Start a business در دبی as a foreign investor

A foreign national can establish a company در دبی as an individual shareholder or through an overseas corporate shareholder, subject to the requirements applicable to the selected activity and legal structure.

Many Mainland and Free Zone businesses can be wholly foreign-owned. Nevertheless, ownership rules should be checked against the exact activity because strategically significant and specially regulated sectors may be subject to different conditions. The امارات Government confirms that full foreign ownership is available for eligible commercial companies, while activity-specific restrictions may continue to apply. امارات Government guidance on foreign ownership

The normal process involves:

روش دقیق به فعالیت، سهامداران، حوزه قضایی، محل، مرجع نظارتی و تعداد ویزاهای مورد نیاز بستگی دارد.

کارآفرینان دبی را برای اهداف مختلف به کار می‌برند. برخی می‌خواهند مشتریان در امارات را خدمت‌رسانی کنند. برخی دفتر منطقه‌ای، عملیات تجاری بین‌المللی، مشاوره حرفه‌ای، شرکت فناوری، بستر e-commerce یا ساختار holding ایجاد می‌کنند.

Its appeal is supported by:

این مزایا به معنای مناسب بودن هر ساختار دبی برای هر سرمایه‌گذار نیست. هدف تجاری شرکت باید تصمیم تأسیس را هدایت کند.

بسیاری از سرمایه‌گذاران خارجی می‌توانند ۱۰۰٪ شرکت Mainland یا Free Zone را بدون تعیین سهامدار ملی امارات مالکیت کنند.

این تغییر مهمی نسبت به وضعیت تاریخی است که برخی شرکت‌های Mainland معمولاً به مالکیت اکثریت شهروندان امارات نیاز داشتند. چارچوب فعلی مالکیت کامل خارجی را در بسیاری از فعالیت‌ها مجاز می‌داند، اما استثناها و شرایط اضافی ممکن است برای فعالیت‌های راهبردی یا نظارت‌شده اعمال شود.

Investors should therefore avoid assuming that one ownership rule applies universally. Before incorporation, the proposed activity should be checked for:

A compliant structure should be confirmed before paying مجوز, office or incorporation expenses.

Choosing between a دبی Mainland company and a Free Zone company is one of the most important decisions for a foreign investor.

Neither option is automatically better. The correct choice depends on where the business will operate, who its customers will be, what activities it will perform, how it will distribute products, how many employees it requires and whether it needs specialised facilities.

A Mainland company is licensed through دبی's competent economic licensing authority and is generally intended for businesses that require broad access to the امارات market.

دبی's official investment platform allows investors to search available business activities, review legal forms and apply for a مجوز تجاری. Invest در دبی also provides an official business-activity search facility for categories including trading, services, contracting, manufacturing and hospitality. Search دبی business activities

A Free Zone company is established within a designated economic zone governed by its own licensing authority.

Free Zones may be suitable for:

Certain Free Zones specialise in particular industries and offer sector-specific facilities, regulatory environments or business communities.

Before selecting a Free Zone, investors should confirm:

مجوز کم‌هزینه لزوماً کم‌هزینه‌ترین ساختار کسب‌وکار در کل دوره عملیاتی نیست.

A company serving امارات consumers directly may need a different structure from one providing international services.

Some activities are available through multiple jurisdictions, while others are limited to specific مقام‌ها or require external approvals.

A consultancy may be able to use a flexible workspace, while a restaurant, warehouse, clinic, school or manufacturing facility requires approved physical premises.

Visa capacity can depend on the jurisdiction, facility, مجوز package and premises size.

Banks consider the substance, ownership, activity, expected turnover, customer base, source of funds and geographic exposure of the business.

A Free Zone مجوز does not automatically make all company income exempt from مالیات شرکتی. The tax treatment depends on the company's status, income, transactions and انطباق with the relevant conditions.

A structure suitable for a solo consultant may become restrictive when the business begins hiring, importing products or entering regulated contracts.

Planning a دبی business? KPM Global Services can assess your activity, market, visa needs and operational model before recommending a suitable jurisdiction.

The activity stated on the مجوز determines what the company is legally authorised to do.

This selection can affect:

Examples of broad activity groups include:

Investors should describe the actual business model, rather than selecting a broad activity based only on the مجوز price. The مجوز must support the real services, products and revenue streams.

فعالیت‌های سازگار گاهی تحت یک مجوز قرار می‌گیرند، اما تأیید به مرجع صدور مجوز و رابطه بین فعالیت‌ها بستگی دارد.

Combining unrelated or differently regulated activities may require:

مثلاً مشاوره مدیریت، تجارت محصول، خدمات بهداشت و پیمانکاری ساخت‌وساز ریسک‌های نظارتی و عملیاتی متفاوتی دارند. نباید بدون تأیید اینکه مرجع صدور مجوز ترتیب پیشنهادی را مجاز می‌داند، ترکیب شوند.

The available legal form depends on the jurisdiction, ownership arrangement and activity. Potential structures include:

For many foreign-owned operational businesses, a limited liability structure may offer a practical separation between the company and its shareholder. However, limited liability is not an excuse for unlawful conduct, personal guarantees, regulatory breaches or improper management.

سرمایه‌گذار خارجی می‌تواند شرکت را شخصاً تأسیس کند یا از شرکت خارجی موجود به‌عنوان سهامدار استفاده کند، جایی که حوزه قضایی و شکل حقوقی اجازه می‌دهد.

A corporate-shareholder structure may be useful for:

اسناد شرکتی خارجی ممکن است بسته به مرجع و کشور صادرکننده به notarisation، legalisation، attestation و ترجمه عربی نیاز داشته باشند.

نام تجاری پیشنهادی باید با قوانین نام‌گذاری مربوطه مطابقت داشته و توسط مرجع صدور مجوز تأیید شود.

The name should:

تأیید نام تجاری با ثبت trademark یکسان نیست. سرمایه‌گذارانی که برند ارزشمند می‌سازند باید جداگانه حفاظت trademark را در نظر بگیرند.

تأیید اولیه معمولاً تأیید می‌کند مرجع با ادامه تأسیس پیشنهادی سرمایه‌گذار مخالفت ندارد. همیشه اجازه شروع فعالیت نیست.

اسناد مورد نیاز به شکل حقوقی انتخاب‌شده و اینکه سهامداران حقیقی یا حقوقی هستند بستگی دارد.

مجوز اقتصادی استاندارد برای هر فعالیت کافی نیست. برخی بخش‌ها قبل یا پس از صدور مجوز به تأیید نهاد دولتی یا ناظر حرفه‌ای دیگر نیاز دارند.

Additional approval may be required for businesses involving:

ناظر مسئول ممکن است صلاحیت، طرح‌های تجاری، پرسنل فنی، منابع مالی، محل، سیاست‌ها، سیستم‌ها یا مناسب بودن سهامداران را بررسی کند.

Possible arrangements include:

A Mainland company requiring physical premises may need a valid tenancy arrangement and property registration, commonly associated with Ejari در دبی. Additional municipality, Civil Defence or sector inspections may apply.

Before signing a long-term lease, verify:

Signing an unsuitable lease can create major delays and additional expense.

Requirements vary, but a foreign individual commonly needs:

The passport should be valid and personal details should be consistent across all applications.

Identify the products or services, target customers, operating locations, revenue model, staffing needs and expected transactions.

Match every material revenue stream to an authorised activity. Determine whether any activity is restricted or externally regulated.

Evaluate Mainland and suitable Free Zones based on market access, facilities, visas, banking, انطباق, cost and future expansion.

Select the legal form and decide whether ownership will be personal, corporate or shared with business partners.

Draft and sign the Memorandum of Association, resolutions or other establishment documents.

Select a workspace or facility that satisfies licensing, visa and operational requirements.

Submit the completed application and pay the applicable government and facility charges.

Obtain the immigration establishment record or card required for company-sponsored residence processing. ICP describes the establishment card as the electronic record containing information such as the trade name, مجوز number, partners and business activity. ICP establishment services

Where required and eligible, complete entry-status, medical fitness, biometric, Emirates ID and residence procedures.

Prepare a comprehensive banking file demonstrating genuine commercial purpose and transparent ownership.

Assess registration deadlines and obligations immediately after incorporation.

Establish invoicing, bookkeeping, payroll, document retention, tax calendars and regulatory policies before commencing substantial transactions.

How Long Does It Take?

A straightforward non-regulated مجوز may be issued comparatively quickly once the documents and approvals are complete. However, no universal timeline applies.

The total period can be affected by:

صدور مجوز and bank-account opening are separate processes. A مجوز may be obtained before the bank completes its انطباق review.

The total setup cost depends on the actual structure and should not be calculated from the مجوز fee alone.

Potential components include:

Promotional packages may exclude visas, establishment registration, refundable deposits, immigration services, facilities or later انطباق expenses. Investors should request an itemised quotation based on the intended activity and operational requirements.

در بسیاری موارد، سهامدار خارجی برای مالکیت شرکت دبی لازم نیست مقیم امارات شود. با این حال، ملاحظات عملی همچنان باقی است.

Non-resident ownership may affect:

مجوز شرکت به‌طور خودکار سهامدار را مقیم مالیاتی امارات نمی‌کند. پرسش‌های اقامت مالیاتی شخصی و شرکتی نیاز به تحلیل جداگانه دارد.

A company shareholder may be able to obtain a residence visa through the business, subject to the company's jurisdiction, immigration eligibility and applicable procedures.

The process may include:

Investor residence should not be confused with Golden Residence or Green Residence. Long-term residence categories have separate eligibility conditions. ICP describes Green Residence as a renewable five-year category for eligible groups that allows residence without a sponsor. ICP Green Residence guidance

Golden Residence is also limited to qualifying categories, including certain investors, entrepreneurs and specialised talents; ordinary company ownership does not automatically establish eligibility. ICP Golden Visa information

شرکت Mainland که کارکننده استخدام می‌کند معمولاً باید ثبت‌نام‌های کار و مهاجرت مربوط را تکمیل کند. شرکت‌های Free Zone معمولاً از نظام اشتغال مقرر در zone خود پیروی می‌کنند.

Employment obligations may include:

Visa availability may depend on the company's activity, premises, jurisdiction and workforce classification.

A دبی مجوز تجاری does not guarantee bank-account approval. Banks independently assess every application under their انطباق and risk policies.

The bank may request:

درخواست‌ها می‌تواند تأخیر یابد اگر مدل کسب‌وکار نامشخص باشد، معاملات مورد انتظار با مجوز همخوانی نداشته باشد، مالکیت غیرضروری پیچیده باشد یا منبع وجوه به‌اندازه کافی مستند نشده باشد.

KPM Global Services می‌تواند در سازماندهی پرونده درخواست و هماهنگی با کانال‌های بانکی مناسب کمک کند، اما تأیید نهایی کاملاً با بانک است.

Incorporating در دبی does not remove the company from the امارات مالیات شرکتی framework.

Taxable persons must evaluate their registration, return-filing and payment obligations. The FTA states that taxable persons must register and obtain a ثبت مالیات شرکتی Number. A امارات juridical person established on or after 1 March 2024 is generally required to apply within three months of incorporation, establishment or recognition. FTA مالیات شرکتی registration guidance and FTA registration-timeframe announcement

Special rules may apply to Qualifying Free Zone Persons, large multinational groups and other defined categories.

شرکت Free Zone نباید فرض کند همه درآمد مشمول نرخ ۰٪ خواهد بود. eligibility ممکن است به qualifying income، substance، صورت‌های مالی حسابرسی‌شده، رعایت transfer pricing و برآورده شدن سایر شرایط قانونی بستگی داشته باشد.

Professional advice should be obtained for:

VAT registration depends on the company's taxable supplies and imports.

The FTA states that کسب‌وکارهای مقیم امارات باید ثبت‌نام کنند وقتی عرضه‌ها و واردات مشمول مالیات در ۱۲ ماه گذشته از AED 375,000 فراتر رود یا انتظار می‌رود در ۳۰ روز آینده از این سطح بگذرد. ثبت‌نام داوطلبانه معمولاً وقتی عرضه‌ها، واردات یا هزینه‌های مشمول مالیات از AED 187,500 فراتر رود در دسترس است. FTA VAT registration guidance

A business should assess:

کسب‌وکارهای خارجی ممکن است ملاحظات ثبت‌نام متفاوتی داشته باشند و آستانه اجباری معمول به همان شکل برای آن‌ها اعمال نمی‌شود جایی که ثبت‌نام الزام است.

حسابداری باید هنگام تأسیس شرکت آغاز شود، نه وقتی اولین اظهار مالیاتی سررسید می‌شود.

The company should maintain:

A suitable accounting system should separate business and personal expenditure, reconcile bank transactions and produce reliable financial reports.

Good records support tax انطباق, banking reviews, audits, investor reporting and management decisions.

کسب‌وکارها باید اطلاعات ultimate beneficial owners، سهامداران، مدیران و نمایندگان مجاز را مطابق قواعد applicable به‌درستی شناسایی و نگهداری کنند.

تغییرات در مالکیت، مدیریت، آدرس یا beneficial ownership باید در مهلت مقرر گزارش شود. شرکت‌ها باید اسناد قانونی، مصوبات و دفاتر به‌روز را نیز نگه دارند.

ساختار nominee یا holding پیچیده تعهد افشای شخص حقیقی که در نهایت مالک یا کنترل‌کننده شرکت است را برنمی‌دارد.

Certain businesses have enhanced anti-money-laundering responsibilities because of their sector or activity.

Relevant businesses may need to implement:

بخش‌های پرریسک می‌توانند شامل برخی فعالیت‌های املاک، فلزات و سنگ‌های قیمتی، خدمات شرکتی، خدمات حقوقی و حسابداری و سایر designated non-financial businesses and professions باشند.

AML انطباق should be operational, documented and proportionate to the company's risk profile.

مجوز تجاری لزوماً اجازه واردات یا فروش فوری هر محصولی را نمی‌دهد.

Depending on the goods, the business may require:

محصولاتی مانند مواد غذایی، لوازم آرایشی، تجهیزات پزشکی، دارو، مواد شیمیایی و تجهیزات مخابراتی می‌توانند الزامات اضافی داشته باشند.

Ongoing requirements may include:

Failure to maintain the مجوز or regulatory registrations may result in penalties, suspension, transaction restrictions or immigration complications.

A low-cost setup may not provide the required activity, visas, premises, market access or banking suitability.

Operating outside the approved activity can cause contractual, banking and regulatory problems.

The مالیات شرکتی treatment depends on statutory conditions, income and انطباق—not simply the address printed on the مجوز.

This weakens accounting records and can create tax and governance difficulties.

Tax, accounting, UBO, AML, employment and renewal requirements continue after incorporation.

Multiple companies or holding layers can increase cost, انطباق and banking scrutiny without creating real commercial value.

مشاوری که به مشتریان خارج از کشور خدمت می‌دهد ممکن است فعالیت خدماتی، فضای کاری متوسط، یک ویزای سرمایه‌گذار، بانکداری چندارزی و حسابداری ساده را در اولویت قرار دهد.

واردکننده‌ای که در امارات می‌فروشد ممکن است به فعالیت تجاری مناسب، ثبت گمرکی، ترتیبات انبار یا fulfilment، تأیید محصول، برنامه‌ریزی VAT و ظرفیت توزیع محلی نیاز داشته باشد.

بنیان‌گذار فناوری ممکن است به برنامه‌ریزی intellectual property، ویزای کارکنان، فعالیت‌های نرم‌افزار یا فناوری، اسناد شرکتی آماده سرمایه‌گذار و بانکداری مقیاس‌پذیر نیاز داشته باشد.

کسب‌وکار خارجی مستقر ممکن است شرکت فرعی را با شعبه مقایسه کند. تصمیم باید مسئولیت، کنترل، مالیات، بانکداری، قراردادها، attestation اسناد و سرمایه‌گذاری آینده را در نظر بگیرد.

کسب‌وکار بهداشت، مالی، آموزش، املاک یا virtual assets ممکن است قبل از شروع عملیات تجاری به تأیید ناظر تخصصی نیاز داشته باشد.

KPM Global Services provides coordinated support for foreign investors establishing and operating businesses در دبی.

Depending on the project, our assistance may include:

Recommendations are tailored to the proposed activity, target market, ownership, staffing and operating model.

KPM Global Services does not issue government approvals or control bank decisions. Our role is to help investors choose an appropriate route, prepare the required information and coordinate the process professionally.

Yes. Foreign nationals can establish businesses در دبی, subject to the requirements of the selected activity, jurisdiction and legal structure.

Full foreign ownership is available for many Mainland activities. Strategically significant and regulated activities may have additional conditions, so the specific activity must be checked.

3. Do I need a امارات national business partner?

Not for many activities. A امارات national shareholder or another local arrangement may still be relevant in limited, specially regulated circumstances.

Mainland may be more suitable for broad امارات-market operations and physical customer-facing businesses. A Free Zone may suit international services, specialist sectors, exports or businesses seeking a zone-specific environment. The decision should follow the operating model.

The least expensive advertised package may not be the most appropriate. The total cost depends on the activity, مجوز, facility, visas, approvals, immigration services and annual انطباق.

Parts of the process may be completed remotely, depending on the authority and structure. Physical presence may still be required for certain signing, immigration or banking procedures.

Not necessarily. A person may be able to own a company without becoming a امارات resident. Residence can nevertheless be useful for managing the business and accessing local services.

No. Visa approval is subject to immigration rules, security checks, company eligibility and completion of the required procedures.

A straightforward مجوز can sometimes be completed quickly after all documents are ready. Regulated activities, corporate سهامداران, premises inspections and external approvals take longer.

Common requirements include a passport copy, photograph, contact details, proposed trade name and activity information. Additional documents may be required for امارات residents, regulated professionals or corporate سهامداران.

Certain corporate, educational and professional documents may require notarisation, legalisation, امارات diplomatic attestation or certified Arabic translation.

Compatible activities may sometimes be combined. Unrelated or separately regulated activities may require additional approvals or licences.

It depends on the activity and jurisdiction. Some businesses can use flexible workspace, while retail, healthcare, industrial, food, education and contracting activities may require approved premises.

A دبی company falls within the امارات مالیات شرکتی framework unless a specific exemption applies. The applicable liability depends on taxable income, status and relevant statutory conditions.

No. A qualifying Free Zone company may receive a 0% rate on qualifying income when all legal conditions are satisfied. Other income may be taxed under the applicable rules.

A امارات-resident business generally must register when its taxable supplies and imports exceed AED 375,000 under the applicable historical or forward-looking tests. Different considerations can apply to non-resident businesses.

No consultant can legitimately guarantee approval. KPM Global Services can help prepare and coordinate the application, but the bank makes the final decision.

Yes, subject to the applicable work-permit, immigration, facility, quota and employment requirements.

An eligible امارات resident may sponsor qualifying family members subject to immigration, income, accommodation, insurance and documentary requirements.

Yes. Accurate records are essential for tax انطباق, financial reporting, banking, audit readiness and business management.

Applicable businesses must identify and maintain accurate information about their ultimate beneficial owners and submit or update required records.

The correct route depends on the activity, products, transaction structure and Free Zone rules. Additional licensing, distribution or customs arrangements may be required.

Potentially, yes. The foreign company will generally need appropriately legalised corporate documents and formal approval of the امارات investment.

The company may still need establishment registration, visas, banking, tax registration, accounting, UBO filings, customs registration, sector permits and operational systems.

KPM Global Services can assist with relevant مجوز renewals, tax registration, VAT, accounting, UBO, AML, immigration and continuing business-support requirements.