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UAE Free Zone Company Setup
We choose the free zone and package for your activity and register the company and license remotely. A payment service account needs no travel, and the visa and local bank account fit into one trip.
UAE free zone company setup starts with choosing among dozens of zones that differ in permitted activities, visas per package, office requirements and annual fees. The budget option is the Sharjah free zone (SPC); for a Dubai address there is Meydan and other zones in that emirate. For consulting, IT and digital agencies we usually recommend Meydan: banks find its companies easier to work with, while account checks for budget zones can drag on. We compare zones by full annual cost, including visas and renewal. A Meydan license is usually ready in 3–5 business days after a complete document set, in other zones usually in 1–3 weeks.
We set up the company and license remotely, and the corporate account too: without a visa it is opened with a UAE payment service. A traditional UAE bank requires the owner's Emirates ID, so a local account means a residence visa and a trip, usually 3–4 days on the ground. A visa is not required at the start. A cheap package may not include visas, the establishment card and immigration file registration, so we check this before you pay.
The company and license are set up remotely, and a payment service account in the UAE can also be opened without travel. A residence visa and a traditional UAE bank account require a trip, usually 3–4 days on the ground.
Who it is for
- Consultants, IT companies and agencies working with clients outside the UAE
- Entrepreneurs who want a UAE residence visa through their own company
- Online businesses and trading companies without a shop on the mainland
- Founders from any country moving their business to the Emirates
Requirements
- An activity on the list permitted by the chosen zone
- A package with the number of visas you need (visa quota), or a package without visas if you do not need one yet
- A legal address under a lease, plus a flexi-desk or office depending on the zone, package and visa quota
- Founders' passports and the zone's check of their details
- Annual license renewal
What we do
- Go through the activity, the founders and the number of visas you need
- Compare zones and packages by total cost of ownership, not just the license price, and find a flexi-desk or office
- Prepare the documents, file the application and obtain the license
- Register the company for corporate tax
- Open the account: with a payment service without travel, or with a local bank after the visa
- Plan the establishment card and the visa for one trip
Key documents
- Passport data page of the founders and the manager, and a passport-style photo
- Copies of a UAE visa and Emirates ID, if you already have them
- Home address and an identity document from your country of residence
- Description of the company's activity
- Company name: 2–3 options
- Email and phone number for contact with the zone
- For a corporate founder: legalized documents
How it works
- Consultationactivity, founders, visas, and whether you need a Dubai address and a local bank account
- Zone and packagea comparison by activity, visas, office and annual costs
- Documents and filingthe application, the zone's checks and name approval
- Licensein Meydan usually 3–5 business days after a complete document set, in other zones usually 1–3 weeks
- Account and tax registrationa remote payment service account, usually another 3–5 business days, and corporate tax registration
- Visa and local bankestablishment card, residence visa, Emirates ID and a bank account; a trip of usually 3–4 days
Timeline
Usually 1–3 weeks after the documents are collected; in Meydan, usually 3–5 business days.
Timelines are approximate: government agencies, consulates and banks set them.
What to watch out for
- A cheap package may exclude visas and the immigration file, so the total cost goes up
- Banks are more cautious with companies from some budget zones, so the account review can drag on
- A free zone company is limited in working with clients on the UAE mainland without additional permits
- Without the owner's Emirates ID local banks will not open an account, and the bank makes the decision in any case
- Missing the license renewal leads to fines and problems with employees' visas
FAQ
How much does it cost?
Our service fee is from $3,300. Government fees, translations, insurance and other mandatory costs are paid separately; we send the full estimate before you sign.
Which free zone should I choose?
It depends on your activity, the number of visas and whether you need a Dubai address. The budget option is Sharjah (SPC). For consulting, IT and digital marketing we usually choose Meydan in Dubai, because banks open accounts for its companies more readily. We compare several zones by full annual cost, including visas and renewal.
Can UAE free zone company setup be done remotely?
Yes. We register the company, the license and the corporate tax registration without you traveling, and open a corporate account with a UAE payment service. You only need to travel for the residence visa and a local bank account: usually 3–4 days on the ground, all planned for one visit.
Is the visa included in the package price?
Not always. Some packages come without a visa, and the visa and immigration costs are paid separately. We check this before you pay, so you see the final amount and the budget does not grow after you start.
Can I work with clients across the UAE?
A free zone company can freely work with clients abroad and within its own zone. Working on the UAE mainland may require additional permits or a mainland company. If your market is local clients, we will compare both options.
How long does it take to open the company?
In Meydan the license is usually ready in 3–5 business days after a complete document set, in other zones usually in 1–3 weeks. A payment service account usually takes another 3–5 business days. The visa and a local bank account are separate stages, timed by the immigration authorities and the bank.
Do I need an office?
A company without visas usually does not need a physical office: the legal address under a lease is included in the package, and a flexi-desk can be booked when needed. A separate office may be required for some activities or for a larger number of visas.
What do I need to do after the first year?
The license is renewed every year. In Meydan, renewal usually costs about 75% of the first year, with the legal address included. If the company has visas, we also track their expiry dates. We can handle bookkeeping and tax reporting from the first month.
Do you guarantee the result?
No. Decisions are made by government agencies, consulates and banks. We are responsible for preparing and checking documents, filing and support, and we tell you about the risks upfront.
Related programs
Let’s discuss your case
We will check whether the program fits your citizenship, income and family, and send an estimate with the full list of costs.
