How do you set up a company in the UAE?
Setting up a company in the UAE requires choosing between Mainland and a Freezone before anything else — that single decision governs your tax position, your banking access and which clients you may invoice. Prosilame runs the decision as a legal diagnosis, then executes:
- Map the real revenue flows and client locations to determine whether Mainland or a Freezone (DMCC, IFZA, ADGM, DIFC) applies.
- Select licensed activities that actually cover the services you invoice — a mismatch is the leading cause of frozen accounts.
- Draft the constitutional documents: MOA/AOA, shareholder resolutions, statutory registers and powers of attorney.
- Structure share capital and ownership so the entity can pass bank KYC at account-opening stage.
- Assess UAE Corporate Tax exposure and Freezone qualifying-income conditions before incorporation, not after.
Common failure points
The situations we handle.
- Freezone chosen on price, unsuited to the real activity
- Licensed activity that does not cover the invoiced flows
- Structure incompatible with opening a bank account
- No anticipation of the 9% UAE Corporate Tax
Deliverables
What you get.
Activity diagnosis
Mapping of real flows and choice of jurisdiction (Mainland, DMCC, IFZA, ADGM, DIFC, Offshore RAK ICC/JAFZA…).
Structure & licence
Selection of the right form — operating company, holding SPV or asset-holding foundation — shareholding, capital and governance.
Founding documents
MOA/AOA, resolutions, registers and powers tailored to your setup.
Banking capacity
A structure designed to clear the bank-account stage from the outset.
Our approach
Our approach to company formation.
Forming a company in the UAE is not an administrative formality: it is a structural decision that shapes your tax, your banking access and your ability to operate. A Freezone chosen on price, a licensed activity that does not cover your real flows, or a structure incompatible with opening an account can cost you months and an imposed restructuring.
We start from your real activity and flows, then select the right jurisdiction and structure — Mainland, DMCC, IFZA, ADGM, DIFC, or an Offshore vehicle, holding SPV or asset-holding foundation (RAK ICC, ADGM) when the goal is holding assets rather than running an activity — anticipating the banking stage and UAE Corporate Tax exposure from the outset. We then draft the founding documents and run the execution until the company is truly operational.
Jurisdiction choice
Mainland / Freezone decision based on your clients, flows and tax, not on a price tag.
Structuring & licence
Selection of activities, shareholding, capital, governance and founding documents.
Banking capacity
A structure designed from the outset to clear the account-opening stage.
Frequently asked
Company formation — your questions.
Mainland or Freezone?
It depends on your clients, your flows and your tax exposure. A poorly chosen Freezone blocks the local market or certain banks. We decide after diagnosis, not by default.
Do I need a local sponsor?
For many Mainland activities, 100% foreign ownership is now possible. We check eligibility activity by activity.
How long until I am operational?
Depending on the jurisdiction, from a few days to a few weeks. We contractualise timelines at the execution stage.
Related practices and analysis
Related practices, and the analysis behind them.
A matter on company formation?
A 30-minute call to establish whether Mainland or a Freezone fits your actual flows.
See matters the firm has handled and what clients say about them.
AED 600 individuals · AED 1,000 professionals
Payable before the call, by card or bank transfer. See fee details.