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Company formation in the UAE is the process of registering a business through one of the country’s three routes — mainland, free zone, or offshore — each with 100% foreign ownership, 0% corporate tax on qualifying income, and residence visas for owners and staff. Legarithm matches the route to what your business actually does and runs it end to end: activity and licence selection, registration, office or flexi-desk, visas, corporate-tax and VAT setup, and a bank-ready application. Trading across the UAE points to a mainland LLC; the lowest-cost base to a free zone such as Shams, DMCC or RAK; finance and fintech to DIFC; and pure holding to a UAE offshore company — with ongoing corporate-tax and accounting support.
The UAE has 40-plus free zones plus mainland and offshore routes, and the cheapest licence is rarely the right one: the wrong route caps your visas or blocks the bank, and a licence activity that does not match your business slows everything down. The setup only counts if it lets you actually operate.
We start from what your business needs to do — trade across the UAE, bill international clients, hold assets, or raise capital — and pick the route, emirate and licence that deliver it at the lowest honest cost, plus clean corporate-tax and VAT registration. You work with one accountable team, from the first call to your first invoice, with a fixed, transparent scope.
A licensed UAE corporate-services provider (CSP, DIEZ) — no intermediaries, just direct, professional handling of your setup.
These are the outcomes owners actually open a UAE company for.
We support teams and founders across legal, compliance, and corporate needs.
Independent professionals billing international clients from a low-cost UAE base. A media or service free-zone licence such as Shams gives you a residence visa and a corporate bank account without a Dubai-level price tag.
Online sellers and digital businesses that want a lean, credible base. A free zone like RAK (RAKEZ) bundles an e-commerce licence, flexi-desk and visas so you can launch and ship fast.
Companies selling directly inside the UAE — shops, distributors, importers. That points to a mainland LLC, which trades across the local market and can bid for government work.
Founders who want a recognised UAE base with room to hire and scale. A flexible free zone such as DMCC offers a strong address, wide activities and an easy path to more visas as the team grows.
Groups adding a UAE entity for a regional HQ, holding company or IP vehicle. A UAE offshore company ring-fences assets cleanly, while an onshore entity works when you need substance and visas.
Regulated firms, funds and fintechs that need a financial free zone with its own regulator. That is DIFC (or ADGM in Abu Dhabi) — common-law courts and a recognised licence banks and investors trust.
Company formation in the UAE with Legarithm is a complete, ready-to-operate package, not just a licence.
Mainland, free zone or offshore, and the right emirate, mapped to your activity, budget and visa plan.
Trade-name reservation, initial approval, and filing with the relevant authority.
Commercial, service, industrial or e-commerce licence issued in your company’s name.
A flexi-desk, virtual office, or fitted unit sized to your visa quota.
Establishment card and immigration registration so you can sponsor visas.
Investor and staff visa processing, medical, Emirates ID, and stamping.
FTA / EmaraTax registration and VAT registration where you cross the threshold.
A bank-ready application plus annual licence renewal and compliance reminders.
Get a consultation — a 30-minute call maps your structure, total cost, and timeline.
Company formation in the UAE runs through three routes — here is how mainland, free zone and offshore compare.
| Feature | Mainland (DED) | Free Zone | Offshore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Trade across the UAE, government work | 100% ownership, low cost, visas | Holding & asset protection |
| Foreign ownership | 100% (most activities) | 100% | 100% |
| Trade inside the UAE | Yes, directly | Via permit / distributor | No |
| Residence visas | Yes | Yes | No |
| Corporate tax | 0% to AED 375k, then 9% | 0% on qualifying income | 0% on foreign income |
| Typical setup time | 1–2 weeks | 1–5 working days | 3–5 working days |
| Typical starting cost | from ~AED 12,000–15,000/yr | from ~AED 5,750/yr | from ~AED 7,000–9,000/yr |
*Not sure which fits? Compare a mainland LLC, a free zone such as Shams or DMCC, and a UAE offshore company — or book a call and we map it to your business.
Our experts guide you through the full formation process. You get compliance, efficient solutions, and strategic benefits for your international operations.
Company formation in the UAE is open to almost any nationality — the documents and eligibility rules depend on who owns the company and which route you choose.
We have analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of each jurisdiction so that you can make a confident decision and save time.
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Company formation in the UAE with Legarithm is a five-step process most clients complete in days to a few weeks, depending on route.
We offer a professional, client-focused pricing approach. All “turnkey” business setup packages are customized based on your specific project and selected jurisdiction.
It ranges by route: a free-zone licence from ~AED 5,750/yr, mainland from ~AED 12,000–15,000/yr, offshore from ~AED 7,000–9,000/yr, plus residence visas of AED 3,000–4,500 each. Your exact cost depends on route, emirate, activity and visas, confirmed after a free consultation; ongoing bookkeeping and VAT run through our UAE accounting services.
Yes. Free zones have always allowed full foreign ownership, and since the 2021 reform most mainland activities do too — with no local sponsor.
It depends on what you do: mainland to trade across the UAE, a free zone for the lowest-cost base with visas, offshore for pure holding and asset protection. We confirm the fit in one call; the UAE Government business portal outlines the routes too.
0% corporate tax up to AED 375,000 and on qualifying free-zone income, 9% above; personal income tax is 0% and VAT is 5%. You register with the UAE Federal Tax Authority (FTA), and our UAE tax services team handles it.
A free-zone licence can issue in one to five working days, fully remotely; a mainland licence takes one to two weeks. Visas and banking follow over the next few weeks.
Not usually. Most free zones accept a flexi-desk or virtual office for a starter visa quota; you take a physical unit as the team grows. Some mainland activities need a tenancy (Ejari).
Yes. Mainland and free-zone companies sponsor investor and staff residence visas (and dependents); offshore companies do not.
Our team ensures your business setup is smooth, efficient, and compliant with local laws. Contact us today to discuss your project.
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