Dubai company formation checklist

Checklist 1 — Define What the Business Will Actually Do

Start with a clear description of the commercial model. Do not begin by choosing the cheapest license package.

• What products or services will be offered?
• Who will purchase them?
• Will customers be individuals, businesses or government entities?
• Will customers be located sa Dubai, elsewhere sa UAE or overseas?
• Will the business import, export or hold physical stock?
• Will services be provided online or at customer locations?
• Will the company need a shop, office, warehouse or workshop?
• Will employees be required immediately?
• Will the founder need a UAE residence visa?
• What countries will send or receive payments?
• What is the expected first-year turnover?

Are any activities regulated?

Ask early whether any activity is regulated. The answer affects almost every later decision — license, jurisdiction, office, visas, banking profile and tax treatment.

Checklist 2 — Select the Correct Business Activities

The business activities appearing on the license define what the company is authorised to conduct.

Checklist 3 — Decide Between Mainland and Free Zone

A first-time entrepreneur should compare the complete operating consequences of each jurisdiction.

Checklist 4 — Confirm the Ownership Structure

Many Dubai companies may be fully foreign-owned, subject to the activity and applicable regulations. Nevertheless, first-time entrepreneurs should confirm the ownership conditions for the exact activity.

• Who will be a shareholder?
• What percentage will each person own?
• Will the founder be the sole shareholder?
• Will an overseas company hold the shares?
• Who will provide the investment capital?
• Who will control the company?
• Who will receive profits?
• Who will be the ultimate beneficial owner?
• Will any shareholder require a residence visa?

Is a shareholders' agreement needed?

Avoid adding a friend, family member or business associate as a shareholder solely for convenience. A shareholder receives legal rights and may influence banking, governance, profit distribution, company sales and future disputes.

Checklist 5 — Choose the Legal Structure

The legal structure should match the ownership, liability and commercial purpose of the company.

Checklist 6 — Appoint the Company Manager

The manager is generally responsible for day-to-day operation and may be authorised to represent the company.

• Who will be appointed as manager?
• Is the manager's name stated in the constitutional documents?
• What are the manager's signing powers?
• Can the manager operate the bank account?
• Can the manager sign employment contracts?
• Can the manager sign commercial agreements?
• Are any powers reserved for shareholders?
• Does the activity require a qualified or approved manager?
• Will the manager reside sa UAE?

Checklist 7 — Select and Reserve the Trade name

Prepare several suitable names in case the first choice is unavailable.

• Be distinguishable from existing registered names
• Avoid offensive or misleading terminology
• Not imply an unauthorised connection with the government
• Respect registered trademarks
• Avoid regulated words without permission
• Follow personal-name rules where a person's name is used
• Include the required legal-form designation
• Reflect the company's brand and future direction

Checklist 8 — Identify External Approvals

Some activities require approval from a sector regulator in addition to the economic license.

Checklist 9 — Prepare the Shareholder Mga dokumento

An individual shareholder may commonly need:

Checklist 10 — Prepare Corporate-Shareholder Mga dokumento

Mga dokumento issued outside the UAE may require notarisation, legalisation, UAE embassy or consular attestation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation and certified Arabic translation.

Checklist 11 — Prepare the Business Plan

A detailed business plan is not mandatory for every ordinary license application, but it can be required by regulators, Free Zones, banks, investors and funding providers.

• Business concept
• Products and services
• Founder's background
• Target market
• Customer profile
• Presyo
• Sales channels
• Suppliers
• Competitors
• Marketing plan
• Operational process
• Staffing
• Premises
• Start-up budget
• Revenue forecast
• Expected transactions
• Source of investment
• Key risks
• Compliance approach

Checklist 12 — Calculate the Complete Formation Cost

Your first-year calculation may need to include:

Checklist 13 — Confirm Office, Ejari at Facility Requirements

Possible options include:

Checklist 14 — Complete the Licensing Proseso

The normal sequence may include:

• Confirming the activity
• Selecting the jurisdiction
• Choosing the legal structure
• Reserving the trade name
• Obtaining initial approval
• Securing external approval where required
• Preparing constitutional documents
• Appointing the manager
• Arranging premises
• Signing incorporation documents
• Paying government and facility fees
• Receiving the trade license

Checklist 15 — Review the License Immediately

Once the license is issued, check:

• English trade name
• Arabic trade name
• License number
• Issue date
• Expiry date
• Legal form
• Business activities
• Shareholder information
• Manager information
• Registered address
• Licensing authority

Checklist 16 — Obtain the Establishment Card

A company that intends to sponsor residence visas will generally require the applicable immigration establishment registration or card.

• The trade name matches the license
• The license number is correct
• Partner details are accurate
• The authorised signatory is correctly recorded
• The establishment record is active
• Immigration access has been arranged
• Renewal dates are monitored

Checklist 17 — Proseso the Investor Residence visa

A qualifying company owner may be able to obtain a residence visa through the company.

Checklist 18 — Plan Employee • Recruitment

Before employing staff, determine:

• Which roles are required?
• Can the company obtain the necessary work permits?
• Does the office support the required quota?
• Do employees require professional approval?
• What salaries and benefits will be offered?
• Does the Wage Protection System apply?
• Is employee health insurance arranged?
• Who will manage payroll?
• How will leave be recorded?
• How will end-of-service benefits be calculated?
• Do Emiratisation requirements apply?
• Does the company require internal employment policies?

Checklist 19 — Prepare for the Corporate bank account

Ensure the banking explanation matches the license and actual activity. Banks may ask why the company was established sa Dubai, how it will obtain customers, who its suppliers are and how the initial capital was generated.

Checklist 20 — Register for Corporate tax

A new company must assess its Corporate tax registration obligation immediately.

• Create or verify EmaraTax access
• Identify the company's first financial year
• Determine the first Tax Period
• Register within the applicable deadline
• Obtain the Tax Registration Number
• Maintain supporting records
• Review deductible expenses
• Identify related parties
• Review transfer-pricing obligations
• Assess Small Business Relief eligibility
• Assess Free Zone tax status
• Record the tax-return deadline
• Arrange payment procedures

Checklist 21 — Assess VAT registration

According to the FTA:

• VAT registration depends on taxable supplies and imports.
• Expected sales
• Taxable supplies
• Zero-rated supplies
• Exempt supplies
• Imports
• Exports
• Reverse-charge transactions
• Voluntary-registration eligibility
• • Tax-invoice requirements
• Accounting-system readiness
• • Input-tax recovery
• VAT-return deadlines

Checklist 22 — Establish Accounting at Bookkeeping

Keep personal and company expenses separate. Whenever the founder pays a company expense personally or transfers money to the company, record it correctly.

Checklist 23 — Complete UBO and Corporate Governance Requirements

The company should maintain accurate information about:

• Shareholders
• Directors
• Manager
• Authorised signatories
• Ultimate beneficial owners
• Ownership percentages
• Voting control
• Registered office
• • Constitutional documents
• Company resolutions

Checklist 24 — Check AML Requirements

Not every ordinary business has identical AML obligations, but certain regulated businesses and designated non-financial businesses and professions require enhanced controls.

• goAML registration
• • Compliance-officer appointment
• Business risk assessment
• • Customer due diligence
• • Beneficial-owner verification
• • Sanctions screening
• Politically exposed person checks
• • Transaction monitoring
• • Suspicious transaction reporting
• • Staff training
• AML policies
• • Record retention

Checklist 25 — Complete Customs and Product Requirements

A trading license alone may not be sufficient to import or sell regulated products.

• Customs registration
• Importer code
• Customs broker arrangements
• Product classification
• Country-of-origin documents
• Commercial invoices
• Packing lists
• Freight documentation
• Product conformity
• Label requirements
• Municipality registration
• Health o safety certification
• • Warehouse approval
• Import permits
• • Brand authorisation
• Excise Tax exposure
• Import VAT

Checklist 26 — Prepare Contracts and Commercial Mga dokumento

Before trading, prepare appropriate documents such as:

• Customer service agreement
• Supplier agreement
• Distribution agreement
• Agency agreement
• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Website terms
• Employment contracts
• Freelancer agreements
• Non-disclosure agreement
• Shareholders' agreement
• Purchase-order format
• Invoice format
• Refund or cancellation policy

Checklist 27 — Establish the Company's Commercial Identity

Ensure advertising statements are accurate and do not imply government endorsement, guaranteed approvals or licences the company does not hold.

• Company logo
• Domain name
• Professional email
• Website
• Company profile
• Proposal template
• Quotation template
• Invoice template
• Email signature
• Social-media profiles
• Business telephone number
• Office address
• Brand guidelines

Checklist 28 — Create a Compliance Calendar

Your calendar should record:

• Trade-license expiry
• Premises or Ejari expiry
• Establishment-card expiry
• Visa expiry dates
• Emirates ID expiry dates
• • Insurance renewals
• Corporate tax registration deadline
• Corporate tax return deadline
• VAT return deadlines
• • Customs renewals
• Regulatory permit renewals
• Accounting close
• Payroll dates
• Mga pagsusuri ng AML
• UBO updates
• Annual audit where required
• Contract-renewal dates

Checklist 29 — Maintain Adequate Working Capital

A business can obtain a license and still fail because it lacks sufficient cash to begin operations.

• Formation fees are only part of the financial requirement.
• Office rent
• Employee salaries
• Visa and recruitment costs
• Professional services
• Accounting
• • Insurance
• Technology
• Inventory
• Freight
• Marketing
• Deposits
• Tax payments
• Utilities
• Payment-processing fees
• Unexpected approval delays

Checklist 30 — Review Everything Before Starting Operations

Before the first sale or service, confirm:

• The activity appears on the license
• External approvals are complete
• Premises are authorised
• Required visas and work permits are valid
• The company bank account is operational
• The invoicing system is ready
• Corporate tax registration is underway or complete
• VAT registration has been assessed
• Contracts are ready
• • Insurance is active
• Accounting has been established
• UBO obligations are complete
• AML requirements have been assessed
• Customs and product approvals are in place
• The renewal calendar is active
• Common Mistakes Made by First-Time Entrepreneurs
• Selecting the cheapest package without operational analysis