Guides
Company Formation
Freezone, mainland, offshore, trade licences and self-sponsorship.
Want this handled for you? How we set up your UAE company →
Setting up a UAE company properly: freezone vs mainland vs offshore, choosing the right emirate (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, RAK and beyond), what a trade licence really costs, self-sponsorship, and how to choose help, or whether you need it at all. The licence is the easy part; fitting it to your plans is the bit worth getting right first time.
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Can I move my UK business to Dubai and run it from there?
Moving a UK business to Dubai: why a UK Ltd run from Dubai can stay UK-taxed, the restructuring options, and what changes for you as a director.
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How long does company setup in the UAE take?
Most UAE free zone companies register in 1 to 5 days. Visa processing and bank account opening set the real timeline and add 3 to 8 weeks.
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Do I need a physical office to set up in Dubai?
No, most UAE freezones offer flexi-desk or virtual office packages. The catch: some visa quotas and mainland licences require a real tenancy agreement.
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Can I own 100% of a UAE mainland company?
Yes. The UAE lifted foreign ownership restrictions in 2021, though some sectors still need an Emirati partner. What changed, what did not, and why.
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Cheapest free zone in the UAE (with a visa)
Which UAE free zones cost least once you add a residence visa, why the headline licence price misleads, and how to compare three years, not one.
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Influencer visas in Dubai: Creators HQ, the Golden Visa and the tax bit nobody mentions
How Dubai influencer visas work: Creators HQ endorsement, the creator Golden Visa, freelance permits and media licences, plus the UK tax question.
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How much does it cost to set up a company in Dubai?
What drives the cost of a Dubai free zone or mainland company: licence, visas, office and renewals, and how to get one all-in quote for your setup.
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Setting up a Dubai company from the UK: how it works
How a UK founder sets up a Dubai company without moving first: choosing free zone or mainland, the documents, the steps in order and the UK tax side.
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Best free zone for consultants in Dubai: DMCC, IFZA, Meydan
DMCC, IFZA and Meydan compared on cost, visas and standing for UK consultants and IT contractors, and when DIFC fits. We set these up for UK founders.
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What is a UAE holding company, and do UK founders need one?
A UAE holding company can consolidate businesses, hold assets and ring-fence risk. It is not a UK tax shield. When it helps a UK founder.
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Why creators and digital nomads base their business in the UAE
Why creators and location-independent founders base their business in the UAE: a stable home with 0% personal tax, living anywhere. The catches.
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Do you need a consultant to set up in the UAE, or can you do it yourself?
When you can set up in the UAE yourself and when a consultant earns the fee. The licence is easy; the cross-border joins are costly to get wrong.
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Can I base my company in Dubai but live abroad?
You can own and run a UAE company while living elsewhere. A residence visa needs periodic UAE presence, and your own tax depends on where you live.
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Dubai vs Abu Dhabi vs RAK: which emirate should you set up in?
Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah compared for company setup, cost and lifestyle. The right emirate depends on what your business does.
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Self-sponsored visa UAE: the 4 routes and who qualifies
Sponsor your own UAE residence visa through your own company, a freelance permit, the Green Visa or a Golden Visa. Who each suits and what it takes.
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What is a UAE freezone and how does it work?
Free zones are the usual way Brits set up in the UAE: 100% foreign ownership, a simple licence and a route to a visa. How they work and when they fit.
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Freezone vs mainland vs offshore: which UAE company do I need?
The three UAE company types in plain English, what each is for, and which fits a UK founder. Most service businesses want a free zone, with exceptions.