Business Set Up

BUSINESS SETUP SERVICES

• Identifying the ideal business structure for your firm. (establishment, LLC, professional, trade license, branch, representative, free zone, offshore, etc.)
• Introducing local sponsors.
• Review & complete licensing documentation.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

Mainland Business setup UAE

Limited Liability Company
A Limited Liability Company can be formed by a minimum of two and a maximum of fifty shareholders whose liability is limited to their shares in the company’s capital. Under the Commercial Companies Law or CCL (Federal Law No. 8 of 1984 Concerning Commercial Companies as amended by Federal Law No 1 of 1984 and Federal Law No 13 of 1988, Federal Law No. 15 of 1998), foreign investors are permitted to hold up to 49 % equity ownership in UAE companies, whereas 51 % of the equity must be owned by UAE National(s). Such companies are recognized as offering a suitable structure for foreign individuals or organizations interested in developing long-term relationships with the local business community. The Limited Liability Company or LLC is the most popular method of establishing a commercial company in the UAE unless the business involves banking, insurance, and investment activities conducted on behalf of third parties where a Public Joint Stock Company is required. Articles 218 to 255 of the CCL (inclusive) regulate the establishment of limited liability companies. While Article 227 of the Companies Law (which applies throughout the UAE) stipulates that the minimum share capital of the company is AED 150,000; the minimum share capital required by the Dubai authorities for the Limited Liability Company engaged in business activity other than general trading is currently Dirhams 300,000. For general trading activity, the minimum capital requirement is Dirhams 3,000,000. Individual shares should have a minimum face value of AED 1,000. The shares need to be “equal shares”. An LLC may not conduct the business of insurance, banking or the investment of money on behalf of third parties. Management of the LLC is vested in the ‘managers’ (up to five natural persons) who may or may not be UAE nationals. Although the maximum foreign equity participation in a Limited Liability Company is 49%, profits can be distributed in different proportions as agreed by the promoters/shareholders of the company. With the approval of the UAE National Shareholder(s), the entire business operations of the company may be entrusted to the foreign shareholder(s). The foreign shareholder(s) can, therefore, claim a higher share of profit in case such shareholder(s) provides exclusive management and/or any special services or facilities to the company. As far as the protection of the minority shareholder(s) interest is concerned, this can be done by way of shareholders’ resolutions and certain related security documents. Although the rules and regulations for establishing Limited Liability Companies are generally similar in all seven Emirates of UAE, the requirement of minimum capital and costs involved in registering the company may vary from one Emirate to the other.

Professional Licence

In setting up a professional firm, 100% foreign ownership is generally permitted; however certain sectors and activities are restricted to either UAE nationals or have a UAE national shareholding requirement. Professional firms may be in the form of a sole proprietorship or a civil company. Such firms may engage in professional or artisan activities but the number of persons that may be employed by such firms is limited. A UAE national must be appointed as the local partner for a sole proprietorship, but s/he has no direct involvement in the business and is paid a lump sum and/or percentage of profits or turnover. The role of the local partner is, among other things, to assist in obtaining licenses, visas, and labor cards. Where there are two or more partners, the legal structure is a Civil Works Company whereby there must be a UAE national shareholding of a minimum of 20%.There is a requirement that all the individuals involved have relevant University level qualifications in the relevant field of business.

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Freezone Licence

Free Trade Zones in Dubai and the UAE are isolated lands or settings, with a special tax, customs, and import regime and governed by their own framework of regulations (with the exception of UAE Criminal Law). The UAE has several free zones across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Fujairah, Ajman, Ras al Khaimah and Um Al Quwain. Free Zones may also be broadly categorized as sea port-free zones, airport-free zones, and mainland-free zones. The Free trade zones in UAE are exempted from:
• 100% foreign ownership of the enterprise
• 100% import and export tax exemptions
• 100% repatriation of capital and profits
• Corporate tax exemptions for up to 50 years
• No personal income taxes
• Assistance with labor recruitment, and additional support services, such as sponsorship and housing.
Each Free Zone is designed around one or more business industry categories and only offers licenses to companies within those categories. An independent Free Zone Authority (FZA) governs each free zone and is the agency responsible for issuing FTZ operating licenses and assisting companies with establishing their business in the FTZ. Investors can either register a new company in the form of a Free Zone Establishment (FZE) or simply establish a branch or representative office of their existing parent company based within the UAE or abroad. An FZE is a limited liability company governed by the rules and regulations of the Free Zone in which it is established. Except for acquiring nationality in the UAE, the provisions of the Commercial Companies Law (CCL) do not apply to FZEs, provided that the Free Zones have special provisions regulating such companies.

List of Free Zones in UAE

There are more than 37 Free Zones operating in UAE.

Abu Dhabi
• Abu Dhabi Airport Free Zone (ADAFZ)
• ADPC – Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone (KPIZ)
• Twofour54
• Industrial City of Abu Dhabi
• Higher Corporations for Specialized Economic Zones
• Masdar City Free Zone
Dubai
• Dubai Academic City
• Dubai Airport Free Zone
• Dubai Biotechnology & Research Park (DuBiotech)
• Dubai Car and Automotive City Free Zone (DUCAMZ)
• Dubai Gold and Diamond Park
• Dubai Healthcare City
• Dubai Industrial City (DIC)
• Dubai International Academic City
• Dubai International Financial Centre
• Dubai Internet City (DIC)
• Dubai Knowledge Village
• Dubai Logistics City
• Dubai Media City
• Dubai Multi Commodities Centre or Jumeirah Lakes Towers Free Zone
• Dubai Outsource Zone
• Dubai Silicon Oasis
• Dubai Studio City
• Dubai Techno Park
• Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone
• International Media Production Zone
• Jebel Ali Free Zone
• Economic Zones World

Sharjah
• Hamriyah Free Zone
• Sharjah Airport International Free Zone
• U.S.A. Regional Trade Center (USARTC) Free Zone
Ajman
• Ajman Free Zone
Ras Al Khaimah
• RAK Investment Authority Free Zone
• Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone
• Ras Al Khaimah Media Free Zone
Fujairah
• Fujairah Free Zone
Umm Al Quwain
• Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone (UAQFTZ)
Free Zones Under Construction
• Dubai Maritime City
• Dubai Carpet Free Zone
• Dubai Auto Parts City
• Heavy Equipment and Trucks Zone
• Mohammad Bin Rashid Technology Park
• Dubai Flower Center
• Dubai Textile Village
• International Humanitarian City
• Dubai International Arbitration Center

We can help you set up your business in UAE. WhatsApp us on +971504753686