Business Setup in the UAE

Mainland, free zone and offshore company formation — structured around how the business will actually run, not around a generic package.

Overview

What this engagement covers

Establishing a UAE entity is a question of structure as much as paperwork. The right answer depends on activity, ownership, target customers, tax position and the long-term operating plan — not on which free zone happens to be cheapest this quarter.

We help founders and corporate groups select the jurisdiction and entity form that matches the way the business will actually run, then handle the licensing process end-to-end.

Scope

What we deliver

  • Jurisdiction analysis (mainland, free zone, offshore)
  • Activity selection and licence structuring
  • Memorandum and Articles of Association drafting
  • Trade name reservation and initial approvals
  • Free zone authority and DED submissions
  • Establishment card and immigration file
  • Office and flexi-desk arrangements
  • Post-incorporation registration support
Process

How we work

  1. 01

    Initial scoping

    We review your business model, ownership, expected counterparties and any tax or regulatory constraints before recommending a structure.

  2. 02

    Jurisdiction selection

    We map the shortlist of suitable mainland, free zone or offshore options against cost, activity fit, banking acceptance and ongoing compliance load.

  3. 03

    Licensing and incorporation

    We prepare and submit the application package, handle authority correspondence and obtain the trade licence, establishment card and related certificates.

  4. 04

    Post-incorporation

    We hand off cleanly to the next steps: bank account opening, visa processing, tax registration and ongoing PRO support.

Notes

Important to know

Free zone and mainland regimes have meaningfully different implications for UAE Corporate Tax, VAT and the kind of customers you can invoice. We will flag these before incorporation, not after.

Speak with our team

Have a matter you would like to discuss?

A first conversation is confidential and without obligation. We will scope the engagement honestly and tell you whether it falls within what we do.

Contact LFR