Who this is for
- Founders and entrepreneurs launching their first UAE business
- Overseas companies planning a UAE subsidiary or branch
- Freelancers and consultants moving from an individual permit to a company
- Existing UAE businesses adding a second licence, a new emirate or a new activity
- Investors comparing the UAE with Bahrain or Singapore before committing
What Scaleon helps with
- Clarifying your business model, customers and revenue streams before choosing a structure
- Comparing mainland and free zone options for your specific activities
- Selecting licensing authority, emirate and business activities
- Advising on legal form, shareholding and manager arrangements
- Preparing and coordinating the licence application and supporting documents
- Post-incorporation steps such as tax registration awareness, bank account preparation and renewal reminders
Two broad routes: mainland and free zone
Most UAE operating companies are licensed either on the mainland, by the economic department of an emirate such as the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, or by one of the many free zone authorities. A mainland licence is generally used where the business wants to serve customers across the UAE market directly. A free zone licence is generally issued for activities carried on within that free zone or outside the UAE, and dealing with mainland customers usually needs additional arrangements.
Neither route is better in every case. The right choice depends on who your customers are, whether you need physical premises, how many people you plan to employ, whether your activity needs external approval, and your budget for rent and renewals.
Jurisdiction and activity selection
Every UAE licence lists specific business activities taken from the issuing authority's activity catalogue. Activities determine the licence category, whether external approvals are needed, the type of premises accepted and sometimes the minimum office size. Choosing activities that are too narrow can block future work; choosing too many can add cost and approvals you do not need.
- Map each planned revenue stream to an activity in the relevant authority's list
- Check whether any activity is regulated and needs approval from another body
- Confirm whether the activities can be combined on one licence
- Consider where your customers and suppliers are located
Structure guidance
Founders typically choose between a limited liability company, a sole establishment (on the mainland) or a free zone company, or register a branch of an existing foreign or UAE company. Each has different implications for liability, the documents needed, how shareholders and managers are recorded, and how the business is presented to banks. Where a structure question turns on legal interpretation, such as drafting shareholder agreements, we work alongside appropriately licensed legal advisers.
Document coordination
Applications commonly stall because a passport copy is unclear, a corporate shareholder's documents are not legalised, or the business description does not match the activities selected. We prepare a checklist specific to your authority and structure, review documents before submission and track outstanding items so the application is submitted complete.
After the licence is issued
Incorporation is the start of ongoing obligations rather than the end of the project. Typical next steps include immigration and labour registrations if you will sponsor visas, registering with the Federal Tax Authority for Corporate Tax within the applicable deadline, assessing whether VAT registration is required, setting up bookkeeping, and preparing for licence and lease renewals.
- Corporate Tax registration is generally required for UAE companies, including free zone companies
- VAT registration depends on turnover and expenses against the statutory thresholds
- Licences, leases and immigration cards each have their own renewal dates
- Beneficial ownership and shareholder registers must be maintained and kept current
Information usually needed
- Passport copies of all shareholders, directors and the proposed manager
- Recent passport-style photographs where the authority requires them
- UAE visa or entry stamp and Emirates ID for any UAE residents involved
- A short description of the business, its customers and expected revenue streams
- Proposed trade names in order of preference
- For corporate shareholders: certificate of incorporation, constitutional documents and a board resolution, legalised as required
What you receive
- A written summary of the recommended route, authority and activities, with the reasons for each
- An application-specific document checklist
- Prepared application forms and coordinated submission
- A post-incorporation action list covering tax, banking preparation and renewals
What affects the fee
- Mainland or free zone route and the authority chosen
- Number and type of business activities, and whether external approvals are needed
- Number of shareholders and whether any are corporate entities
- Whether visas, premises sourcing or bank application support are included
- Government and authority fees, which are charged at cost and vary by authority and package
Quotations are itemised, with government fees shown separately from professional fees.
How the process works
- 1
Discovery call
We discuss your business model, customers, team plans and timelines, and identify any regulated activities early.
- 2
Route and activity recommendation
We compare suitable mainland and free zone options and confirm the activities and legal form to apply for.
- 3
Document preparation
You receive a tailored checklist; we review each document and prepare the application materials.
- 4
Application and follow-up
We coordinate submission with the authority, respond to queries and keep you updated on status.
- 5
Post-incorporation set-up
We hand over a compliance action list and can continue with tax registration support, bookkeeping and renewals.
Frequently asked questions
Should I choose a mainland or a free zone company?
It depends mainly on where your customers are, the activities you need, whether you require physical premises and your visa plans. Our mainland vs free zone guide walks through the trade-offs, and we can give a recommendation after a short discovery call.
Can foreign nationals own a UAE company without a local partner?
For many activities, yes. Free zones generally allow full foreign ownership, and mainland companies can be fully foreign-owned for a wide range of activities. Some activities with strategic impact remain subject to specific conditions, so ownership is checked for your activity before you apply.
Do I need to be in the UAE to set up a company?
Many authorities allow much of the application to be completed remotely. In-person steps are usually needed later, for example for residence visa medicals and biometrics, and some banks prefer to meet signatories.
What happens after the licence is issued?
Typical next steps include Corporate Tax registration, a VAT assessment, immigration and labour registrations if you will sponsor visas, bookkeeping set-up and tracking renewal dates. We provide a clear action list for this stage.