Company Incorporation & Business Set Up Across the UAE
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Your Foundation for Company Formation in the UAE
Hussain Al Shemsi Chartered Accountants
Company Formation And Business Set Up in UAE
The UAE has always been a strong center for international trade and has often been recognized as a bridge between the East and the West. The country is fast emerging as a breeding ground for start-up businesses.
We offer expert Company Formation and Business Set Up all over UAE, with an efficient team of company formation specialists, have a strong knowledge of the requirements of local government departments and of the various Free Zones in the UAE, and provide complete assistance for registration procedures, which enables you to focus on launching your business in the UAE and making it a success. Our team of experienced business advisory consultants can handhold you through the process from start to finish and help you give wings to your entrepreneurial vision.
How can we help you?
Get in touch with Hussain Al Shemsi Chartered Accountants for expert auditing, accounting, tax, and advisory services in the UAE.
- +971 50 3636231
A Strategic Base for Mainland and Free Zone Business Setup
The UAE has long served as a trade bridge between East and West, and each emirate's economic development department — from the Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) to Dubai's DED and the authorities in every other emirate — offers a cost-effective, investor-friendly environment for company incorporation and business set up. We handle mainland LLC registration and free zone entity formation anywhere in the UAE, including specialised free zones such as SAIF Zone, SRTIP, Hamriyah Free Zone, DMCC and RAKEZ. The right structure and jurisdiction depend on your activity, ownership goals, and target market.
Most mainland activities now permit 100% foreign ownership under UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021, while free zone entities continue to offer full ownership, streamlined licensing and, in many cases, 0% Corporate Tax on qualifying income for a Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP). Choosing correctly at incorporation stage — and choosing the right emirate — affects your licensing cost, banking options, and long-term Corporate Tax position, which is why business formation should never be handled in isolation from your accounting and tax strategy.
As Chartered Accountants licensed by the UAE Ministry of Economy, we set your company up correctly the first time, in whichever emirate suits your business — and remain your accounting, VAT, and audit partner long after the trade licence is issued.
Quick Facts
- Company formation handled anywhere across the UAE✓
- 100% foreign ownership available on most mainland & free zone activities✓
- Mainland registration via SEDD (Sharjah), DED (Dubai) or your local authority✓
- 0% Corporate Tax possible for Qualifying Free Zone Persons (QFZP)✓
- Licensed by the UAE Ministry of Economy to advise on company structuring✓
Business Structures We Register
Whichever entity fits your business, we handle the licensing, documentation, and regulatory approvals end to end.
Limited Liability Company (LLC)
Mainland structure for local and international trade, licensed by SEDD.
Free Zone Establishment / Company
FZE/FZC registration with 100% ownership across UAE free zones.
Branch / Representative Office
Extend a foreign or UAE parent company into the UAE without a new legal entity.
Sole Establishment / Proprietorship
Single-owner licence for professional and civil activities.
Professional Services Firm
Consultancy, legal, and expert-service licences with sector-specific approvals.
Offshore Company
Asset-holding and international trading structures outside onshore UAE licensing.
Joint Venture
Structured partnership agreements between two or more parties for a shared project.
Holding Company
Structures for holding shares, real estate, and intellectual property across group entities.
Our Company Formation Process
From choosing the right jurisdiction to receiving your trade licence, here's how we take a new business from idea to registered entity.
Define Business Activity
We identify the correct licensed activity and advise on the best-fit legal structure for it.
Choose Jurisdiction
Mainland (SEDD), a UAE free zone, or an offshore structure — matched to your market and ownership needs.
Trade Name & Initial Approval
We reserve your trade name and secure initial approval from the relevant authority.
MOA, Lease & Documentation
Memorandum of Association, Ejari/tenancy contract, and shareholder documentation prepared and submitted.
Trade Licence Issuance
Final fee settlement and issuance of your commercial, professional, or industrial licence.
Bank Account & Tax Setup
Corporate bank account introductions, Corporate Tax & VAT registration to get you fully compliant from launch.
Incorporation Backed by Chartered Accountants, Not a Setup Middleman
Most business setup agents disappear once your licence is issued. We stay — as your accounting, tax, and audit partner for the life of the company.
Ministry of Economy Licensed
Full-service chartered accountants, not a setup agent — every structure is reviewed for accounting and tax fit before you commit.
One Partner, Start to Finish
Incorporation flows straight into bookkeeping, VAT, Corporate Tax registration, and annual audit under one roof.
UAE-Wide Coverage
Direct experience with mainland licensing across emirates plus UAE free zones including SAIF Zone, SRTIP, DMCC, RAKEZ and DSO.
Compliance Built In From Day One
UBO, ESR, AML and Corporate Tax obligations are flagged and addressed at incorporation — not discovered a year later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can’t find your question? Our team can talk you through the right structure for your business.
A mainland company is licensed by the relevant Economic Development Department — SEDD in Sharjah, DED in Dubai — and can trade freely across the UAE and internationally without restriction. A free zone company is licensed by a specific free zone authority, offers full ownership and simplified setup, but generally needs a local distributor or branch to trade directly in the UAE mainland market.
In most cases, no. Since UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021, the majority of mainland commercial and industrial activities allow 100% foreign ownership, and all free zone entities have always allowed full foreign ownership. A small list of "strategic impact" activities still requires UAE national participation — we confirm this for your specific activity before you commit.
Typically: passport copies of all shareholders/directors, a trade name reservation, initial approval certificate, Memorandum of Association, proof of registered address (Ejari/tenancy contract), and, for certain activities, a No Objection Certificate. Exact requirements vary by jurisdiction and activity — we prepare a checklist specific to your case.
A straightforward mainland or free zone licence can be issued in as little as a few working days once documents are finalised; timelines extend for activities needing external approvals (e.g. healthcare, education, financial services) or for entities requiring notarisation and legal translation.
Every UAE company must register for Corporate Tax with the FTA regardless of profit level; VAT registration becomes mandatory once taxable supplies cross the AED 375,000 threshold. Free zone entities may qualify for a 0% rate on qualifying income as a QFZP — we assess this during incorporation, not after.
Yes. We prepare your corporate bank account application, financial projections, and compliance documentation, and introduce you to banking partners that fit your business profile — a step many first-time investors underestimate.
