• Most common form of business entity formed in UAE for engaging in commercial activities.
• Can be formed with a minimum of 2 shareholders and a maximum of 50 shareholders.
• Liabilities are limited to their shares in the capital of the company.
• 51% of the share holdings shall be legally held by a UAE national and 49 % can be held by the expatriate person or company.
• Normally no special permission is required for normal commercial business activities.
• Business Activities which require special approval and licenses from the authorities
  • Tourism activities
  • Health Care activities
  • Architectural and engineering consultancy
  • Shipping , freight forwarding and logistics activities
  • Educational services

How we can help you

• Guidance on identifying right type of legal structure based on the business activities.
• Arranging local UAE national for forming the Limited Liability Company
• Preparation of Memorandum of Association & Article of Association of the company.
• Obtaining Incorporation Certificate
• Assistance in opening of bank accounts
• Handling other documentation formalities

• Partnership firms set up by qualified foreign investors to carry out their professional practice activities in the UAE.
• Management consultants, marketing consultants, interior designing etc are regarded as Professional Firms (Civil Companies).
• Not allowed to do non-commercial activities.
• The expatriate investor can hold 100% stake in the equity and ownership of such companies.
• No requirement of 51% local equity.
• Appointment of a UAE national as a local service agent.
• The local service agent will have no direct involvement in the business.
• The local service agent is paid service fees as per agreement.

How we can help you

• Guidance on identifying right type of legal structure based on the business activities.
• Identifying the local service agent
• Drafting Partnership agreements
• Assistance in opening of bank accounts
• Handling other documentation formalities

• UAE Commercial Company Law (13) of 1988 allows foreign companies and corporations to open Branch and Representative Offices to exercise their activities (Licensed) in UAE.
• Branch office is permitted to exercise the activities (Licensed) of its parent entity
• Representative offices are only allowed to have promotional activities supplementing the business activity of parent company
• Representative office cannot enter into business transactions or market products.
• Approval from the Ministry of Economy is required for obtaining the license for a branch or the representative office of a foreign company from the respective licensing authority of different emirates

How we can help you

• Obtaining approvals and clearances from various authorities.
• Identifying the local service agent
• Preparation and drafting of the legal and other documents
• Assistance in opening of bank accounts
• Handling other documentation formalities

• 100 % foreign ownership
• 100% repatriation of capital and profits possible
• No foreign exchange controls.
• State of the art infrastructure
• No personal or corporate income taxes.
• No customs duties, import/export taxes
• A one stop shop facility for processing of all documentation including immigration, registration and licensing.
• Shared offices and virtual office facilities are provided by some of the free zones.
• Shared services and synergies with other companies
• Each Free Zone is managed by separate Independent Free Zone Authority, which is responsible for issuing business permits and licenses, employee visas and regulating the business requirements
• Provisions pertaining to Commercial Companies Law do not apply to Free Zones
• A free zone company is expected to do business within the respective free zones or outside UAE. If they intend to do business with entities outside free zone but within UAE main land, then they need to appoint an authorized agent (LLC or any other related entity) or open a branch of a Free Zone Company with the permission from respective departments.

• Free Zone entities may trade, import/export with entities within the free zone or outside UAE. Free zone entities may buy from UAE, but, in case they need to sell goods to the main land of UAE they have to employ the services of a distributor or agent in the main land who will be liable to pay custom duty as if the purchase from the free zone entity constitutes an import into UAE. A free zone company cannot directly sell or provide any services to entities or other parties outside the free zone but within the mainland of UAE without an authorized agent or distributor in the mainland of UAE.
• In free zones you can set up following types of companies based on your requirements
  a) Free Zone Establishment (FZE)
  • 100% Ownership
  • Minimum Capital Required
  • 1 Shareholder
  
  b) Free Zone Company (FZC)
  • 100% Ownership
  • Minimum Capital Required
  • 2-5Shareholder
  
  c) Branch of a Local or Foreign Company
  • 100% Ownership
  • No Capital Required
• Minimum capital is specific to each free zone depending up on the type of entity.
• The cost of formation of a Free Zone company and cost of office space etc differs from one free zone to another.

1) Abu Dhabi Free Zones

• Abu Dhabi Airport
• Abu Dhabi Ports Company
• Industrial City of Abu Dhabi
• Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone (KPIZ)
• Two four 54 Media and Production
• Masdar City

2) Dubai

• Dubai Airport Free Zone
• Dubai Silicon Oasis
• Dubai South
• Jebel Ali Free Zone
• Dubai Multi Commodities Center
• Dubai Creative Clusters Authority
• Dubai Biotech Research Park
• Dubai International Financial Centre
• Dubai Logistics City
• Dubai Maritime City
• Dubai Flower Centre
• Mohammad Bin Rashid Technology Park – Jebel Ali Area
• Heavy Equipment and Trucks Zone (HETZ)
• Meydan FZC
• Dubai Car and Automotive City (DUCAMZ)
• Dubai Health Care City (DHCC)
• Dubai Technology and Media
• International Humanitarian City
• Dubai Carpet Free Zone
• International Media and Production Zone
• Dubai Industrial City (DIC)
• Dubai Textile Village
• Dubai International Arbitration Center (DIAC)
• JLT Free Zone (JLT)
• Economic Zones World (EZW) – Jafza International, Techno Park, Gazeley, Dubai Auto Zone
• Dubai Outsource Zone (DOZ)
• Dubai Media City (DMC)

3) Sharjah Free Zones

• Sharjah Airport Free Zone(SAIF ZONE)
• Hamriyah Free Zone
• Sharjah Media City Free Zone (SHAMS)

4) Ajman Free Zones

• Ajman Free Zone Authority

5) Umm Al Quwain Free Zones

• Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone

6) Ras Al Khaimah Free Zones

• RAK Free Zone
• RAK Investment Authority (RAKIA FZ)
• RAK Media Free Zone (RAKMFZ)
• RAK Industrial and Technology Park
• RAK Maritime City
• Injaz Training Centre
• RAK Education Zone
• RAK Financial Centre
• RAK Industrial and Technology Park

7) Fujairah Free Zones

• Fujairah Free Zone
• Fujairah Creative City

• Advising of choosing the right free zone after evaluating the business activities and the requirement of the prospective investors.
• Liaison with respective Free zone authorities in obtaining initial approval.
• Preparation and drafting of legal and other documents for the formation of the company.
• Assist in identifying the office space and other facilities.

• Assisting in visa procedures.
• Assistance in obtaining the approvals, clearances and license from the Free zone authorities.
• Providing the cost structure and the documents required to form a company in different Free Zones according to the proposed activities of the company.

• 100% Foreign Ownership
• 100% repatriation of the profits and capital
• Exemption from Corporate Taxes
• Simple Registration Procedures
• Cost Efficiency
• Low Operational Costs
• No Requirement of Minimum Share Capital
• Limited Liability
• Transferable Shares

• Cannot carry on business with Persons resident in UAE
• Cannot Own an interest in real property situated in UAE, other than a lease referred to by or as approved by authority.
• Carry on banking business
• Carry on business as an insurance or reinsurance company, insurance agent or insurance broker or
• Carry on any other business which may, by regulation made by the authority, be prohibited by the Authority

• Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (JAFZA)
• RAK Investment Authority (RAKIA)
• RAK Free Trade Zone

• Assisting in acquiring registered office with P.O. Box
• Preparation of Memorandum of Association, Articles of Association and other legal documents

• Liaison with the authorities and completion of incorporation procedures
• Assisting in opening the bank accounts
• Follow up services in obtaining attested documents and certificates

• Mandatory registration would be required to be taken if the taxable supplies exceeds AED 3,75,000 ( calculated over a 12 month period)
• Voluntary registration threshold would be AED 187,500.

How we can help you

• Assistance in understanding the requirements which are mandatory for registration
• Compilation of required documents
• Online Filing of Registration form, uploading the required documents and obtaining Tax Registration Certificate
• Replying to clarifications and submissions of additional documents if required by the VAT authorities.
• Amendments in VAT Registration.

• VAT Returns are completely online. No Manual submissions are allowed.
• Periodicity for filing VAT returns shall be quarterly or monthly depending upon the turnover.
• In case the return filing date falls on a public holiday or weekend, the deadline in that case shall be extended to following first working day.

How we can help you

• Providing the Template file for maintaining the records required for filing VAT returns
• Assistance in preparation of the said Template file
• Verification of the said Template file before filing VAT returns
• Payment of VAT before due dates
• Filing of VAT Returns before due dates

Our accounts & Bookkeeping services offered are as under:

• Accounting System Design & Set up
• Developing Accounting procedures
• Invoicing processing Services
• Maintenance of Ledger Accounts
• Updation of Accounts on a monthly basis
• Preparing ageing reports & summaries
• Reconciliation of Bank Statements
• Reconciling Accounting records with VAT Returns
• Analysis of Income& Expenses
• Cash Flow Analysis
• Maintaining Fixed Assets Register
• Preparation of Trial Balance
• Preparation of Financial Statements