Compare popular UAE business setup jurisdictions

Hawksford

Hawksford

As a leading global corporate services provider with our Middle East office in DMCC, Dubai, we can help you with company registration and offer full of suite corporate services in the UAE. Our expert team of multicultural professionals can assist you in setting up your business with our in-house expertise and extensive network of partners.

To assist with your decision-making, we have prepared an ‘at a glance’ table for the UAE that outlines the main company formation options, including both free zone and mainland jurisdictions. This table presents key details for each jurisdiction, along with the types of entities available throughout the UAE. It serves as a valuable resource for those looking to expand into the UAE region or set up a new business entity here.

At a glance business setup solutions in the UAE

Key information DMCC free zone LLC DIFC free zone LLC JAFZA free zone LLC Abu Dhabi mainland LLC KEZAD free zone LLC Dubai mainland LLC

Frequently used for

Trading, tech, consulting, head office

Financial, banking, tech, consulting

Warehousing, logistic, trading, manufacturing, offshore

All purposes

Automotive, logistics, industrial

All purposes

Minimum capitalisation
(local currency)

Depends on activity (for most: AED 50,000)

AED 1

AED 1

AED 1

Depends on activity

AED 1

Limited liability

Yes

Yes

Yes

NA

Yes

Yes

Lead time (incorporation)

Four weeks

Four weeks

Four weeks

Six weeks

three to four weeks

Six weeks

Lead time (account opening)

Six to eight weeks

Six to eight weeks

Six to eight weeks

Six to eight weeks

Six to eight weeks

Six to eight weeks

Taxation

0 to 9%

0 to 9%

0 to 9%

9%

0 to 9%

9%

Resident management

No

No

No

Yes

No

Yes

Corporate services

Our comprehensive range of corporate services are designed to meet all your business needs, wherever in the world you operate. They include:

We handle all aspects of the incorporation process, so your entities are up and running as soon as possible. We then look after the fundamentals so that everything is in good standing year after year.

We liaise directly with banks to get accounts open for your entities and handle day-to-day cash management and fund flows going forward.

We provide directors as needed – from individuals to full boards – delivering effective day-to-day management of your entities.

We are licensed to act as company secretary across our international offices and provide all associated services, ensuring best-practice governance and proactive board support for your entities.

We provide expert compliance support to ensure your entities are completely aligned with local and international regulatory and legislative requirements.

Our experts will help deal with the key tax compliance, filing and reporting needs of your entities.

Our highly experienced team will work with you and all associated participants to ensure deals your entities are involved in are closed in a rigorous and compliant manner.

From the simplest trial balance to full-spectrum public accounts and board reporting packages, our teams offer full bookkeeping, financial reporting and annual tax filing capabilities.

Our local experts can assist you with a range of HR requirements, including local recruitment, immigration support, ongoing people management and payroll administration.

Where you need it, we are able to provide dedicated office space with associated facilities and equipment.

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