Setting up in the UAE involves more decisions than most businesses expect. The choice between mainland, free zone and offshore affects who you can trade with, what tax positions are available, whether foreign ownership is permitted, and what ongoing compliance you carry.
Getting these decisions right at the outset is significantly cheaper than restructuring later.
Structure and Tax
Jurisdiction Selection
Mapping your business model to mainland, free zone and offshore options: full market access and 100% ownership on the mainland, 0% qualifying income in over 40 free zones, and offshore registries for holding structures: with a clear recommendation and the reasoning behind it.
Entity Structuring and Corporate Tax Planning
Structuring decisions at entry that directly affect what rate applies and what income qualifies: entity type, intra-group pricing, whether a holding structure makes sense, and how UAE-sourced income is distinguished from international flows under the 9% / 0% framework.
Licensing and Incentives
Licensing and Regulatory Compliance
Managing the end-to-end licensing process and regulatory correspondence, coordinating with DET, free zone authorities and sector regulators including the Central Bank, MOHRE and KHDA, with UBO registration addressed at the point of formation.
Incentives and Treaty Benefits
Identifying the free zone, government and industrial incentives and withholding tax reductions available through the UAE’s network of over 130 DTAAs, and advising on the conditions needed to access and maintain eligibility for your activity.
Operations and Ongoing Support
Operational Setup
Coordinating corporate bank account opening with KYC-ready documentation, investor and employee visas through MOHRE and GDRFA, VAT and corporate tax registration, and office or flexi-desk space in line with substance and licensing conditions.
Ongoing Advisory
Staying close to a fast-moving regulatory environment: corporate tax, e-invoicing rollout and evolving free zone conditions: and flagging what is relevant as you grow, covering corporate tax returns, VAT compliance and transfer pricing documentation.
How We Work
Partner-led engagements. Our team has direct experience with DET, DMCC, ADGM, DIFC, JAFZA and other key UAE jurisdictions, and is familiar with the Corporate Tax Law, VAT Law, Commercial Companies Law, and the cabinet decisions and ministerial regulations under each.