Guides
These guides explain company setup in Dubai in plain language. They use the same official sources as the comparison tool and are for general information only, not legal, tax or investment advice.
- Business bank account requirements in the UAE
What information and documents UAE licensed banks are expected to collect from company customers under Central Bank (CBUAE) guidance, and why each bank's list differs.
- Cost Items Beyond the UAE Licence Fee
Which cost items authorities and free zones list separately from the headline licence fee, such as visas, office space, renewal, name reservation and termination.
- Employee Visa Quotas Explained
How employee visa quotas relate to premises, lease and licence in UAE free zones and on the mainland, based on MOHRE, u.ae and free zone authority pages.
- Free Zone Company Setup Steps in the UAE
The general sequence for setting up a UAE free zone company, with examples of how DMCC, Meydan Free Zone, RAKEZ and JAFZA describe their own processes.
- How to open a company in the UAE
An overview of how a person opens a UAE company: mainland and free zone routes compared, the usual steps and the government bodies involved, from official UAE portals.
- Mainland company setup steps in the UAE
The nine standard steps to set up a UAE mainland company through an emirate's economic department, from choosing an activity to collecting the licence.
- Qualifying Free Zone Person explained
What a Qualifying Free Zone Person is under UAE corporate tax, the conditions listed by the Federal Tax Authority, and what happens if a condition is not met.
- Renewing and Closing a UAE Company
How licence renewal works at DMCC, JAFZA and RAKEZ, and the cancellation and liquidation steps for free zone and Dubai mainland companies, from official sources.
- UAE corporate tax basics
Who is subject to UAE corporate tax, the rates published by the Federal Tax Authority, and how registration works, with figures taken from tax.gov.ae.
- UAE licence types explained
The licence types named on u.ae and by the Dubai and Abu Dhabi authorities, including commercial, industrial and professional licences, with official descriptions.
- UAE Visa Types for Company Owners
Residence visa routes for UAE company owners, partners and investors: Green Residence, Golden Residency, and free zone partner or investor visas.
- VAT registration for new companies
VAT registration thresholds and the application process for new UAE companies, as published by the Federal Tax Authority on tax.gov.ae.
- Why business bank account opening can take time in the UAE
Official CBUAE anti-money laundering guidance sets out the due diligence steps banks carry out before opening a company account.
- Investing in the UAE: Who Regulates Financial Services
A neutral overview of the roles of the CBUAE, the SCA, the DFSA and the FSRA in the UAE's regulated financial and investment landscape.
- Property in the UAE: How Ownership and Registration Are Regulated
A neutral overview of who regulates property ownership and registration in the UAE, including the Dubai Land Department, RERA and freehold areas.