Freezone or mainland — which should I choose?

It depends on where your customers are, whether you need to invoice UAE government or mainland entities, your visa needs and your Corporate Tax position. We model both against your actual business before recommending one.

Why would I set up in Ras Al Khaimah instead of Dubai?

Ras Al Khaimah is the most cost-efficient jurisdiction we work with, with lower setup and renewal costs than Dubai. It suits founders who don't need a Dubai-specific presence and are optimising for cost without compromising on credibility.

How long does the whole process take?

Typically around 12 days end to end — roughly three days to licence issuance and a further stretch to Emirates ID, of which about seven days require your physical presence in the UAE for medical typing and biometrics.

How many visas do I need?

Most first-time founders take a 1-visa or 2-visa package depending on partners or early hires. The 0-visa option is rarely taken by newcomers — it's mainly used by existing business owners adding a licence who already hold a visa.

Do you only handle the licence, or the whole relocation?

We stay with you through the full process — formation, licensing, visas and Emirates ID — and can also support the practical steps of settling in the UAE, including bank account opening and compliance orientation.

Business Setup

UAE company formation, from licence to Emirates ID.

End-to-end business setup for any activity, across Dubai freezone and mainland, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah — the most cost-efficient jurisdiction we work with. We stay with you from incorporation through to your Emirates ID.

Start your business setup →See the process

Freezone & mainlandDubai · Abu Dhabi · Sharjah · RAKLicence to Emirates ID

Where we set up

Any emirate, any activity.

We form companies across the UAE and match the jurisdiction to your business, customers and budget — not the other way around.

Dubai Mainland

Unrestricted onshore trading, any business activity, and the ability to invoice UAE government and mainland entities directly.

Dubai Freezone

100% foreign ownership, streamlined licensing and, for qualifying income, access to the 0% Corporate Tax regime.

Abu Dhabi

Mainland and freezone options for businesses targeting the capital's government, energy and institutional sectors.

Sharjah

Lower-cost licensing with strong access to Dubai, well suited to trading, industrial and SME activity.

Ras Al Khaimah

The most cost-efficient jurisdiction we work with — a genuine option for founders optimising setup and renewal cost without giving up credibility.

The process

Licence in ~3 days. Emirates ID in ~12.

A typical setup runs about 12 days start to finish — licence issued in roughly three, with the remaining stages, including around seven days inside the UAE, covering visa stamping, medicals and biometrics through to your Emirates ID.

01
Activity & jurisdiction review
We confirm the right activity, licence type and jurisdiction — Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah or Ras Al Khaimah — against your business, customers and visa needs.
02
Application & documentation
We prepare and submit the incorporation application, MOA and supporting documents on your behalf.
03
Licence issued
Trade licence issuance typically takes around three days once documentation is complete.
04
Establishment card & visa filing
We file the establishment card and visa applications for you and any partners, staff or dependents in your package.
05
Medical test & Emirates ID biometrics
The in-UAE stage — medical typing, Emirates ID biometrics and visa stamping — usually needs around seven days on the ground.
06
Emirates ID issued
Emirates ID is generally issued within about seven days of biometrics, completing the process end to end.

About 12 days overall — roughly 7 of them require your presence in the UAE.

Visa packages

Priced and timed by how many visas you need.

Cost and processing time vary with the package. Most founders take a 1- or 2-visa package; the 0-visa option is rarely taken by newcomers.

0-Visa Package

A licence with no visa allocation. Rarely taken by first-time founders — mostly used by existing business owners adding a licence who don't need a new visa.

1-Visa Package

Licence plus a single investor or employment visa — the standard starting point for a founder setting up alone.

2-Visa Package

Licence plus two visas, for a founder bringing on a partner, spouse or first hire from day one.

Exact cost depends on jurisdiction, activity and visa count — we quote against your specific setup.

Beyond the licence

We stay with you until you're operational.

Formation is the start, not the finish. We support the practical steps of getting your business — and you — settled in the UAE.

Corporate bank account opening support
Compliance orientation — Corporate Tax, VAT, ESR and UBO from day one
Residential and relocation coordination
Ongoing finance, tax and advisory support once you're operational

Questions

Business setup, answered

Freezone or mainland — which should I choose?: It depends on where your customers are, whether you need to invoice UAE government or mainland entities, your visa needs and your Corporate Tax position. We model both against your actual business before recommending one.
Why would I set up in Ras Al Khaimah instead of Dubai?: Ras Al Khaimah is the most cost-efficient jurisdiction we work with, with lower setup and renewal costs than Dubai. It suits founders who don't need a Dubai-specific presence and are optimising for cost without compromising on credibility.
How long does the whole process take?: Typically around 12 days end to end — roughly three days to licence issuance and a further stretch to Emirates ID, of which about seven days require your physical presence in the UAE for medical typing and biometrics.
How many visas do I need?: Most first-time founders take a 1-visa or 2-visa package depending on partners or early hires. The 0-visa option is rarely taken by newcomers — it's mainly used by existing business owners adding a licence who already hold a visa.
Do you only handle the licence, or the whole relocation?: We stay with you through the full process — formation, licensing, visas and Emirates ID — and can also support the practical steps of settling in the UAE, including bank account opening and compliance orientation.

Let’s talk

Ready to set up your UAE business?

Tell us your activity, target jurisdiction and visa needs. We'll map the licence, timeline and cost, and carry the process through to your Emirates ID.

Request advisory discussion →WhatsApp Tasama