There are many options for setting up a company in Dubai. For a new company located in the mainland, licensure must be sought from the Dubai Department of Economic Development. Regulatory pre-approvals from local governmental authorities may be necessary depending on the business activity. There are a multitude of corporate structures available for local companies, including sole proprietorships, civil companies, limited liability companies, private joint-stock companies, limited partnerships, branch offices, and joint ventures.

If you are seeking 100% ownership of your office, you may wish to consider setting up a new company in one of Dubai’s numerous free zones. It must be noted that, in order to engage in trade activities outside of the free zone, i.e. mainland Dubai, the company must execute an agreement with a local service agent. As previously mentioned, regulatory pre-approvals from local governmental authorities may be necessary depending on the business activity.

For investment activity in either the mainland or free zones of Dubai, you may wish to establish an offshore holding company at JAFZA. JAFZA Offshore companies are legally entitled to own property and act as shareholders in local or free zone companies. The cost is minimal, and is ideal for businesses which operate outside of the UAE. Registration of a JAFZA Offshore company can only be done through a registered local agent.