How much does UAE company formation cost?

The cost depends on the zone or emirate, the activity, the number of visas, the office and the bank. Zone fees and our work are priced case by case: send a short description of the task and we will send an estimate within one business day.

Which is better: a free zone or mainland?

A free zone suits businesses with clients outside the UAE: consulting, IT, trading, re-export. Mainland is needed for sales on the UAE domestic market, retail and government contracts. We make the choice after reviewing the business.

Can a foreigner own 100% of a company in the UAE?

Yes. In free zones a foreigner owns the company in full. On the mainland, 100% foreign ownership is allowed for most activities, with exceptions for activities of strategic importance.

What tax does a UAE company pay?

Corporate tax is 9% on profit above AED 375,000 and 0% below that amount. A free zone company that meets the qualifying person conditions pays 0% on qualifying income. VAT is 5% once turnover exceeds the registration threshold.

Do I need to register for corporate tax if the company has no profit?

Yes. FTA registration is mandatory for all resident companies, free zone companies included. A new company applies within 3 months of registration. The late registration penalty is AED 10,000, and the FTA waives it if the first return is filed within 7 months of the end of the first tax period.

Can I register a company in the UAE remotely?

Many free zones, including those used for Dubai free zone company setup, register companies remotely. For the investor visa and Emirates ID you need to travel: the medical test and biometrics are done in person. The bank also usually expects a visa and a meeting.

Does a UAE company give me a visa?

Yes, the company owner can obtain an investor or partner residence visa, then visas for family and employees. The number of visas depends on the zone, the license package and the office. A 10-year Golden Visa is granted, among other routes, with company capital of AED 2 million or more.

Do I need to report a UAE company to the tax authority in Ukraine?

Yes, if you are a Ukrainian tax resident. The CFC notice is filed within 60 days of acquiring the stake, and the CFC report annually with the tax return. The profit is exempt if passive income is no more than half, or the total income of all your CFCs does not exceed EUR 2 million.

Does a free zone company need accounting?

Yes. The company keeps records for 7 years and files a corporate tax return, and the 0% rate for a qualifying person requires audited financial statements. Zones also require an audit under their own rules, for example DMCC and JAFZA every year.

UAE company formation in Dubai ✓ free zone and mainland

UAE company formation, turnkey: we choose a free zone or mainland setup, obtain the license, arrange the investor visa, prepare the bank application and register the company for tax.

Since 2012 · 50+ jurisdictions · company, visa, bank account and accounting in one team · first consultation free

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In brief

UAE company formation happens in one of the free zones or on the mainland. A foreign owner can hold 100% of a mainland company, except for certain activities of strategic importance.
UAE corporate tax is 9% on taxable profit above AED 375,000 and 0% below that amount. A free zone company that meets the qualifying person conditions pays 0% on qualifying income. VAT is 5%.
We choose the zone and activity, register the company, arrange the investor visa and Emirates ID, prepare the bank package and register the company for corporate tax and VAT.
Usually, in our experience, the license is ready in 1–3 weeks, and the route to the visa, Emirates ID and a working bank account takes 1.5–3 months. The timeline depends on the case, its details, the work of the authorities and force majeure.

Your situation

Pick the situation closest to yours: a short outline of the route and the first step.

IT services and consulting for clients outside the UAE

For exporting services, a free zone company with a consulting or IT license usually fits. First step: we check the activity against the zone's list and work out whether the income qualifies for the 0% rate.

Example. A developer from Kyiv works with EU clients and wants to move to Dubai. We register a free zone company with a software development license, arrange the investor visa, prepare the bank package and register the company for corporate tax.

Discuss this case →

Trading goods inside the UAE

Selling goods and services on the UAE domestic market is easier through a mainland company. First step: we choose the emirate and the activity and check whether extra permits are needed.

Example. A Ukrainian building materials manufacturer opens a warehouse and sales in Dubai. We register a mainland company with a trade license, arrange the office and visas for managers and register the company for VAT.

Discuss this case →

Re-export and logistics

For re-export through UAE ports and airports, clients often choose free zones next to logistics hubs. First step: we map the supply chain, the customs codes and where the goods will be stored.

Example. An agricultural exporter sells to the Gulf states and Africa through the UAE. We choose a free zone with a customs regime, register the company, obtain the customs code and set up VAT accounting.

Discuss this case →

Moving your family together with the business

The company is the basis for an investor visa and, through it, for family visas. First step: we choose a zone where the license allows the number of visas you need and plan the visit for biometrics.

Example. An agency owner moves to the UAE with the family. We register the company, arrange the investor visa and Emirates ID, then visas for the spouse and children, and prepare the bank package in parallel.

Discuss this case →

A holding company for shares and assets

Holding structures in certain zones suit ownership of shares in other companies. First step: we check how the holding's income looks under the Ukrainian CFC rules and under UAE tax.

Example. Two partners from Ukraine own IT companies in Poland and Estonia and want to bring the shares into one structure. We map the dividend flows, choose the holding form and register it with the tax consequences in Ukraine in mind.

Discuss this case →

You already have a UAE company, but the bank account or taxes are not in order

We take over the existing company. First step: we check the license, the corporate tax registration, the filing deadlines and the state of the books.

Example. The company was registered two years ago, the bank closed its account, and it has no corporate tax registration. We register it with the FTA, restore the books and prepare a package for a new bank.

Discuss this case →

What turnkey UAE company formation includes

Turnkey UAE company formation covers the whole route from choosing the zone to the first tax registration: license, investor visa, bank application and a reporting schedule.

Meeting room overlooking Dubai and the Burj Khalifa: a document folder and a laptop on the table, preparing for UAE company formation — UAE company formation: license, investor visa and bank account

Choosing the form and zone. We compare free zones and mainland for your activity, clients, number of visas and tax regime.
Registration and license. We reserve the name, prepare the articles and founders' resolutions, file with the registrar of the zone or emirate and obtain the license.
Office. We find the option the zone requires: flexi desk, office or warehouse.
Investor visa and Emirates ID. Entry permit, medical test, biometrics, residence visa. Then visas for family and employees.
Bank account. We match the bank to your business profile, prepare the KYC package and support the compliance review.
Tax. Corporate tax registration with the FTA, VAT registration once the threshold is reached, beneficial ownership register.
Accounting and reporting. We keep the books and prepare financial statements and returns: accounting services in Dubai and the UAE.
CFC in Ukraine. For an owner who is a Ukrainian tax resident, we file the notice and the annual CFC report.

Free zone or mainland: which company to set up in the UAE

A free zone suits a business whose clients and money are mostly outside the UAE. Mainland suits a business that needs to sell on the UAE domestic market without restrictions.

Criterion	Free zone company / Mainland company
Where it operates	Free zone company: Inside the zone and outside the UAE. On the domestic market, through a distributor or with a separate permit. In Dubai, since 2025 free zone companies can obtain a DET license or permit for this Mainland company: Across the whole UAE and abroad, including government clients
Ownership	Free zone company: 100% foreign ownership Mainland company: 100% foreign ownership, except for certain activities of strategic importance
Registrar	Free zone company: The free zone authority Mainland company: The emirate's economic department, in Dubai the DET
Corporate tax	Free zone company: 0% on qualifying income if the conditions are met, 9% on the rest Mainland company: 0% on profit up to AED 375,000, 9% above
Visas	Free zone company: The number of visas depends on the license package and office Mainland company: The number of visas depends on the office and the emirate's approvals
Typical use	Free zone company: Consulting, IT, trading, re-export, holding Mainland company: Retail, construction, consumer services, government contracts

There are also companies with no license to operate in the UAE, for example RAK ICC international companies and the similar form in JAFZA. They may not do business inside the country without separate licenses, and for corporate tax they are residents like any other company. We use them rarely, for holding assets.

For Dubai company formation and business setup in other emirates, we work with the main zones of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Ajman. Separate pages: DMCC, Ajman Free Zone, Ras Al Khaimah. The conditions for the 0% rate are in the reference section below.

Describe your business and clients, and at a free consultation we will propose the zone, license type and steps to the visa and bank account.

How long UAE company registration takes

Usually, in our experience, a free zone license is ready 1–3 weeks after a complete filing, and the whole route to the visa, Emirates ID and bank account takes 1.5–3 months. The timeline depends on the case, its details, the work of the authorities and force majeure.

Stage	Usually, in our experience
Choosing the zone, KYC, preparing documents	3–10 business days
Registration and license	1–3 weeks in a free zone, mainland can take longer because of approvals
Investor visa and Emirates ID	2–4 weeks. You need to travel: residency must be completed within 60 days of entry, and biometrics for the Emirates ID are given in person
Bank account	4–12 weeks after the visa is issued
Corporate tax registration	We file right after the license. The FTA gives new companies 3 months from the registration date

The zones' official timelines cover the review of a complete application. They exclude collecting documents, apostille and translations, bank checks and answers to compliance requests. If you need the company by a specific date, tell us at the consultation and we will plan the steps around it.

What the cost of UAE company formation depends on

We price UAE company formation case by case: the cost is made up of the zone or emirate fees and the scope of our work.

free zone or mainland, the emirate and the specific zone;
the activity and whether extra permits are needed;
the number of founders and visas, visas for family and employees;
office: flexi desk, office or warehouse;
the bank and how complex the source of funds review is;
tax registrations, accounting and audit;
CFC reporting in Ukraine;
translations, apostille and legalization of documents.

We work under a contract. Send a short description of the task, and within one business day we will send an estimate with stages and timelines.

Why clients trust us with UAE company formation

Company formation in the UAE involves dozens of details with the zone, the immigration authority, the bank and the tax authority, and clients have trusted us with them for years for five reasons:

In business since 2012

For fourteen years we have registered companies, opened bank accounts and handled tax and immigration matters in 50+ jurisdictions. We know the requirements of zones, banks and authorities from our own cases.

We deal with zones, banks and authorities

We handle correspondence with the zone authority, the immigration authority, the bank and the FTA ourselves and answer their requests. We need documents, decisions and one trip from you.

We see the job through

We address comments from the zone, an authority or the bank at no extra charge under the contract. If a regulatory license is needed, we work through an accredited partner and remain responsible to you.

One team for the whole structure

The company, visas, bank account, accounting, UAE taxes and the CFC in Ukraine are handled by one team of Crystal Tax lawyers and accountants together with partners in the UAE.

Contract and confidentiality

The scope of work, timelines and confidentiality are set out in the contract. We disclose information about you and the company only to the extent the procedure requires.

UAE company formation step by step

UAE company formation with us goes through six stages. We need documents, decisions and one trip for the visa from you, and we handle the rest.

Flowchart of UAE company formation: consultation, choosing a free zone or mainland, license, investor visa and Emirates ID, bank account, tax and accounting — UAE company formation steps with Crystal Tax

Consultation. We review the business, clients, number of visas and the owners' tax residency. The first consultation is free.
Choosing the zone and activity. We propose a free zone or mainland, the license type and office, and calculate tax in the UAE and in Ukraine, including CFC rules.
Registration. We collect KYC, reserve the name, file the documents and obtain the license.
Visa and Emirates ID. We prepare the entry permit, arrange the medical test and biometrics and obtain the investor visa.
Bank account. We file the bank application, answer compliance questions and complete the package at no extra charge.
Tax and accounting. We register the company for corporate tax and VAT, start the bookkeeping and put the filing and license renewal deadlines in the calendar.

Documents required for UAE company registration

For UAE company registration we need a passport, photo and due diligence details from each founder and manager, and a description of the activity of the future company.

passport valid for at least 6 months and a color photo;
entry stamp or a valid UAE visa, if you are already in the country;
proof of residential address and a CV or description of professional experience;
business description: activity, clients and countries, expected turnover;
for the bank: proof of source of funds, contracts or invoices with clients, statements;
if the founder is a company: corporate documents with apostille and legalization, and an ownership chart up to the individuals.

The exact list depends on the zone and the bank, and we give it after the consultation. We arrange translations, apostille and legalization ourselves.

UAE company taxes in 2026

For financial years starting on or after 1 June 2023, the UAE applies corporate tax under Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022.

Tax	Rate and conditions
Corporate tax	0% on taxable profit up to AED 375,000, 9% above
Qualifying free zone person	0% on qualifying income, 9% on the rest. Conditions: adequate substance in the UAE, audited financial statements, compliance with transfer pricing rules, non-qualifying revenue no higher than 5% of total revenue or AED 5 million, whichever is lower. If a condition is breached, the status is lost from the start of the tax period
Small business	A resident with revenue up to AED 3 million in the current and previous tax periods may elect Small Business Relief and be treated as having no taxable income. In August 2026 the relief was extended to tax periods ending no later than 31 December 2029. It does not apply to qualifying free zone persons or members of large multinational groups
Large multinational groups	For financial years starting on or after 1 January 2025, they pay a top-up tax to an effective rate of 15%. This applies to groups with consolidated revenue of EUR 750 million or more in at least two of the four preceding years
VAT	5%. Mandatory registration when taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000 over 12 months, voluntary from AED 187,500

Company obligations

register for corporate tax with the FTA through the EmaraTax portal, free zone companies included. Companies incorporated on or after 1 March 2024 apply within 3 months of registration. The late registration penalty is AED 10,000, and the FTA waives it if the first return is filed within 7 months of the end of the first tax period;
file the return and pay the tax within 9 months of the end of the tax period;
keep records and documents for 7 years;
keep a register of beneficial owners holding 25% or more, file it with the registrar within 60 days of receiving the license and update it within 15 days of any change;
move to e-invoicing for B2B and B2G transactions: companies with revenue below AED 50 million appoint an accredited service provider by 31 March 2027 and go live on 1 July 2027;
prepare audited financial statements as a qualifying free zone person or with revenue above AED 50 million.

Economic Substance Regulations reporting was abolished for financial years ending after 31 December 2022. Substance still remains a condition for the 0% rate in a free zone. More on bookkeeping and deadlines: accounting in the UAE.

A UAE company and the owner's taxes in Ukraine

If the owner is a Ukrainian tax resident, the UAE company is a controlled foreign company for them, and a notice and an annual CFC report are filed in Ukraine.

the notice of acquiring a stake is filed within 60 days;
the CFC report is filed together with the annual tax return, with certified copies of the company's financial statements attached;
a double tax treaty between Ukraine and the UAE has been in force since 2004, and its protocol took effect for Ukraine on 19.10.2023. From 1 January 2025 the UAE is off the Ukrainian list of low-tax jurisdictions;
CFC profit is exempt in Ukraine if one of the conditions of Article 39² of the Tax Code of Ukraine is met. The 0% and 9% rates are below the effective rate threshold, so for a UAE company the two other conditions usually apply: passive income is no more than 50% of total income, or the total income of all the owner's CFCs does not exceed the equivalent of EUR 2 million;
CFC penalties for the period of martial law do not apply, provided all obligations are met within six months after it ends. The tax on CFC profit itself still applies;
the UAE has exchanged account information under the CRS standard since 2018, and Ukraine is on the UAE's list of participating jurisdictions.

If the owner moves to the UAE, we look at tax residency separately: a residence visa alone does not end Ukrainian tax residency. More: controlled foreign companies and business relocation and residence permits.

A bank account for a UAE company: why banks say no

UAE banks most often refuse companies with an unclear activity, no link to the UAE and an unproven source of funds.

the company has no office, employees or contracts connected to the UAE;
the signatory has no UAE residence visa: in practice most banks expect it before opening an account;
the source of funds is not backed by documents;
sanctions and PEP screening, counterparties from high-risk countries;
a higher-risk activity without the right license, for example crypto assets;
inconsistencies between documents and registry data.

We match the bank to the business profile, prepare the business profile, contracts and source of funds package before filing, and answer compliance requests. The bank makes the decision on opening the account. Our job is to give it a complete and consistent package.

How to start your UAE company formation

To start, write two or three sentences on what the company will do, where your clients are and how many visas you need. We will assess the task within one business day and propose the zone, form and steps. The free consultation takes 10 minutes, a detailed structure review takes 30 minutes.

Other international business services

Accounting services in Dubai and the UAEBookkeeping, financial statements, corporate tax and VAT for free zone and mainland companies.Learn more →

UAE residence permitResidence visa through a company, family visas and Emirates ID.Learn more →

Company formation abroadPoland, Estonia, the UK, Cyprus, the US: comparing jurisdictions for your business.Learn more →

CFC reportingNotices and the annual report on controlled foreign companies to the State Tax Service of Ukraine.Learn more →

Sources

Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 on Corporate Tax, consolidated; Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025, qualifying activities; MoF: Small Business Relief extended to 31 December 2029; FTA: timeframes for Corporate Tax registration; FTA: VAT registration; MoET: full foreign ownership, except activities with strategic impact; Dubai Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025; ICP: UAE Golden Residency; Ukraine–UAE double tax treaty; Tax Code of Ukraine, Article 39-2. Reviewed and updated on 27.09.2026.

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Your situation

What turnkey UAE company formation includes

Free zone or mainland: which company to set up in the UAE

How long UAE company registration takes

What the cost of UAE company formation depends on

Why clients trust us with UAE company formation

In business since 2012

We deal with zones, banks and authorities

We see the job through

One team for the whole structure

Contract and confidentiality

UAE company formation step by step

Documents required for UAE company registration

UAE company taxes in 2026

Company obligations

A UAE company and the owner's taxes in Ukraine

A bank account for a UAE company: why banks say no

How to start your UAE company formation

Other international business services

Sources

Frequently asked questions

What clients say

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