UAE regional and global business expansion guide

As a start, you might consider opening a branch in another emirate or setting up a new entity in one of the country’s many free zones. As of 2025, Abu Dhabi permits companies from other emirates to set up branches without a physical office for the first year, easing entry into new markets, this is subject to Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development's policy and may require case-by-case approval.

Mainland and free-zone entities both benefit from 100% foreign ownership and full profit repatriation, but each offers different opportunities. Free zones often require a dedicated office with visa quotas linked to workspace size, while mainland licences grant wider trading rights across the UAE.

Alternatively, you may consider internal restructuring, such as converting to a public joint stock company (PJSC), to meet regulatory requirements for larger-scale operations or to prepare for capital market entry.

How we can help:

• We can work with you to scale and grow your operations within the emirates. Our services cover corporate restructuring and entity setup to help you expand your market access within the UAE, as well as securing additional space to meet your growing operational requirements.
• We can also assist with approvals for new trade licences and handle any licence amendments to help maintain your legal and regulatory compliance as you diversify.

The UAE has strong frameworks to help you secure the capital you need for domestic expansion. You can, for example, access debt and equity funding through federal initiatives such as the Scale Up Platform, which directly connects small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to funding partners.

Development banks such as the Emirates Development Bank (EDB) offer loans for working capital, asset purchases and project expansion.

Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Fund complements this with interest-free expansion loans designed to reduce the upfront burden for entrepreneurs who are still getting established.

In Abu Dhabi specifically, two major players shape the investment environment. The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) works closely with both foreign and local businesses to help them establish or expand operations, offering incentives, guidance and practical support. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund, Mubadala, invests in sectors both within the UAE and globally, helping to reinforce the ecosystem that high-growth companies rely on.

Beyond traditional lending, the UAE has also embraced alternative funding. Platforms such as DubaiNEXT allow you to raise equity or peer-to-peer loans from the community, giving you flexibility to finance your next stage of growth. These alternative funding platforms are regulated and may require businesses to comply with eligibility, disclosure as well as anti-money laundering (AML) or Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements.

How we can help:

• We can connect you with UAE-based private equity firms, venture capital funds and family offices.
• Our team can also help you access various debt options from UAE banks and financial institutions, as well as explore alternative funding methods available to support your growth.
• To strengthen your UAE expansion plans, we can create customised reporting packages, build detailed budgets and produce comprehensive cash flow forecasts.

If your ambition includes taking your company public, the UAE’s stock exchanges provide a well-established route to raise capital at scale. The Dubai Financial Market (DFM), Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and NASDAQ Dubai have seen strong listing activity in recent years, with reforms designed to encourage more private companies to take this step.

You will, however, need to restructure as a PJSC with a minimum AED 30 million paid-up capital. The Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) require at least two years of audited financials and evidence that you have sufficient working capital to sustain operations beyond the initial public offering (IPO). PJSC applicants must implement SCA-compliant governance frameworks, including board committees, internal audit, risk management and disclosure controls. This ensures accuracy on regulatory requirements.

A prospectus must be prepared, laying out your financial position, risk factors, strategy and intended use of funds and must also include risk disclosures, related-party transactions and compliance statements as required under the SCA Rulebook. The SCA will review this in detail before granting approval.

How we can help:

• Our team can assess your company's readiness for an IPO on UAE exchanges. We can assist with preparing all necessary documentation for your IPO, including the prospectus and legal disclosures required by the UAE financial regulators.
• At the same time, we can assist you with developing and implementing strong corporate governance frameworks, internal controls and board structures. This end-to-end support can ensure your listing process meets the requirements of UAE public exchanges and attracts institutional investors.

In some cases, the quickest path to scale can come from acquiring or partnering with other businesses. The Ministry of Economy has streamlined the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) process, letting you file applications, shareholder resolutions and public notices through its online system. Approvals can be obtained efficiently when documentation is complete, but timelines vary depending on transaction structure and sector, making M&A a realistic option even for SMEs looking to consolidate market share or diversify.

Partnerships with other UAE firms can also be worth considering. They can provide you with immediate market credibility, access to established customer bases and stronger positioning in tenders or procurement opportunities.

Additionally, the government’s ‘One Day TM’ service makes it possible to secure a trademark registration certificate within one business day, depending on examination results, helping you protect your brand while you expand. For innovators, federal and emirate-level incubators provide support with patent filings and commercialisation strategies.

At the same time, government grants and incentives can serve as a key enabler.

How we can help:

• We can help you structure partnerships, secure M&A approvals and coordinate trademark registrations as you grow.
• Where grants and incentives are available, we can identify the most relevant programmes to accelerate your expansion.

When you look to expand your business from the UAE, you already have a strong foundation to build on. The UAE’s National Agenda for Non-Oil Exports, for example, is designed to help you diversify into regions such as Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Trade agreements can also make your international expansion more efficient. Membership in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA), along with Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and the newer Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) with other countries, can reduce barriers. These agreements open wider markets, creating conditions where your cross-border growth strategies can gain traction more quickly.

The structure of entry becomes important once you have identified your next target market. You may establish a subsidiary to control operations fully, set up a branch for quicker market access or form a joint venture with a trusted local partner to share resources and relationships.

For financing, the UAE offers a wide range of options. Local exchanges such as the ADX and DFM offer access to capital through equities, bonds and funds. For more global reach, NASDAQ Dubai can connect you with international investors for bonds and equity listings.

How we can help:

• Starting with market entry planning, our team will work closely with you to manage your entity setup. This includes handling the administrative filings, opening your corporate bank account as well as providing registered office solutions.
• You can reach out to us for full support in planning and executing your international expansion from the UAE, keeping in mind that foreign entity setup is subject to the local regulations of each jurisdiction, including foreign ownership caps, sector restrictions and mandatory local representation.
• We can also connect you with international private equity firms, venture capital funds and institutional investors when you are expanding into foreign markets. This involves structuring deals that meet both international investment norms and local regulations in your target countries.

Alternatively, you may consider acquisitions or joint ventures for quicker market entry. The UAE government has taken strategic steps to help you execute such strategies in global markets. CEPAs with key economies such India, Indonesia and Türkiye reduce barriers for you to acquire businesses abroad by simplifying customs procedures and providing clear, predictable rules of engagement. CEPAs streamline trade and investment protections, but M&A approvals continue to depend on local competition, sector-specific and foreign investment rules.

Risk exposure can also be reduced through the UAE’s extensive network of bilateral investment treaties, which span more than 100 countries. These agreements guarantee protections such as free transfer of profits, fair treatment and safeguards against expropriation, giving you the confidence to commit capital in new jurisdictions.

For example, if you are considering acquiring a business in a developing market, these treaties ensure that your rights as an investor are upheld under international law.

At the same time, the government has rolled out practical facilitation tools to reduce the legwork for identifying credible opportunities abroad. The UAE-Africa Gateway, for example, can provide visibility on promising sectors and projects, as well as connect you with potential business partners and support your deal-making efforts.

How we can help:

• With offices in key business locations such as Singapore, the United Kingdom (UK) and China, we can be your bridge to potential acquisition targets or merger partners.
• On top of structuring your setup overseas, our team can further assist with the registration and robust protection of intellectual property rights (trademarks, patents, copyrights) as your business expands its offerings. This includes strategies for global IP portfolio management and enforcement.

Managing your tax position becomes critical as you expand abroad. To protect yourself from double taxation abroad, for example, you can use the UAE’s extensive network of more than 190 double taxation agreements (DTAs). These agreements reduce or eliminate withholding taxes on dividends, interest and royalties.

You can also strengthen your position by applying for a Tax Residency Certificate, which demonstrates that your business is tax resident in the UAE, and by making use of the Mutual Agreement Procedure (MAP) when disputes with other tax authorities arise.

Transfer pricing rules are another area you need to account for. The UAE has aligned its tax framework with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) standards, requiring large groups with cross-border transactions to ensure that related-party dealings are priced on an arm’s-length basis.

Proper documentation and benchmarking are essential here, as transfer pricing adjustments can affect your effective tax rate if not managed proactively. And if your group is large enough to fall under the Pillar Two rules introduced by the OECD, you will also need to consider the 15% global minimum tax. Proactive planning can keep your international operations compliant and cost-effective in the long run.

How we can help:

• Our team can provide guidance on complex international tax laws, including the application of DTAs between the UAE and partner countries. Our support extends to calculating and documenting taxes on income in the jurisdictions you’re operating in to manage your overall tax liability.
• We can also assist with transfer pricing compliance. This includes preparing and maintaining required documentation, such as the Master Files and Local Files, to meet regulatory expectations.

Finally, regulatory compliance needs to remain a central part of your business as you grow. The UAE has already aligned its domestic framework with international norms, particularly in areas such as anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing, giving your business credibility with overseas regulators.

In 2024, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) formally confirmed that the UAE had addressed all required action items and removed the country from its grey list. This gives you credibility when presenting the UAE as your headquarters, reassuring stakeholders that you are operating from a compliant and trusted base. Despite grey list removal, UAE businesses must continue strict AML compliance due to increasing global scrutiny.

Once you step into new markets, the compliance landscape becomes far more diverse. You may need to prepare for data protection obligations which require compliance readiness, labour requirements and industry-specific approvals in your target markets.

How we can help:

• We can develop and put into practice robust internal controls and compliance frameworks for your foreign subsidiaries. At the same time, our team can help you build risk management strategies that are appropriate for international operations, from political and credit risk assessments to comprehensive Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) frameworks.
• For cross-border trade, we can guide you on varying trade regulations and relevant FTAs. Our services cover areas such as tariff classification, rules of origin under FTAs, duty relief schemes and compliance with customs laws in different countries.

Under the recently introduced corporate tax rules, startups and SMEs earning less than AED 3 million a year can obtain a 0% corporate tax rate. This comes through the small business relief programme, available until the end of 2026. Corporate tax will apply should your revenue exceed AED 3 million in any year.

This relief is available to all qualifying businesses (including foreign-owned LLCs and free zone companies treated as residents), making the UAE’s tax regime attractive to new entrants.

The MBRIF is a federal initiative by the Ministry of Finance to nurture innovative startups. It is open to high-potential innovators globally who are willing to establish operations or presence in the UAE. MBRIF offers two main programmes:

• Guarantee scheme: Provides government-backed loan guarantees to banks. This encourages banks to lend to tech businesses without requiring equity.
• Innovation accelerator: Provides non-financial support through expert coaches and corporate partnerships. Eligible projects are innovative, tech-driven solutions with strong market potential.

Separately, more UAE government support and incentives such as the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) innovation licence are designed to support entrepreneurial companies and reduce initial costs.

The EDB continues to play a vital role in supporting the development of the UAE’s economy. With a mandate to deploy AED 30 billion into priority sectors under Operation 300bn, the EDB offers targeted financing solutions that provides businesses with project finance and working capital. This is especially relevant if you’re operating in healthcare, advanced technology, manufacturing, renewables or food security.

For Emirati entrepreneurs with licensed businesses in priority sectors, the KFED offers interest-free, long-term loans. In many cases, financing can cover up to 80% of project costs, with repayment periods of up to 84 months and grace periods of up to 24 months.

These target businesses in sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, tourism and manufacturing. While aimed at Emiratis, foreign entrepreneurs can benefit by partnering with a UAE national who share similar business goals. Any partnership with an Emirati must comply with the UAE’s anti-fronting regulations and reflect genuine commercial participation.

The Dubai International Growth Initiative is a joint programme by the Government of Dubai and Emirates NBD to help Dubai-registered SMEs expand overseas. This is an AED 500 million initiative that offers Dubai-founded companies up to AED 15 million in financing. The loans have terms of up to seven years and are priced at Emirates Interbank Offered Rate (EIBOR) with no additional bank margin.

This applies to sectors such as e-commerce, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), food and beverage (F&B), manufacturing, services and retail. To qualify, you must be licensed in Dubai and have international expansion plans. As this is open to all nationalities, you may consider this initiative for access to funding and growing your UAE business.