24 answers for owners and founders of a UAE · Dubai Mainland 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.
A passport copy and a recent proof of address for each shareholder, manager and beneficial owner, and a short description of the activities you want licensed. A corporate shareholder also provides its registry documents, a board resolution and the name of the person who will act for it, legalised for use in the UAE. Some activities need extra approvals, and we tell you at the start if yours does.
Corporate documents and powers of attorney issued outside the UAE usually do. Because the UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, the chain is: your country's foreign ministry, then the UAE embassy or consulate there, then the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Arrange this in parallel with the name reservation, because it often takes longest.
Check it against the list of activities with strategic impact in Cabinet Decision No. 55 of 2021, such as defence, banking, insurance and telecommunications, and against the licensing authority's own rules. Most commercial and professional activities allow 100% foreign ownership. We check your exact activity before you pay.
The licensing authority charges fines, visa renewals are blocked and banks may restrict the account until the licence is renewed. To close a company you no longer need, cancel visas, settle the lease and deregister from corporate tax and VAT before cancelling the licence, rather than letting it lapse.
Because every mainland company needs registered premises in the emirate that licenses it, and the size of that office sets how many visas the company can sponsor. A larger office means higher rent but more visas. Rent and its registration are separate lines on your quote, next to the licence price from US$3,490.
The trade licence, memorandum of association, registered lease, and the shareholders' and manager's passports, residence visas and Emirates IDs. Banks also ask for expected turnover, main customers and suppliers, and contracts or invoices. A resident manager and a real office make the file much stronger. The bank decides.
Less than before. The UAE left the FATF list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring in February 2024, which removed a common reason for extra checks abroad. Banks still review each company on its own facts, so source of funds and a clear business model matter most.
Source: Black and grey lists (jurisdictions under increased monitoring), Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
Generally within 3 months of incorporation, whether or not it expects to pay tax (confirm your date with your specialist). Late registration carries an AED 10,000 penalty, which the Federal Tax Authority may waive if the first 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
An amended memorandum of association and licence update with the licensing authority, and an updated beneficial owner register covering anyone with 25% or more or other control. The register is filed with the licensing authority and is not public. Keep the licence, the register and your bank's records in line, because a mismatch can freeze payments.
Not for financial years starting after 31 December 2022, following Cabinet Resolution No. 98 of 2024. Older periods can still be reviewed, so close any open filings from 2019 to 2022. Corporate tax, and VAT if registered, are now the main annual filings.
Source: Economic Substance Regulations (ESR), Ministry of Finance, UAE
Within 9 months after the end of its first tax period, which normally matches its financial year. Tax due is paid by the same date. Keep accounting records from day one, because the return is prepared from financial statements, audited where the rules require it.
Before the trade licence expiry date each year, together with the lease renewal. We invoice from US$2,510 on Starter with every line shown, and list the audit and visa renewals separately. Pay by card, PayPal or wire in the client portal or on Renew & pay.
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