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starttheapp
Launch Blueprint
middle east

Incorporate a Startup in United Arab EmiratesDubai - Free Zone & Mainland

0% personal tax, 9% corporate tax (above AED 375k), and full foreign ownership in mainland since 2021.

Key incorporation facts for United Arab Emirates

Time to incorporate
5 - 15 days
Estimated setup cost
AED 12,500 - AED 35,000
Corporate tax rate
9% (above AED 375k profit)
Ease of remote setup
Limited
Annual compliance: License renewal + Corporate Tax return + ESR (where applicable) \u00b7 Currency: AED \u00b7 9 required materials / 19 total

12-step launch checklist

From pre-launch name reservation through first annual filing.

  1. 01
    Decide between Free Zone (IFZA / Meydan / DMCC) vs DET Mainland
    Pre-Launch
  2. 02
    Reserve trade name with DET or chosen free zone
    Pre-Launch
  3. 03
    Choose activity code(s) - over 2,000 possible activities
    Pre-Launch
  4. 04
    Draft and notarize Memorandum of Association
    Incorporation
  5. 05
    Receive Trade License + Certificate of Incorporation
    Incorporation
  6. 06
    Obtain Establishment Card (MOHRE)
    Operations
  7. 07
    Apply for investor / partner residence visas
    Operations
  8. 08
    Open UAE corporate bank account
    Banking
  9. 09
    Register for Corporate Tax with FTA
    Tax
  10. 10
    Register for VAT once taxable turnover exceeds AED 375k
    Tax
  11. 11
    Implement WPS for employee salaries
    Compliance
  12. 12
    Renew trade license annually
    Compliance

Legal & Incorporation

Choose between Free Zone (IFZA / Meydan / DMCC) for fastest setup, or DET mainland for unrestricted UAE market access.

Dubai DET Business Setup Portal

PORTAL

Official Dubai Department of Economy & Tourism portal for mainland licensing.

guideREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

IFZA Free Zone Application

PORTAL

International Free Zone Authority - among the cheapest and fastest free zones in the UAE.

guideOpen resource \u2192

Meydan Free Zone Application

PORTAL

Premium free zone with flexi-desk and dual-licence options - popular for tech founders.

guideOpen resource \u2192

Memorandum of Association (MOA)

DOCX

Standard MOA for LLC formation - must be notarized for mainland LLCs.

templateREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

Shareholders Resolution Template

DOCX

Initial founders resolution for share allocation and manager appointment.

templateREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

Tax & Banking

New 9% Corporate Tax (from June 2023), VAT, and corporate bank account opening.

FTA Corporate Tax Registration

PORTAL

Mandatory registration with the Federal Tax Authority - applies to all businesses regardless of profit.

guideREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

VAT Registration (FTA)

PORTAL

Mandatory once taxable turnover exceeds AED 375,000.

guideREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

Economic Substance Regulations

PORTAL

ESR notification + report for relevant activities (holding, IP, distribution, finance leasing).

guideOpen resource \u2192

Emirates NBD / Mashreq Corporate Account

LINK

UAE corporate bank accounts are notoriously demanding - prepare 3-6 months runway evidence.

guideREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

Wio / Mashreq NeoBiz

PORTAL

UAE digital business banks - faster onboarding than traditional banks for SMEs.

guideOpen resource \u2192

Regulatory & Licenses

PDPL, Wage Protection System, and visa quotas tied to your trade license.

UAE PDPL Compliance Guide

PORTAL

Federal Personal Data Protection Law (Decree 45/2021) - similar to GDPR.

statuteREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

WPS (Wage Protection System)

PORTAL

Mandatory electronic salary transfer system for all UAE employers.

guideREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

Establishment Card (MOHRE)

PORTAL

Required before applying for employee work permits and residence visas.

guideREQUIREDOpen resource \u2192

DIFC / ADGM Tech Startup License

PORTAL

Common-law financial free zones with tailored fintech and innovation licences.

guideOpen resource \u2192

Local Infrastructure

Free zone formation agents, payments, accelerators and global coworking.

Virtuzone / Creative Zone

PORTAL

Top-rated formation agents handling free zone + mainland setup end-to-end.

guideOpen resource \u2192

Stripe UAE / Telr / Network

PORTAL

UAE-licensed card acquiring with Mada and AED settlement.

guideOpen resource \u2192

Dubai Future Accelerators

PORTAL

Government-backed accelerator pairing startups with Dubai entities for pilots.

guideOpen resource \u2192

Astrolabs / WeWork Dubai

PORTAL

Tech-focused coworking and DMCC business licence bundle.

guideOpen resource \u2192

In5 / Hub71 (Abu Dhabi)

PORTAL

Government innovation hubs with subsidised licences for selected startups.

guideOpen resource \u2192

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to incorporate in United Arab Emirates?
Setup typically costs AED 12,500 - AED 35,000, with a 9% (above AED 375k profit) corporate tax rate.
How long does it take to incorporate in United Arab Emirates?
Incorporation usually completes in 5 - 15 days.
Can I incorporate remotely in United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates typically requires some in-person steps or a local agent.
What annual compliance applies to a Dubai - Free Zone & Mainland?
License renewal + Corporate Tax return + ESR (where applicable)

Ready to incorporate?

Open the interactive launch blueprint for United Arab Emirates: track your progress, compare with other jurisdictions, ask the AI Launch Copilot, and download a personalised PDF plan.

Open Interactive Blueprint