Business Setup · Company Formation
Company Registration in Dubai & the UAE
Register your Mainland, Free Zone or Offshore company with 100% foreign ownership. We handle activity selection, trade name, approvals and your trade licence — start to finish.
- 100% Foreign Ownership
- Mainland, Free Zone & Offshore
- Itemised Quote
Licensed by Dubai DET · Licence 1394564
At a glance
- Routes — mainland, free zone and offshore
- 3
- Foreign ownership in free zones and most mainland activities
- 100%
- Emirates covered in our jurisdiction guide
- 7
- Relationship manager from setup to renewal
- 1
The right structure is the most valuable decision you make
Choosing between Mainland, Free Zone and Offshore — and the exact jurisdiction within them — determines your ownership, tax exposure, visa quota and which markets you can legally serve. Get it wrong and you pay to fix it later.
Smartgic matches your business activity, growth plan and budget to the optimal licence. We then execute the full registration: trade name reservation, initial approval, Memorandum of Association, and issuance of your trade licence — so you are ready to invoice from day one.
Key facts
- Routes — mainland, free zone and offshore
- 3
- Foreign ownership in free zones and most mainland activities
- 100%
- Emirates covered in our jurisdiction guide
- 7
- Relationship manager from setup to renewal
- 1
Everything covered in Company Registration
The concrete scope our team delivers, grouped the way we actually run your file.
Mainland Company Setup
Full DET registration for companies trading directly in the UAE market.
- Commercial, professional & industrial licences
- Trade name reservation & initial approval
- MOA drafting & notarisation
- Ejari / tenancy registration
- Establishment card & unlimited visa eligibility
Free Zone Company Setup
Formation in 40+ free zones matched to your activity, budget and visa needs.
- Jurisdiction comparison & selection (IFZA, DMCC, Meydan…)
- Licence application & registration
- Flexi-desk / office package arrangement
- Visa quota allocation & investor visa
- Bank introduction letter & document pack
Offshore & Holding Structures
Asset-holding and international structures with confidentiality and tax efficiency.
- Offshore incorporation (JAFZA, RAK ICC)
- Holding company structuring
- Registered agent & registered office
- Corporate documents & apostille support
- Bank account opening assistance
What you gain with Company Registration
The practical difference when the work is planned and filed properly the first time.
Full Foreign Ownership
Keep 100% of your company across all free zones and most mainland activities — no local partner required.
Tax-Efficient Structuring
Benefit from 0% corporate tax thresholds and double-taxation treaties with the right jurisdiction.
Fast, Compliant Issuance
Most licences are issued in 3–5 working days, fully compliant with DET and free-zone regulations.
Visa Eligibility
Your licence unlocks investor and employee residence visas for you, your team and your family.
Banking-Ready Documents
We prepare a clean documentation pack that UAE banks accept for corporate account opening.
One Dedicated Manager
A single relationship manager owns your file from first call through every future renewal.
A clear process, step by step
One adviser owns your file from first call to completion, and you always know which step you are on.
- 01
Consultation & Activity Selection
We assess your goals and shortlist the ideal jurisdiction, legal form and business activities.
- 02
Trade Name & Initial Approval
We reserve your trade name and secure initial approval from the relevant authority.
- 03
Documentation & MOA
We draft and notarise your Memorandum of Association and compile the application file.
- 04
Licence Issuance
Your trade licence is issued and we hand over a ready-to-bank corporate document pack.
What you’ll need
Have these ready and we can move quickly. If something is missing, we will tell you what the authority accepts instead.
Documents we’ll need
- Passport copies of all shareholders
- Passport-size photographs
- Proposed trade names (2–3 options)
- Chosen business activities
- Shareholding / ownership split
- UAE entry stamp or visa page (if in-country)
Missing a document?
Documents issued abroad usually need attestation, and some can be replaced by alternatives. Send us what you have and we will tell you exactly what is still needed.
Need documents attested or translated? Our document clearing team can help.
Packages & starting prices
Starting prices for our service. Your final quote depends on your exact requirements, and government fees are always itemised separately.
Free Zone
Most Popularstarting from
AED 5,750
- Trade licence (1 year)
- 100% foreign ownership
- Trade name reservation
- 1 investor visa allocation
- Digital company documents
- Dedicated relationship manager
Mainland
Trade Anywherestarting from
AED 18,900
- DET commercial licence
- Visa quota sized to your office
- MOA drafting & notarisation
- Local market access
- Establishment card
- PRO & government liaison
Premium Free Zone
Scale-Upstarting from
AED 12,900
- Multi-activity licence
- Up to 6 visa allocations
- Premium free-zone address
- Corporate bank assistance
- Corporate Tax registration
- Priority PRO support
Prices are indicative starting points for our service fee and exclude government and authority fees.
Company Registration questions
Straight answers to what clients ask us most. If yours is not here, ask us directly.
Free Zone suits international trade, services and startups wanting 100% ownership and fast, low-cost setup. Mainland is ideal if you need to trade directly in the UAE market or bid for government contracts. We recommend the right fit after understanding your activity.
Yes. All free-zone companies allow 100% foreign ownership, and most mainland commercial and professional activities now do too.
Typically 3–5 working days for free-zone companies once documents are ready. Some mainland or regulated activities take a little longer due to extra approvals.
Most free zones offer flexi-desk or virtual office packages that satisfy licensing requirements. Mainland licences may require a tenancy (Ejari), which we can arrange.
Yes, we can start and largely complete your formation remotely. A short visit may be needed for Emirates ID biometrics and bank verification.
Company Registration across every jurisdiction
Free zone, mainland or offshore — the jurisdiction changes the process, the fees and what you are allowed to do. These are the ones clients ask about most.
Related services
Most clients combine these. We run them as one engagement with a single point of contact.
Guides on Company Registration
In-depth articles from our team on the questions clients most often ask about this service.
Let’s plan your next move
Tell us what you are planning. An adviser will come back with the route, the documents and an itemised quote — no obligation, no pressure to commit.
Visit our office
Office 44, Floor M2, BN Complex, Deira Al Muteena, Dubai, UAE
Mon – Sat, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (GST)
Get directions