The short answer
A Free Zone company gives you 100% foreign ownership, residence visas, a flexi-desk instead of an office for small teams, and a licence usually ready in a few working days. The setup is online: choose the zone and activities, reserve the name, send passports, sign electronically, receive the licence, then get your establishment card and visas. You only come to the UAE for the medical test and biometrics. All in, plan for about two to three weeks to your Emirates ID.
Who a Free Zone company suits
- Consultants, agencies and freelancers who invoice companies
- Tech, software and online businesses
- Traders who sell to companies in the UAE and abroad
- Holding companies and investors
- Anyone who wants a UAE residence visa through their own company
Not a fit: shops, restaurants and showrooms, which need a mainland licence. Not sure which zone? See Free Zones in Dubai and the UAE.
How to set up a Free Zone company in 8 steps
- Choose the Free Zone. Based on your activity, visas, clients, address and budget. Most of our clients choose IFZA, Meydan or RAKEZ.
- Choose activities and package. Activities from the zone's official list, number of visas, licence length.
- Choose the structure. New company or branch, shareholders and their shares, manager and directors.
- Reserve the name. Usually "a name you like + a word from your activity". See the IFZA name rules.
- Send documents and sign. Passports, photos and proof of address, signatures done electronically.
- Receive the licence and company documents: licence, certificate of incorporation, memorandum, share certificates.
- Get the establishment card and visas: entry permit or status change, medical test, biometrics, Emirates ID.
- Open the bank account and register for corporate tax.
With us, steps 1 to 3 happen on a free 30-minute call, and step 5 in our online application, which checks your name against the rules before you submit.
How long it takes
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Choosing zone and activities | One 30-minute call |
| Name and pre-approval | 1–2 working days |
| Licence | Usually a few working days; some zones within a day |
| Establishment card | A few working days after the licence |
| Visa, medical test, Emirates ID | About 1–2 weeks |
| Bank account | Days to a few weeks, depending on the bank |
The most common delays are documents that need attestation (for company shareholders) and activities that need outside approval. We check both on the first call.
Choosing the company structure
| Option | What it means |
|---|---|
| New company (FZE / FZCO / FZ-LLC) | A new limited liability company. Your personal assets are separate from the company's debts. |
| Branch | A branch of a company you already own, with the same name. The parent company stays responsible. |
| One or several shareholders | One is enough. Partners can be people or companies; zones include different numbers in the base licence. |
| Manager and directors | The manager signs for the company day to day; you can be both shareholder and manager. |
Documents you need
Each shareholder
- Passport copy (valid 6+ months)
- Passport-format photo
- Proof of home address
- UAE visa and Emirates ID, if resident
A company as shareholder
- Certificate of incorporation
- Memorandum and articles
- Board resolution
- Attestation and translation where needed
Sometimes
- Employer no-objection letter, if employed in the UAE
- Approvals for regulated activities
- CV or business plan, for some activities
You upload everything from your phone in our step-by-step form.
Setting up from abroad
Most of our clients start before they move. The company, licence and documents are done online while you are at home. The company then issues your entry permit, you travel once for the medical test and biometrics (we book both), and your Emirates ID is delivered to your UAE address. Moving from Italy? Read aprire una società a Dubai.
Common mistakes when setting up a Free Zone company
- Choosing the zone on price alone. Extra activities, shareholders and visas can make the "cheap" zone the expensive one.
- Activities that don't match the business. Banks and clients notice.
- Too few visas on the licence. Upgrading later costs time; plan for the next two years.
- Forgetting corporate tax registration. It is due within 3 months of incorporation, even with no profit.
- Leaving attestation to the last minute for a company shareholder.
After setup: what your company must do
- Corporate tax: register within 3 months of incorporation, and file a return every year. See corporate tax.
- VAT: register once taxable sales pass AED 375,000 in 12 months. See VAT registration.
- Books: keep proper accounts and records for 7 years. See accounting services.
- Renewals: licence every year, establishment card and visas when due.
- Changes: new activities, shareholders or managers through an amendment.
What decides the cost
The Free Zone, the number of visas, activities and shareholders, the licence length and whether you already live in the UAE. We don't publish prices that may be wrong for you: on a free call we work out your exact cost, line by line, and send it in writing. Renewal each year costs about the same as the first-year licence.
How much we do for you
Basic
- Free Zone setup with our document templates
- Medical test and biometrics booked
- Emirates ID delivered
- Updates in the app, WhatsApp support
Silver
- Everything in Basic
- Help opening your bank account
- Corporate tax registration, free
- Dubai-Ready guarantee, or a full refund of our setup fee
Gold
- Everything in Silver
- Chauffeur to your medical test and biometrics
- Emirates ID collected and delivered where you want
Basic has no service fee. We confirm the price of each package on your call, before you pay anything.