UAE business setup & tax readiness
Mainland or free-zone company formation with the tax picture included from day one. Setup professional fee from AED 8,000 (free zone) or from AED 12,000 (mainland). Licensing authority, visa and office fees are quoted separately at cost.
Mainland vs free zone
Mainland (DED-licensed)
- • Trade with UAE mainland customers without a service agent.
- • Office space in approved commercial locations.
- • Standard Corporate Tax regime (0% up to AED 375k; 9% above).
- • Professional setup fee from AED 12,000 plus DED fees at cost.
Free zone (authority-licensed)
- • Varied activity lists; many allow flexi-desk offices and low-cost visa packages.
- • QFZP 0% rate is conditional — not automatic (see QFZP assessment).
- • Direct trade with UAE mainland may need a distributor or mainland branch.
- • Professional setup fee from AED 8,000 plus free-zone fees at cost.
First-year compliance after setup
- • Corporate Tax registration. Entity-specific deadline. Register through EmaraTax within the FTA's published timeline for your category.
- • VAT registration. Mandatory once taxable supplies and imports exceed AED 375,000 over 12 months or are expected to in the next 30 days. Voluntary from AED 187,500.
- • UBO declaration. Maintain a register of beneficial owners and declare to the licensing authority. UBO is a separate, continuing obligation.
- • Bookkeeping and record-keeping. Keep accounting records aligned to the Corporate Tax law for the statutory retention period.
- • Audit (if required). Many free zones require audited financial statements. QFZP status requires audited accounts.
Frequently asked questions
Do setup fees include the trade licence?
No. Published setup fees are TaxSey professional fees. Trade-licence fees, visa fees, office/desk fees and any share capital deposit are separate and paid to the relevant authority or provider at cost. We confirm the total expected outlay before you commit.
Is VAT registration automatic on setup?
No. VAT registration is driven by taxable supplies and imports, not by setting up the company. Most new entities are not required to register immediately; we flag the threshold in the scope letter.
Does a free zone guarantee 0% Corporate Tax?
No. The 0% QFZP rate is conditional on substance, qualifying income, de minimis, audited accounts and the arm's-length principle. A free-zone licence by itself does not deliver 0% tax. See the QFZP assessment service.
What ongoing services are needed?
Typically: bookkeeping, VAT registration and filing (if applicable), Corporate Tax registration and annual return, UBO declaration and record-keeping. We scope these as separate engagements rather than bundling everything into the setup fee.
Request a setup consultation
Share your intended business activity, nationality and residence plan. We send a written cost breakdown with professional fees and expected authority fees separately listed.
Request a breakdown