We handle three primary structures. Mainland LLC: operates anywhere in the UAE, no restriction on trading locally, requires a UAE national service agent (we manage this relationship) — suitable for businesses selling to UAE government, retail, or the general public. Free Zone company (FZCO or FZ-LLC): 100% foreign ownership, no corporate tax, efficient setup process — we work with Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai Internet City, DIFC, ADGM (Abu Dhabi), and several others depending on your industry. Offshore company (Jebel Ali, RAK ICC): for holding structures, IP ownership, or international trade with no UAE operations requirement. We advise on which structure minimises your regulatory burden and tax exposure.

Free Zone registration: typically 3–7 business days once all documents are submitted. Mainland LLC: 7–15 business days including trade licence issuance and Memorandum of Association notarisation. DIFC or ADGM (financial services): 2–6 weeks due to regulatory review. Processing time depends on the activity licences required and whether your home country documents require UAE embassy attestation. We provide a checklist of all required documents at the start so there are no surprises.

Costs have three components: government fees (licence fees, registration fees, visa quotas — these vary by Free Zone and licence type, typically AED 10,000–25,000 for a standard Free Zone package including visa allocation); office or flexi-desk requirement (Free Zones require a minimum physical presence; flexi-desk packages start from AED 8,000–15,000/year); and our service fee (AED 3,500–6,000 depending on structure complexity). We provide a complete cost breakdown before you commit — no hidden fees. Annual renewal costs are typically 60–70% of the initial setup cost.

Yes. We process investor visas (for company owners), employment visas for staff, and dependent visas for family members. The process involves Emirates ID application, medical fitness test, and status change if the applicant is already in the UAE on a different visa. Investor visa processing takes 2–3 weeks; employment visas 2–4 weeks. We handle all government portal submissions and accompany applicants to typing centres and medical centres. We also assist with virtual working programme (remote work visa) applications for those based outside the UAE.

The key difference is operational scope. A Free Zone company can operate within its free zone, trade internationally, and operate remotely. It cannot sell directly to UAE mainland customers without a local distributor or commercial agent (except in some B2B and professional services cases). A Mainland company has no geographic restrictions and can bid for UAE government contracts. If your customers are UAE-based consumers or government entities, Mainland is typically necessary. If you are a digital, SaaS, consulting, or tech business serving international or regional clients, a Free Zone company is simpler, cheaper, and has the same 0% corporate tax treatment on qualifying income.

Yes, and this is often where foreign founders get stuck. UAE banks have significantly tightened KYC requirements since 2020. We prepare a bank-ready business plan, compile a full KYC document pack (corporate structure diagram, source of funds explanation, transaction volume projections, sample contracts), and make introductions to relationship managers at banks most likely to approve your profile. We work with ENBD, Mashreq, RAKBank, and several international banks. Average account opening time with our preparation: 3–6 weeks post-submission. Without preparation, rejections are common and can take 3–4 months to resolve.