UAE Residency Through Business in Dubai: Guide 2025

Did you know you can get a UAE residence visa through a trade license in Dubai? Yes, that is possible! By starting a company in Dubai, you can easily apply for residency in Dubai.

By getting UAE residency through company formation, you are not only choosing a spectacular place for your business, but at the same time, you get to enjoy a promising and luxurious life. You can benefit from the city’s tax-saving environment, advanced infrastructure, and growing economy.

In this blog, we will be exploring how you can get a residency in UAE through company formation, along with the benefits, legal requirements and costs associated.

What is UAE Residency through Company Formation?

UAE residency through company formation is a popular residency program under which foreign nationals who invest in a business in UAE can obtain legal residency in the nation.

In simple terms, when you form a company in UAE, whether in the mainland or a free zone, you become eligible to apply for a residence visa for yourself and your family. This visa allows you to live, work, and access services such as banking in the UAE.

Such residency is especially attractive for those who wish to start their own business in the region and benefit from the UAE’s modern and favourable business ecosystem. At the same time, it encourages foreign investment and contributes to the UAE’s economic vision of becoming a global business hub.

Did you know: The total expat population in the UAE in 2025 is 10.04 million! Many of them run their own businesses in Emirates.

You can get the UAE residency by business registration in either mainland or the freezone:

UAE residency through mainland company formation:

You can establish your business on the mainland UAE and become eligible for the UAE residency. On mainland, companies are incorporated and licensed by the DED. While most of the sectors do not need you to partner up with local sponsor, for some strategic sectors a local sponsor may still be required. Nonetheless, you get to enjoy freedom to trade across the UAE.

UAE residency through freezone company formation:

Freezone business setup is another option which enables you to apply for the UAE residency. There are more than 40 freezones in UAE and each one of them has its own regulatory body. Freezones specialise in specific sectors and offer customised visa and trade license packages. You can start in any of the flourishing freezones that matches your business goals and enjoy 100% ownership and great tax exemptions for your business.

Eligibility to get a Residence Visa through UAE Business Setup

To get a UAE residence visa through company formation, you must meet the following legal requirements:

• Nationality: You must not be a national of UAE. Only foreign citizens can apply for the UAE residency visa.
• Minimum age: The applicant must be at least 18 years old.
• Valid trade license: Since it is a residency through company setup, you must hold a valid UAE trade license issued by country’s authorities.
• Business incorporation: Your business must be registered with DED or relevant freezone authority. It validates the legal existence of your company.
• Business ownership: You must be the owner or the shareholder of the registered business in UAE.
• Clear background: You must be having a history free from criminal records whether in your home country or in UAE.
• Passport validity: Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months at the time of application.
• Sufficient financial means: You must be financially capable of supporting your business and residency in UAE. To prove that you will need to submit bank statements or reference letters.
• Health fitness: You must be medically fit to reside in UAE for which you will need to pass tests.
• Health insurance: For residency purpose, getting a suitable health insurance policy is a necessity.

How to get UAE Residency through Company Formation in Dubai?

You must follow these steps to get UAE residency through company formation in Dubai in 2025:

Step 1 – Choose your business activity

Decide the business activity you want to conduct. It can from sectors like healthcare finance, IT, science, education, fashion, food, construction or any other, permitted by government.

Step 2 – Choose legal structure

You can decide to start a limited liability company (LLC), a joint stock company, a partnership firm, a sole establishment or a branch, depending on your business requirements and goals. The tax you will be subject to, the ownership of your business and operational framework, all depends on the type of legal structure you choose.

Step 3 – Register trade name

Next, get the intended name approved and registered with the government authority. The name must be as per the UAE’s naming rules and must not be already taken.

Step 4 – Get the necessary approvals

For your company formation, you will need:

• Initial approval: Mandatory for all types of businesses. Issued by the DED in case of mainland or the respective freezone authority.
• External approval: In case your business belongs to specialized sector, you need permit from concerned governing authority. For example, for limousine business, you need RTA’s permit.

Step 5 – Finalise office space

Next step would be finalizing the office space for your business. On mainland, physical office space is mandatory for most of the business licenses. On freezone, you can choose from flexi-desk and virtual office address options.

Step 6 – Get trade license

Apply for the trade license suitable: commercial, professional or industrial. You must approach DED in case of mainland or the respective freezone authority. Submit the necessary documents like your passport copy, photos, business plan, approval receipts, financial statements, etc. Submit the filled application form and pay the fees.

Step 7 – Open business bank account

For conducting and managing business transactions, you must open a corporate bank account for your business in Dubai.

Step 8 – Apply for the residence visa

As part of the application for UAE residency through company formation, you must go through the following steps:

• Get entry permit: This is a temporary visa and lets you complete the further residence visa formalities in UAE. If you are outside UAE, it will allow you to enter the borders. If you are within the nation on some other visa, say a tourist visa, you will need to apply for a status change to convert the tourist visa into residency. In this case, the entry permit will help you initiate the residency process.
• Pass the medical tests: Conducted at government-approved health centers, such tests include some blood tests and chest X-rays. It confirms that you do not have any communicable diseases and pose no threat to society.
• Get Emirates ID: Apply for the Emirates ID at the approved centers. Emirates ID acts like your national identification card in Emirates and contains your personal information. It is also linked to your biometrics.
• Get health policy: It is necessary to get a suitable health insurance coverage for the applicant.

Step 9 – Collect your visa

Your visa application will be reviewed by the immigration authority. Once it is approved, your residence visa will be granted successfully and you can submit your passport for visa stamping.

Step 10 – Sponsor your family

After, you get your residence visa, you can apply for the visas for your family such as spouse, children and parents.

Documentation Required for UAE Residency through Company Setup

You will need the following documents to get UAE residency through company formation:

• Your valid trade license
• Incorporation certificate
• Passport copy, with minimum 6 months validity
• Passport sized photographs as per the ruling
• Medical fitness certificate
• Emirates ID application
• Health insurance policy
• NOC from current sponsor, if you were already in UAE on sponsored visa
• Financial/banks statements
• Relationship proof, such as marriage certificate in case of family visa application
• Additional documents as may be asked for by authority

Need more help with your visas? Worry not! We have got you covered for both your business setup and associated visas.

Cost of UAE Residence Visa through Company Formation in Dubai

The cost of UAE residency through company formation ranges between AED 3000* to AED 5000*. The general costs associated with UAE visa include:

• Visa application fees
• Medical test cost
• Emirates ID application fees
• Health insurance fees
• Document attestation fees, if needed
• Entry permit charges
• Visa status change charges

However, the visa costs may differ depending on the type being applied for, the duration of visa, etc.

Key benefits of Residence Visa through Business Setup in UAE

Obtaining a UAE residence visa through business setup offers the following advantages:

• Unmatched business opportunities: UAE is a land of massive opportunities. Every business, whether small or large, can flourish here. There are ideas belonging to diverse sectors, including finance, healthcare, fashion, F&B, etc., that can turn profitable here.
• Easy family sponsorship: Once you establish your business in UAE, you can apply for a residence visa for yourself. And once you secure it, you can sponsor UAE residency for your parents, spouse, and children very easily.
• Tax benefits on earnings: In UAE, there are almost zero taxes for companies. There is zero personal income tax in UAE, and for corporate taxes and VAT, there is an income threshold under which you do not have to pay any tax.
• Access to services: By owning a UAE residence visa, you get easy access to various services including public utility services, banking services, driving license, education services, and healthcare services for yourself and your family.
• Quality of life for family: UAE’s high quality of life is not unknown to the world. The city offers a luxurious and lavish lifestyle for those who call it home.
• Flexible travelling: With a UAE residence visa, you can get access to multiple-entry visas, and you can enter and exit the country multiple times. Also, you can stay outside the nation for prolonged periods without impacting your residency status.
• Streamlined application: The immigration authority of UAE offers online digital portals where applications for visas can be made conveniently.
• Business ownership rights: Free zones allow foreigners to enjoy 100% ownership of their businesses. Now, the mainland also allows complete foreign business ownership for many activities without being dependent on a local sponsor.
• Visa on arrival in many countries: Holding a UAE residence visa is your ticket to visa-on-arrival access for many popular countries like Maldives, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Nepal, Mauritius, Oman, Qatar, and many more.

Conclusion

Getting UAE residency through company formation is a great option for those looking to relocate to Dubai or UAE and start something of their own. First, you get to conduct business in the world’s most advanced trade hub. Second, you get easy residency for yourself and your family, and you can enjoy a bright life together in the Emirates.

However, you must diligently follow the process of business setup UAE for residency. Make sure you have the correct and complete documents, as the government can be strict. Thus, prepare the documents carefully first and then get the trade license and apply for the residence visa.

How Dubiz Business Setup can help?

At Dubiz, we help entrepreneurs start their dream ventures in Dubai and rest of the UAE, in most convenient, accurate and cost-effective manner. We assist with the UAE trade license, company incorporation, business bank account setup, as well as immigration processes.

We can ease out the UAE immigration and residency in UAE for you:

• Get hands on assistance with visa for yourself, staff and family.
• Our experts will prepare and submit all the documents on your behalf.
• We will handle the necessary approvals required for smooth visa processing.
• Get the labour cards for your employees.
• Ongoing support and visa renewals.

Launch your business setup in Dubai with expert guidance, contact us today:

📞 Call: ‪+971 56 369 5485    

💬 WhatsApp: ‪+971563695485    

📧 Email: info@dubiz.co

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)