Foreign Investor Guide 2026

How to Start a Business in Dubai as a Foreign Investor in 2026

Foreign investors can establish and own businesses in Dubai across a wide range of sectors. This guide explains how to select the right jurisdiction, legal structure, licence, visa arrangement and compliance framework — with coordinated support from KPM Global Services.

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  • Up to 100% foreign ownership
  • Mainland & Free Zone options
  • Licensing, visas, tax & banking

Your Dubai Setup Roadmap

Start a Business in Dubai as a Foreign Investor

Guided Process
1Structure
2Licence
3Visas
4Bank & Tax

Plan ownership, activity and market access first

Successful formation is more than a trade licence — activity, jurisdiction, premises, banking and tax must align before incorporation.

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Overview

Starting a business in Dubai as a foreigner: the short answer

Foreign nationals can establish a company in Dubai as an individual shareholder or through an overseas corporate shareholder, subject to the requirements of the selected activity and legal structure.

Dubai offers foreign entrepreneurs access to an internationally connected economy, sophisticated infrastructure, modern company-registration systems and business structures suitable for local, regional and international operations.

Many mainland and Free Zone businesses can be wholly foreign-owned. Ownership rules should still be checked against the exact activity because strategically significant and specially regulated sectors may be subject to different conditions.

The normal process involves defining the business model, selecting activities, comparing mainland and Free Zone jurisdictions, choosing the legal structure, reserving the trade name, obtaining approvals, preparing incorporation documents, securing premises where required, obtaining the licence, completing immigration establishment registration, applying for residence visas, opening a corporate bank account, registering for applicable taxes, and implementing accounting and compliance systems.

KPM Global Services helps foreign investors plan and coordinate the complete Dubai business-setup process — from initial structuring and licence applications to residence visas, tax registration, accounting and ongoing compliance.

Who This Is For

Foreign investors and entrepreneurs we support

  • Foreign nationals establishing a first Dubai company as individual shareholders
  • Overseas companies opening a UAE subsidiary, branch or regional headquarters
  • Investors comparing mainland market access with Free Zone structures
  • Consultants, traders, technology founders and e-commerce operators needing 100% ownership where eligible
  • Entrepreneurs planning investor or employee residence visas through the company
  • Groups needing banking, Corporate Tax, VAT and ongoing compliance after licence issuance
How We Help

How KPM Global Services can assist

Recommendations are tailored to your activity, target market, ownership, staffing and operating model. We do not issue government approvals or control bank decisions.

Business-model & jurisdiction assessment

Compare mainland and Free Zone options based on market access, facilities, visas, banking, Corporate Tax implications and expansion plans.

Activity & legal-structure guidance

Match revenue streams to authorised activities, confirm foreign-ownership eligibility, and select LLC, Free Zone, branch or other suitable forms.

Licensing & incorporation coordination

Trade-name reservation, initial approval, constitutional documents, external regulator clearances and licence application support.

Premises & immigration

Facility guidance, establishment-card processing, and investor or employee visa assistance including Emirates ID coordination.

Banking file preparation

Organise KYC, UBO, business-plan and transaction-profile materials for corporate bank-account applications — final approval remains with the bank.

Tax, accounting & continuing compliance

Corporate Tax and VAT registration assessment, bookkeeping setup, UBO/AML support, licence amendments and renewals.

Process

Step-by-step Dubai business setup process

The exact procedure depends on the activity, shareholders, jurisdiction, premises, regulatory authority and number of visas required.

  1. 1

    Define the business model

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

  2. 2

    Confirm the business activities

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

  3. 3

    Compare jurisdictions

    Evaluate mainland and suitable Free Zones on market access, facilities, visas, banking, compliance, cost and future expansion.

  4. 4

    Choose the legal structure

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

  5. 5

    Reserve the trade name

    Submit compliant names that are distinguishable, non-misleading and aligned with the legal form where required.

  6. 6

    Obtain initial approval

    Provide preliminary documents and obtain authority clearance to proceed — this is not always permission to start operating.

  7. 7

    Secure external approvals

    Where required, obtain clearance from sector regulators such as healthcare, education, financial services, tourism or food authorities.

  8. 8

    Prepare constitutional documents

    Draft and sign the Memorandum of Association, resolutions, manager appointments and UBO declarations as applicable.

  9. 9

    Arrange premises

    Select a workspace or facility that satisfies licensing, visa and operational requirements — verify activity suitability before signing a long lease.

  10. 10

    Obtain the licence & establishment record

    Submit the completed application, pay government and facility charges, then complete immigration establishment registration for company-sponsored residence processing.

  11. 11

    Visas, banking, tax & accounting

    Process residence visas where eligible, open a corporate bank account, register for Corporate Tax and VAT as required, and implement bookkeeping before substantial trading.

Documents

Documents typically required from a foreign individual

Requirements vary by authority and structure. Corporate shareholders normally need additional legalised group documents.

  • Clear passport copy (valid, consistent personal details across all applications)
  • Passport-size photograph
  • Contact details and residential address
  • Proposed trade names and description of intended activities
  • Existing UAE visa and Emirates ID, if applicable
  • Entry-status document where requested
  • No-objection certificate in limited situations
  • Proof of address and source-of-funds information
  • Professional qualifications for regulated activities
  • Business plan where required by the authority or bank
  • Specimen signature
  • For corporate shareholders: certificate of incorporation, constitutional documents, director/shareholder registers, board resolution, incumbency/good-standing, UBO and authorised-signatory documents (often notarised, legalised, attested and translated)
Pricing

Dubai company setup costs for foreign investors

Total setup cost depends on the actual structure and should not be calculated from the licence fee alone. Request an itemised quotation based on activity and operational requirements.

  • Trade-name reservation, initial approval and licence issuance charges
  • Legal-form, registration and memorandum preparation or notarisation fees
  • External regulator approvals where the activity is specialised
  • Free Zone registration and facility or office rent (flexi-desk to dedicated space)
  • Ejari or premises registration for mainland physical locations
  • Establishment-card, investor or employee visas, medical fitness and Emirates ID
  • Immigration-related services, regulatory deposits and insurance
  • Customs or product registration for trading businesses
  • Professional assistance plus accounting, Corporate Tax and VAT compliance
  • Annual licence and premises renewal — promotional packages may exclude visas, deposits or later compliance

Licence & formation core

Varies by authority

Mainland DET fees differ from Free Zone packages; activity and legal form drive the base cost.

Visas & immigration

Per applicant

Investor and employee visas, medical, Emirates ID and establishment registration are often separate from headline packages.

Premises & facilities

Flexi to dedicated

Workspace type affects visa capacity, banking substance and renewal cost.

Tax & accounting setup

Ongoing

Budget for Corporate Tax/VAT registration readiness and bookkeeping from day one.

Government fees and package inclusions change periodically. KPM Global Services provides a written, activity-specific quotation before you proceed. A low advertised package is not necessarily the lowest-cost structure over a full operating year.

Timeline

How long does Dubai company formation take?

A straightforward non-regulated licence may be issued comparatively quickly once documents and approvals are complete. No universal timeline applies.

Planning

Model, activity & jurisdiction

Confirm ownership eligibility, mainland vs Free Zone fit, visa needs and banking profile before paying incorporation expenses.

Approvals

Name, initial & external clearances

Trade-name and initial approval; sector regulators add time for healthcare, education, finance, food, tourism and similar activities.

Licence

Documents, premises & licence issuance

Constitutional documents, facility arrangements and licence submission. Corporate shareholders and foreign-document attestation extend this phase.

Post-licence

Establishment, visas, bank & tax

Immigration establishment, residence processing, bank due diligence and tax registration run on separate clocks from licence issuance.

Complete Guide

Start a Business in Dubai as a Foreign Investor — detailed guide

In-depth explanations covering ownership, jurisdiction, licensing, visas, banking, tax and compliance.

Why Foreign Investors Choose Dubai

Dubai is used by entrepreneurs for many different purposes. Some want to serve customers within the UAE. Others establish a regional headquarters, international trading operation, professional consultancy, technology company, e-commerce platform or holding structure.

These advantages do not mean every Dubai structure is suitable for every investor. The commercial purpose of the company must guide the setup decision.

  • Strategic access to markets across the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe
  • International airports and logistics infrastructure
  • Established banking and professional-services ecosystems
  • Availability of sector-focused Free Zones
  • Extensive digital government services
  • Modern commercial legislation
  • Foreign-ownership opportunities
  • Residence options for qualifying investors and entrepreneurs
  • A business environment serving both start-ups and multinational organisations

Can Foreign Investors Own 100% of a Dubai Company?

Many foreign investors can own 100% of a mainland or Free Zone company without appointing a UAE national shareholder.

This is an important change from the historical position under which certain mainland companies generally required majority UAE-national ownership. The current framework permits full foreign ownership across many activities, but exceptions and additional conditions may apply to strategically significant or regulated activities.

Investors should therefore avoid assuming that one ownership rule applies universally. A compliant structure should be confirmed before paying licence, office or incorporation expenses.

  • Foreign-ownership eligibility for the proposed activity
  • Nationality restrictions, if any
  • External regulator approval
  • Minimum capital requirements
  • Professional qualification requirements
  • Local agent or representative conditions
  • Board or manager requirements
  • Sector-specific ownership limitations

Mainland or Free Zone: Which Is Better?

Choosing between a Dubai 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.

Dubai Mainland Company

A mainland company is licensed through Dubai’s competent economic licensing authority and is generally intended for businesses that require broad access to the UAE market.

  • Trade directly with customers across Dubai and the wider UAE
  • Operate a physical retail shop
  • Open a restaurant, salon, clinic or service facility
  • Undertake contracting or technical work at customer locations
  • Bid for certain private or government projects
  • Employ a substantial local workforce
  • Lease commercial premises outside a Free Zone
  • Conduct an activity specifically regulated through mainland authorities

Dubai Free Zone Company

A Free Zone company is established within a designated economic zone governed by its own licensing authority. Certain Free Zones specialise in particular industries and offer sector-specific facilities, regulatory environments or business communities.

A low-cost licence is not necessarily the lowest-cost business structure over the full operational period.

  • International consultancy services
  • Technology and software businesses
  • E-commerce operations
  • Media and creative businesses
  • Import, export and re-export
  • Logistics and warehousing
  • Commodity trading
  • Financial and professional services
  • Regional headquarters
  • Holding and investment structures
  • Businesses targeting customers outside the UAE

Before selecting a Free Zone, confirm

  • Whether the required activity is available
  • Whether the licence supports the intended customer base
  • Whether mainland sales require an additional arrangement
  • Whether physical premises or warehouse space is needed
  • The number of visas included or available
  • Whether the activity requires another regulator’s approval
  • Renewal charges and ongoing facility costs
  • Corporate Tax implications
  • Whether the proposed structure will satisfy banking requirements

Mainland and Free Zone decision factors

  • Intended market — UAE consumers versus international clients
  • Business activity — multi-jurisdiction availability versus restricted or externally regulated activities
  • Premises — flexi workspace versus approved physical facilities
  • Visa requirements — capacity depends on jurisdiction, facility, licence package and premises size
  • Banking profile — substance, ownership, activity, turnover, customer base, source of funds and geographic exposure
  • Tax position — a Free Zone licence does not automatically exempt all income from Corporate Tax
  • Long-term expansion — structures suitable for a solo consultant may become restrictive when hiring, importing or entering regulated contracts

Choosing the Correct Business Activity

The activity stated on the licence determines what the company is legally authorised to do. Investors should describe the actual business model, rather than selecting a broad activity based only on the licence price. The licence must support the real services, products and revenue streams.

Activity selection can affect licence category, government fees, ownership conditions, external approvals, office or facility requirements, customs registration, banking assessment, VAT treatment, insurance requirements, employee qualifications, advertising permissions, and import and product-registration obligations.

  • Commercial and general trading
  • Professional consultancy
  • Technology and software
  • E-commerce
  • Manufacturing
  • Contracting
  • Real estate
  • Tourism
  • Healthcare
  • Education
  • Food and hospitality
  • Logistics and transport
  • Media and creative services
  • Financial services
  • Virtual-asset services

Can Multiple Activities Be Combined?

Compatible activities may sometimes be placed under one licence, but approval depends on the licensing authority and the relationship between the activities.

For example, management consultancy, product trading, healthcare services and construction contracting involve different regulatory and operational risks. They should not be combined without confirming that the licensing authority permits the proposed arrangement.

  • Separate licences
  • Additional approvals
  • A different legal structure
  • Separate facilities
  • Additional managers
  • Changes to the trade name
  • A broader or more expensive licence category

Individual Shareholder or Corporate Shareholder

A foreign investor may establish the company personally or use an existing overseas company as the shareholder, where the jurisdiction and legal form allow it.

Foreign corporate documents may require notarisation, legalisation, attestation and Arabic translation depending on the authority and country of issue.

When corporate ownership may be useful

  • International groups entering the UAE
  • Businesses seeking consolidated ownership
  • Regional subsidiaries
  • Intellectual-property ownership
  • Investment or holding arrangements
  • Group governance and reporting

Additional corporate documents typically required

  • Certificate of incorporation
  • Constitutional documents
  • Register of directors or equivalent records
  • Register of shareholders
  • Board resolution approving the UAE investment
  • Incumbency or good-standing documents
  • Ultimate beneficial-owner information
  • Authorised signatory documents

Trade-Name Selection

The proposed trade name must comply with the applicable naming rules and be approved by the licensing authority.

Trade-name approval is not the same as trademark registration. Investors planning to build a valuable brand should separately consider trademark protection.

  • Be distinguishable from registered names
  • Avoid prohibited, offensive or misleading language
  • Not imply an unauthorised government connection
  • Respect protected trademarks
  • Match the legal form where required
  • Obtain special approval for certain personal, geographic or regulated terms

Initial Approval and Incorporation Documents

Initial approval generally confirms that the authority does not object to the investor proceeding with the proposed setup. It is not always permission to start operating.

The documents required depend on the chosen legal form and whether shareholders are individuals or companies.

  • Memorandum of Association
  • Articles of Association
  • Shareholder resolution
  • Branch appointment resolution
  • Local service-agent agreement where applicable
  • Manager appointment
  • Specimen signatures
  • Ultimate beneficial-owner declarations
  • Lease or workspace documents
  • Regulator-specific forms

External Approvals and Regulated Businesses

A standard economic licence is not sufficient for every activity. Certain sectors require approval from another government body or professional regulator before or after licence issuance.

The responsible regulator may review qualifications, business plans, technical personnel, financial resources, premises, policies, systems or shareholder suitability.

  • Healthcare
  • Education and training
  • Financial services
  • Insurance
  • Virtual assets
  • Real estate
  • Tourism
  • Food production
  • Restaurants and catering
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Transport
  • Security services
  • Recruitment
  • Telecommunications
  • Industrial production
  • Engineering or contracting
  • Legal services
  • Auditing
  • Precious metals and stones

Office, Ejari and Facility Requirements

The premises requirement depends on the activity and jurisdiction. A mainland company requiring physical premises may need a valid tenancy arrangement and property registration, commonly associated with Ejari in Dubai. Additional municipality, Civil Defence or sector inspections may apply.

Signing an unsuitable lease can create major delays and additional expense. Verify suitability before signing a long-term lease.

  • Flexible desk, shared office, serviced office or dedicated office
  • Retail shop or business centre
  • Warehouse, industrial unit, commercial kitchen, clinic, education facility or workshop
  • Confirm the property may be used for the intended activity
  • Confirm size, layout, signage and Civil Defence requirements
  • Confirm the tenancy supports the necessary employee quota
  • Confirm sector-regulator location approval where required
  • Confirm whether modifications need landlord or municipality permission

Can You Start a Dubai Company Without Living in the UAE?

In many cases, a foreign shareholder does not need to become a UAE resident merely to own a Dubai company. However, practical considerations remain.

A company licence does not automatically make the shareholder a UAE tax resident. Personal and corporate tax-residency questions require separate analysis.

  • Document-signing procedures
  • Bank-account onboarding
  • UAE PASS access
  • Immigration services
  • Personal tax-residency planning
  • Ability to manage local operations
  • Availability of certain financial products
  • Frequency of physical presence requested by service providers

Residence Visa Options for Business Owners

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.

Investor residence should not be confused with Golden Residence or Green Residence. Long-term residence categories have separate eligibility conditions. Ordinary company ownership does not automatically establish Golden Residence eligibility.

  • Establishment registration
  • Entry permit or in-country status adjustment
  • Medical fitness examination
  • Emirates ID application and biometrics
  • Health insurance
  • Residence issuance
  • Family sponsorship for eligible UAE residents, subject to immigration, income, accommodation, insurance and documentary requirements

Employing Staff

A mainland company hiring staff will generally need to complete the applicable labour and immigration registrations. Free Zone companies normally follow the employment system prescribed by their respective zones.

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

  • Work-permit approval
  • Employment contract
  • Employee residence procedures
  • Emirates ID and medical fitness
  • Health insurance
  • Payroll records
  • Wage Protection System compliance where applicable
  • Leave and working-hours administration
  • End-of-service entitlement
  • Workplace health and safety
  • Emiratisation requirements where applicable

Opening a Corporate Bank Account

A Dubai trade licence does not guarantee bank-account approval. Banks independently assess every application under their compliance and risk policies. Licence issuance and bank-account opening are separate processes.

Applications can be delayed where the business model is unclear, the expected transactions do not match the licence, ownership is unnecessarily complicated or the source of funds is not adequately documented.

KPM Global Services can help organise the application file and coordinate with suitable banking channels, but final approval remains entirely with the bank.

  • Trade licence and incorporation documents
  • Share certificates and UBO details
  • Passport and address evidence
  • UAE residence information where applicable
  • Business plan and expected turnover
  • Source of funds and wealth
  • Existing business evidence, contracts or purchase orders
  • Supplier and customer information
  • Transaction countries and currencies
  • Website or company profile and office evidence
  • Group-company financial statements where relevant

UAE Corporate Tax for a Dubai Company

Incorporating in Dubai does not remove the company from the UAE Corporate Tax framework. Taxable persons must evaluate their registration, return-filing and payment obligations.

A UAE juridical person established on or after 1 March 2024 is generally required to apply for Corporate Tax registration within three months of incorporation, establishment or recognition.

Under the general Corporate Tax framework, taxable income is ordinarily subject to 0% on the portion of taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% on taxable income exceeding AED 375,000.

A Free Zone company must not assume that all income will qualify for a 0% rate. Eligibility may depend on qualifying income, substance, audited financial statements, transfer-pricing compliance and satisfaction of other statutory conditions.

  • Free Zone income and Qualifying Free Zone Person conditions
  • Mainland transactions and related-party payments
  • Owner or director remuneration
  • International services and permanent establishments
  • Transfer pricing and tax-group eligibility
  • Small Business Relief
  • Deductible expenses
  • Withholding and foreign-tax considerations
  • Return filing and record keeping

VAT Registration

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

UAE-resident businesses must register when taxable supplies and imports exceed AED 375,000 over the previous 12 months or are expected to exceed that level in the next 30 days. Voluntary registration may generally be available when taxable supplies, imports or qualifying taxable expenses exceed AED 187,500.

Foreign businesses may be subject to different registration considerations, and the ordinary mandatory threshold does not apply to them in the same manner where they are required to register.

  • Taxable supplies, zero-rated transactions and exempt supplies
  • Imports, exports and reverse-charge transactions
  • Place-of-supply rules
  • Registration deadlines
  • Tax-invoice requirements
  • Input-tax recovery
  • Return-filing obligations

Accounting and Bookkeeping

Accounting should begin when the company is established, not when the first tax return becomes due.

A suitable accounting system should separate business and personal expenditure, reconcile bank transactions and produce reliable financial reports. Good records support tax compliance, banking reviews, audits, investor reporting and management decisions.

  • Sales and purchase invoices
  • Expense receipts and contracts
  • Bank statements and payroll records
  • Inventory and import/customs documents
  • Fixed-asset records
  • Shareholder and related-party transactions
  • Tax calculations and supporting evidence for deductions

Ultimate Beneficial Ownership and Corporate Records

Businesses must correctly identify and maintain information concerning their ultimate beneficial owners, shareholders, directors and authorised representatives in accordance with applicable rules.

Changes in ownership, management, address or beneficial ownership should be reported within the required period. Companies should also retain updated constitutional documents, resolutions and registers.

A nominee or complicated holding structure does not remove the obligation to disclose the natural person who ultimately owns or controls the company.

AML Obligations for Relevant Businesses

Certain businesses have enhanced anti-money-laundering responsibilities because of their sector or activity. AML compliance should be operational, documented and proportionate to the company’s risk profile.

Higher-risk sectors can include certain real-estate activities, precious metals and stones, corporate-service activities, legal and accounting services and other designated non-financial businesses and professions.

  • Enterprise-wide risk assessments
  • Customer due diligence
  • Beneficial-owner verification
  • Sanctions screening
  • Politically exposed person controls
  • Transaction monitoring
  • Suspicious transaction reporting
  • Compliance-officer appointment
  • Staff training
  • Record retention
  • goAML registration where applicable

Customs, Imports and Product Registration

A trading licence does not necessarily authorise immediate importation or sale of every product.

Products such as food, cosmetics, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and telecommunications equipment can carry additional requirements.

  • Customs registration and importer code
  • Product conformity documentation
  • Municipality product registration
  • Label approval
  • Health or safety certification
  • Brand authorisation
  • Warehouse approval
  • Special import permits
  • Excise Tax registration
  • Sector-regulator clearance

Renewals and Ongoing Compliance

Company formation is the beginning of the compliance cycle. Failure to maintain the licence or regulatory registrations may result in penalties, suspension, transaction restrictions or immigration complications.

  • Licence renewal
  • Lease or facility renewal
  • Establishment-card renewal
  • Visa and Emirates ID renewal
  • UBO information updates
  • Corporate Tax returns
  • VAT returns
  • Accounting records
  • Audited financial statements where required
  • Customs renewals
  • Sector-permit renewals
  • Employee permit administration
  • Insurance renewal
  • AML reviews
  • Changes to managers, shareholders or activities

Practical Business Setup Scenarios

International consultant

A consultant serving overseas clients may prioritise a service activity, modest workspace, one investor visa, multi-currency banking and straightforward accounting.

Product importer

An importer selling in the UAE may need an appropriate trading activity, customs registration, warehouse or fulfilment arrangements, product approvals, VAT planning and local distribution capability.

Technology start-up

A technology founder may require intellectual-property planning, employee visas, software or technology activities, investor-ready corporate documents and scalable banking.

Overseas company entering Dubai

An established foreign business may compare a subsidiary with a branch. The decision should consider liability, control, tax, banking, contracts, document attestation and future investment.

Regulated service provider

A healthcare, financial, education, real-estate or virtual-asset business may require approval from a specialist regulator before commercial operations begin.

Avoid Mistakes

Common mistakes foreign investors should avoid

  • Choosing solely on price — a low-cost setup may not provide the required activity, visas, premises, market access or banking suitability
  • Using the wrong activity — operating outside approved activities creates contractual, banking and regulatory problems
  • Assuming every Free Zone company pays 0% Corporate Tax — treatment depends on statutory conditions, income and compliance
  • Signing a lease too early before confirming the premises are approved for the intended activity
  • Expecting guaranteed banking approval — banks conduct independent risk assessments
  • Mixing personal and company funds — weakens accounting and can create tax and governance difficulties
  • Ignoring post-licensing obligations — tax, accounting, UBO, AML, employment and renewals continue after incorporation
  • Creating an unnecessarily complex structure — extra holding layers can increase cost, compliance and banking scrutiny without commercial value
Why KPM

Why Choose KPM Global Services

UAE-focused advisory

Practical guidance on starting a business in Dubai as a foreign investor from a Dubai-based team that works with authorities, banks, and regulators daily.

Clear documentation

Structured checklists, realistic timelines, and transparent scope so you know what is included before you proceed.

Connected services

Link setup, visas, banking, accounting, VAT, Corporate Tax, PRO, and legal support through one coordinated advisory journey.

No generic templates

Advice is tailored to your activity, shareholders, jurisdiction, and operational plans — not a one-size-fits-all package.

End-to-end foreign-investor coordination

One team for structuring, licensing, visas, banking file preparation, Corporate Tax, VAT, accounting and renewals — tailored to your operating model.

Free tool

Mainland & free zone costs

Calculate and check before you speak to an advisor — FTA-aligned thresholds, instant results, PDF export.

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FAQ

Start a Business in Dubai as a Foreign Investor — Frequently Asked Questions

Practical answers about start a business in dubai as a foreign investor in the UAE.

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

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