24 answers for owners and founders of a UAE · DMCC Free Zone company, from ordering to banking, annual compliance and what happens after incorporation. General information, not legal or tax advice; your specialist confirms how it applies to you.
Corporate and legal documents issued abroad, such as a parent company's certificate or a power of attorney, usually do. The UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so the document is certified by the issuing country's foreign ministry, then by the UAE embassy or consulate there, and finally by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Start this early, because it often sets the pace of the whole file.
Start from what you will actually invoice for, because DMCC licenses specific activities and your list drives the approvals, the office type and sometimes the capital. Choosing too narrowly means amending the licence later; choosing regulated activities you do not need adds approvals and time. We map your business to the activity list before you apply.
Source: Set up a new business, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre Authority
Because they depend on how many people you sponsor and change per person: each residence visa has its own government, medical and Emirates ID costs. The office you lease also sets how many visas you can request. We quote visas per person once you know your team.
The trade licence, memorandum and articles, share certificate, office lease or flexi-desk agreement, and the owners' passports. Most banks also want at least one signatory with a UAE residence visa and Emirates ID, plus contracts or invoices that show real business. A company that has only just been licensed should expect questions about expected turnover and counterparties.
After the trade licence is issued, and ideally once a signatory's residence visa is done, because many UAE banks ask for an Emirates ID. The UAE left the FATF grey list in February 2024, which has made cross-border payments easier, but each bank still runs its own review. We prepare the application; the bank decides.
Source: Black and grey lists (jurisdictions under increased monitoring), Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
Within 6 months after the end of each financial year. You upload the audited financial statements and a summary sheet signed and stamped by the auditor through the DMCC Member Portal, and the auditor must be on DMCC's Approved Auditors List. Book the auditor early, because the corporate tax return follows 3 months later.
Source: Guidelines: submission of audited financial statements, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre Authority
Generally within 3 months of incorporation, even if it expects to pay nothing (confirm your date with your specialist). Late registration carries an AED 10,000 penalty, which the Federal Tax Authority may waive if the first tax return is filed within 7 months after the first tax period ends. We register the company as part of setup.
Source: Corporate Tax registration service, Federal Tax Authority, UAE
A register of beneficial owners holding 25% or more, or controlling the company in another way, filed with DMCC as registrar and updated when ownership changes. The register is not public. Tell us before any share transfer, because penalties apply when the filing falls out of date.
A passport copy and a recent proof of address for each shareholder, director, manager and beneficial owner, plus a short business description for the activities you choose. Some activities need extra documents, such as a business plan or proof of experience. A corporate shareholder also provides its registry documents and a board resolution, legalised for use in the UAE.
From US$3,090 on Starter, covering the licence renewal, the standard office package and our compliance service. The annual audit, visa renewals and any larger office are separate lines, because they depend on your company. We send the renewal with every line priced before the licence expiry date.
The company falls out of good standing: visa renewals and new visas are blocked, banks may restrict the account, and DMCC applies its own late fees (confirm current amounts with your specialist). Renewal also needs the lease and the latest audited accounts in order, so we start the renewal well before the expiry date.
Cancel all employee visas, settle liabilities and the lease, close the bank account and apply to DMCC for deregistration. You also deregister the company from corporate tax, and from VAT if registered, with the Federal Tax Authority, filing any final returns. Closing properly avoids fines that keep building on an inactive licence.
Source: Corporate Tax registration service, Federal Tax Authority, UAE
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