TOP BUSINESS SETUP CONSULTANTS IN UAE
Freezone, Mainland & Offshore Company Formation Related Queries
As in the other parts of the world, UAE was also affected by the pandemic though in a lesser scale. UAE, being a country under the visionary and strong leadership of its rulers, was quick to announce stimulus package for the businesses and industries. The stimulus package announced for SME ( Small & Medium Establishments) which constitutes 92% of UAE business, was well received and thereby saved a large sector of business community from the adverse impact of pandemic. Right now, UAE is getting back to almost absolute normal and businesses are gearing up for the preparation of Expo 2020.
Aurion is a 15 year old Award-winning consulting company in the UAE. It assist global investors in choosing the right Free Zone Package from the 45+ Free Zones of UAE. We have a team of legal and business experts to assess the investor’s precise requirements and provide the right advice and solution.
Choosing the right Company Formation package from the various offerings of the Free Zones is quite challenging for foreign investors. We design the right package and also provide with an End-to-End Company Formation & Allied Services that fits all the investor’s requirements.
Fees can be paid using Paybylink. Invoice will be sent via Paybylink and client can use debit/credit card to make instant payment by clicking the link.
UAE is the hub of trading activities in the Middle East. With the largest man-made seaport in the region and the busiest Airport of the world, the country is blessed with political stability, safety, security and connectivity to all parts of the world. A large network of banks with easy bank account opening procedures and online banking support makes it easy for investors worldwide to do their banking operations. UAE has signed DTAA (Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement) treaty with 117 countries and hence incorporating a company in the UAE and invoicing from this company is a wise method to save taxes in the investor’s home country. The high-end infrastructure coupled with zero income tax makes it the most attractive destination of investors around the globe.
You can transfer the fees for Company Setup via the Pay By Link. An invoice will be generated and shared with you via Pay By Link, you can use Debit/Credit Card to do an instant payment by clicking on the link. Apart from that, we also accept online bank transfer, cheque, Point-of-Sale Machine (@ Our Office Premises), and Cash.
Renting physical office is not mandatory to setup companies. In the mainland, there are virtual offices available at minimum costs. In Freezones, Virtual offices, sharing desk, physical offices & warehouses are available.
Based on the business activity you can choose three types of licenses – Commercial (For Trading Companies), Professional (For Consultancy Companies), Industrial (For Manufacturing Companies).
Setting up a company starts with choosing the business activity, choosing the business jurisdiction, tradename reservation, submission of required documents, applying for a trade license, applying for residence visa & bank account, obtaining additional clearances (customs registration, chamber of commerce registration, etc.)
Since several Licensing authorities issue various types of Licenses at different costs, it’s always better to contact a credible Business Consultant like AURION to get the latest information and assistance.
Aurion will assist you in choosing the right Free Zone Package from the 45+ Free Zones of UAE. We have a team of legal and business experts to assess your requirements and provide the right advice and solution.
Choosing the right Company Formation package from the various offerings of the Free Zones is quite challenging for foreign investors. We design the right package for you and also provide you with an End-to-End Company Formation & Allied Services Suite that fits all your requirements.
Broadly there are 3 types of companies in the UAE –
1) Free zone Company
2) Mainland Company
3) Offshore International Business Company (IBC)
Freezones are designated areas within the UAE where special rules of the respective Free Zone Authority applies to the companies. Freezone companies are essentially onshore companies that can be 100% owned by expatriates. No import export duty is charged to a Freezone company.
Trading companies in Mainland are registered as LLC (Limited Liability Company). Offshore IBCs are non-resident companies not eligible for office premises or residence visa quota and it cannot do any business within UAE but can have a Bank Account.
Company incorporation in the Free zone has numerous advantages the main ones being 100% foreign ownership, 100% repatriation of profits, no tax or import/export duties, no corporate tax, easy company incorporation, world-class infrastructure.
The Free zone jurisdiction allows the following business types to set up their base – Free zone Limited Liability Company, Branch of an International Company, Branch of a Company already in operational in Dubai, Free zone Establishment (Single Shareholders), Free zone Company (2 to 5 Shareholders).
Depending on the legal business form, business activity, office type, business license package, free zone jurisdiction, documents submitted, a Free Zone company can be registered within 3-4 hours of the same day of document submission.
Choose the exact trading activity from the list of activities available in the Free Zone list, reserve the tradename, submit an application form with shareholder details, shareholder documents (passport, visa copy), rent an office space, apply for other clearances & documentation (Customs, Chamber of Commerce, ISO Certifications, etc.)
Yes, to trade in the mainland, the Free Zone can appoint a local DED (Department of Economic Development) registered agent for sales & distribution, open a branch in the mainland, start an LLC Company, start a Civil Works Company. Any trade done by freezone company to mainland or vice-versa will be treated as export/import and UAE customs law applies.
Yes, the Free Zones in the UAE are governed by various jurisdictions and each has a different policy and regulation. Hence, companies registered under a specific Free zone is granted access to the office space only in the respective free zone.
Free Zone offers 100 % foreign company ownership. Hence, 100% repatriation of capital & profits. Exempted from all import & export duties, no corporate tax. A 5% VAT will be applied for all domestic transactions performed inside UAE by the Free zone company.
The Cheapest Free Zone License available in the UAE is from International Free Zone Authority. (11,500 AED, No Visa, Virtual License) There are cost-effective options available in Sharjah Media City, Ajman Free Zone, and RAKEZ for start-ups and entrepreneurs to start their business establishments.
Dubai mainland companies have a host of benefits like actively trade in Dubai Mainland, rest of UAE and GCC Countries, expand the presence by opening new branches, hiring more office staff, participate in government tenders & projects, and many more.
Depending on the business activity and pre-approvals required for certain activities the time taken to register the Mainland Company may prolong. In an ideal case, if all documents are in place, you can get a mainland license in 3-4 Working days.
Limited Liability Company (LLC) is the most common legal business form in the Mainland of UAE. LLC Company offers better security and flexibility to expand business in the local UAE market. As per the latest update there is no requirement of having a local sponsor as one of the shareholder for setup an LLC Company in UAE.
There is no mandatory requirement of office space for starting a Service Company.
No, there is no requirement of local sponsor. There is also a Corporate Sponsorship option available for foreign investors.
Foreign owners can register a Civil Works Company in the Mainland of UAE. All professional services such as Consultancies, legal Advisories, Doctors, Chartered Accountants, etc., can register a Mainland Company. (100% Ownership). There is no requirement for a Local Sponsor, however, they have to appoint a Local Service Agent (LSA) for a yearly fee to liaise with the Government Department as a Contact Person of the Civil Work Company. The LSA will not be owning any shares or involved in the management activities of the company.
Yes, for all transactions initiated in the Mainland, the company has to pay a 5% VAT to the Federal Tax Authority (FTA). However, there certain Zero Rated items for VAT, such transactions are free of VAT.
Mainland business in UAE is formed in 3 phases
Phase 1 – Choosing a business activity and submitting the list of company names choices for approval.
Phase 2 – Once the investor submits all the legal documents (application form, passport copy, educational certificates, business information, financials, etc.), the authorities will assess the investor details and notifies the approval accordingly.
Phase 3 – The authority authenticates the business entity, issues business license, other required clearances, and the investor can proceed to the residency visa application.
9 Steps in Closing an LLC Company in Dubai
Offshore Company Formation in UAE has few limitations such as – No provision to issue residency visa, no trade within UAE, no leasing or renting a Local Premise in the UAE.
Yes, an Offshore Company can open a Bank Account in the UAE. The company owner will have to visit the UAE to do the paperwork with the bank. The bank will be assessing business activity, company profile, fund flow, etc. UAE has strict Know-your-Customer (KYC) Norms for Offshore Company Bank Accounts.
Offshore Company can be incorporated in less than 2 Working Days. Offshore Company registration is relatively easy by applying through an online registration form along with the right documents. In normal circumstances, the company registration will happen even without the physical presence of the company owner.
Yes, Offshore Company registered in RAKICC and Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) are eligible to purchase residential property in the Offshore Company’s name from designated freehold areas in Dubai. However, there are certain restrictions in terms of usage and disposal of the property. Offshore Company is not eligible by UAE Legal Laws to purchase any commercial property in the UAE.
Residence Visa in the UAE can be obtained through multiple ways such as applying for a job, purchasing a property, getting sponsored by the spouse, opening a company, and applying for the freelance permit.
Long-term Residence Visa was introduced by the Government of UAE for promoting trade, economic activities and invite fresh talents to UAE. For Expats to contribute more actively to the growing economy of UAE, 5-Year and 10-Year Long term visas were introduced for entrepreneurs, academicians, scientists, outstanding students, high-income executives, creative professionals, etc.
There are a whole lot of business support services undertaken by a PRO. It includes Visa Applications (Applying, Cancelling, Renewal); liaison between Government Authorities and client for legal documentation, paperwork for various business activities (Chamber of Commerce, Foreign Affairs, etc.)
Applying for a UAE Residence Visa from being in the Country and submitting all the required documents to the concerned authority in time, it will take less than 4-5 days to receive the e-visa. Then you can proceed with the in-country status change and the visa stamping. In an ideal case, it will approximately take 8-10 days to complete the whole process of Residence Visa in the UAE.
The Banking Sector in the UAE is very robust and advanced. Corporate Bank Accounts can be opened as soon as you incorporate a company in the UAE. Banks in UAE have their compliance regulations the investor has to meet. Also, there is a minimum monthly balance the company has to maintain (50,000-200,000 AED) depending on the nature and risk of the business activity.
The following are the documents required for opening a Corporate Bank Account in the UAE. Based on the client profile and business activity, the Bank might request additional documents as part of the compliance process.
Yes, Foreign Companies are eligible to open a Corporate Bank Account in the UAE but the process is tedious. It requires document attestation from the UAE embassy in the home country as well as attestation from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. An easy alternative is to set up a new company/branch of the foreign company in the UAE and apply for a Bank Account.
Applying for a UAE Residence Visa from being in the Country and submitting all the required documents to the concerned authority in time, it will take less than 4-5 days to receive the e-visa. Then you can proceed with the in-country status change and the visa stamping. In an ideal case, it will approximately take 8-10 days to complete the whole process of Residence Visa in the UAE.
For Bank Accounts Opening in UAE, the signatory has to be present during the bank account open with the documents for assessment and review. The shareholders of a company can assign any one of them to be the authorized signatory in the bank via a resolution of the company. And the shareholder appointed as above can visit the bank to open, operate and close the account.
Office # 213 & 214,
6 EA Building, DAFZA
Dubai Airport Free Zone
PO Box: 371473
+971 425 04150
+971 504 825561
Office # 2 & 3, Z Bldg
Old HSBC Bank, Sharjah
Airport International Freezone
PO Box: 122390
+971 6557 9726
+971 504 825561
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