types of company registration in Dubai

Entrepreneurs in Dubai enjoy the freedom to choose from three distinct economic zones for company registration. Each economic zone comes with its own benefits, legal frameworks, and business opportunities. Here are the three types of company incorporation Dubai:

Free zone company registration:

Free zone companies are entities established in free zone areas, which are free trade zones with their own respective authorities. As per the new announcement made by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, free zone companies can now expand their operations to even the mainland, widening the business scope for them.

Some of the benefits of freezone company formation in Dubai include:

• 100% business ownership rights
• Needless of local sponsorship
• Specialized infrastructure and facilities
• Fast and easy business setup process
• Exclusive tax exemptions
• Custom duty exemptions

Mainland company registration:

Mainland companies are established on mainland jurisdiction, the area in Dubai excluding freezone area. Mainland companies are licensed and regulated by the Department of Economic Development (DED). With mainland company license, businesses can operate freely across the UAE markets as well as internationally.

The advantages of mainland company registration include:

• No restrictions on trade across UAE as well globally
• 100% ownership for most of the business activities
• Scope for large visa applications
• Ability to work on government or semi-government contracts
• Zero personal income tax

Offshore company registration:

Offshore companies are incorporated in Dubai. However, they conduct their operations outside the UAE. Basically, such companies aim for global access and want to benefit from the UAE’s tax advantages and strategic geographic location. These companies are prohibited from having a physical office in the UAE or conducting business within the UAE.

Benefits of offshore company incorporation Dubai:

• Access to a multi-currency UAE bank account
• Convenient global market reach
• Global funding opportunities
• Low initial capital requirements
• Savings on taxation

Kinds of business license in UAE

You can get the following types of trade license registered in Dubai:

1. Professional license:

With professional license, you can offer expert services such as IT, consulting, engineering, and accounting.

2. Commercial license:

Commercial license in Dubai allows the trade goods and commodities, like importing, exporting, distributing, and retailing.

3. Industrial license:

For conducting manufacturing, production, assembling and other such industrial operations, an industrial license is needed.

Dubai company incorporation process

The government of Dubai has made the process of company registration very simple for aspirants. Dubai company incorporation steps are as following:

Step 1 – Business activity selection:

First, you must identity the right opportunity for yourself. You can conduct a single business activity or choose multiple. It will impact your license requirement as well. Also, while deciding the business activities, make sure to pick it from the DED permitted list.

Step 2 – Choose the jurisdiction:

You should make your mind where you want to get your business registered. It can be freezone, mainland or offshore. The choice will be based on your preferences, operations and business goals.

Step 3 – Legal structure selection:

In Dubai, you can establish various types of business structures. Most common one include Limited Liability Company, a sole establishment, a partnership firm, a civil company, a branch of foreign company etc. The structure you choose impacts the ownership pattern of your business, tax liabilities as well as the operational flexibility.

Step 4 – Trade name reservation:

Of course, you must name your business. While choosing a name, make sure it is abiding the rules set by the UAE government. Alongside being lawful, it should also be something attractive, unique and easy to recall. You can propose three name alternatives and get the most suitable registered.

Step 5 – Securing initial and external approval:

To start any type of new business in Dubai, you will definitely need to get initial approval from the authority. This NOC will be issued either by the DED (in case of mainland) or the respective freezone.

Along with that, some business operations also require permission from specific government bodies. For example, to run a food truck business in Dubai, you must get food safety permit from Dubai Municipality as well as RTA approval for vehicle.

The approvals receipts are required while applying for company incorporation Dubai.

Step 6 – Getting business office:

Choosing a suitable business location is crucial part of your company formation in Dubai. You can choose to rent a space, buy a private space or go for economical options like shared workplaces. The office requirements will directly depend on your scale of operations and business needs.

Step 7 – Business license registration:

Finally, when you are confident with your approvals and other formalities, all you would need to do is apply for business license with the appropriate UAE licensing authority. DED will issue the license in case of mainland company registration. For freezone, the respective authority issues the license.

In this step, you must fill the license application form carefully providing relevant personal and business details. Then, you must submit the form along with asked documents and fees. A professional business setup consultant can ease out the entire process by handling your license application process.

Step 8 – Business bank account setup:

For managing the transactions of business, including receipts and payments, you must open a business bank account in Dubai. Remember, personal bank account cannot be used for business purposes. There are many top domestic as well as international banks in Dubai where you can apply for corporate bank account.

Step 9 – Visa and labour card:

As foreign citizen, to stay and work legally in Dubai, you would need an appropriate residence visa. Also, if you are hiring foreign staff, again you would need appropriate work visas and permits for them.

Once you obtain your UAE residence visa, you can get visa for your immediate family members like parents, spouse and children.

Step 10 – Registration with chamber of commerce and industry:

Finally, you may register your business with Dubai Chamber of Commerce and secure your membership.

Dubai company incorporation requirements

Just keep some basic documents with you ready for your company incorporation Dubai:

• Filled application form for registration
• Passport copies for each shareholder/director
• Board resolution for appointed Manager/Director (notarised and attested)
• Power of Attorney given to Manager/Director (notarised and attested)
• Visa and Emirates ID copies for each shareholder/director (if applicable)
• A detailed business plan
• Article of Association and Memorandum of Association (notarised and attested)
• Share capital information
• Approval receipts
• Office lease agreement (Ejari certificate)
• NOC from current sponsor, if needed
• Trade name reservation certificate

There may be documents other than ones mentioned above that authorities may ask for. For details, you can speak to our consultants at Dubiz Business Setup.

Business activities for entrepreneurs

In Dubai, you can choose from a wide range of permitted business activities. Some of them include:

• Commercial trade
• Consultancy services
• Education
• Media
• eCommerce
• Freelancing
• Manufacturing
• Tech and innovation
• Healthcare
• Fintech

Benefits of company incorporation Dubai

By choosing Dubai as the launchpad for your business, you are actually choosing success. Here are the advantages you will enjoy by registering your company in Dubai:

• Rich and stable economy: The UAE’s economy is one of the world’s most stable, with a consistently rising growth rate. Companies that are part of it are bound to thrive.
• Huge tax savings: With zero personal income tax and a very low corporate tax rate, businesses in the UAE can save significantly. In fact, companies earning below the threshold may be eligible for a 0% corporate tax rate.
• Easy global access: Dubai is strategically positioned between Asia, Europe, and Africa, making it an ideal international trading hub.
• 100% business ownership: Foreign entrepreneurs who register businesses in Dubai Free Zones, and for many activities on the mainland as well, can enjoy full ownership rights without the need for a local sponsor.
• Multiple residency options: Business owners and investors can obtain a residence visa, allowing them to stay long-term in the UAE, with options like the Golden Visa offering extended benefits.
• Fast and straightforward processes: In Dubai, the process of starting a business is not difficult. The government has made it simple by reducing red tape and providing digital platforms for easy applications through the e-channel system.

Cost of company registration Dubai

The cost of company incorporation Dubai is as follows:

Please note that the costs are subject to change. For more details on costs, you can contact our experts at Dubiz Business Setup.

Start Your Dubai Business with Dubiz

Registering a company in Dubai is an exciting journey. With world-class infrastructure, a low-tax environment, and a wide range of license options, entrepreneurs can pursue their ambitions with confidence and success in Dubai.

At Dubiz Business Setup, we aim to make the company incorporation Dubai process as smooth as possible for entrepreneurs. We take care of all the documentation, legal approvals, and submissions to the relevant government authorities. For your business setup in Dubai, you will find every essential service with us, conveniently under one roof.

You can visit our services section to learn more about our business incorporation services Dubai or simply book a free consultation with one of our experts for more details.

Contact us at: 

📞 Call: +971 56 369 5485

💬 WhatsApp: +971563695485

📧 Email: info@dubiz.co

FAQs

1. How to incorporate a company in Dubai?

To incorporate company in Dubai you must decide the business activity and legal structure, register trade name, secure office space, get the necessary approvals from government authorities, and finally submit request for license registration with the concerned body.

2. Is local sponsor required for Dubai company registration?

Not all Dubai company registrations require a local sponsor. Freezones allow you to go 100% local sponsor free. On mainland, certain strategic sectors may require you to have a local sponsor for company registration.

3. How much time does it take to register a company in Dubai?

The registration process in Dubai generally takes around 5 to 10 days. The time may vary on the approvals needed, documentation preparation and overall nature of business.

4. What is the cost of business incorporation in UAE?

Cost of company registration in Dubai can range between AED 11,050* to AED 17,900*. The cost depends on the selected jurisdiction and specific business needs.

5. What is the cheapest way to register a company in Dubai?

Freezone offer the most affordable options for company incorporation Dubai. To discover the cost-effective packages, you can talk to our experts.