How much does it cost to set up a business in Dubai?

The cost of setting up a business in Dubai starts from AED 5,750 for free zone setup and AED 12,000 for mainland. All-inclusive packages with visa and bank account range from AED 15,000-25,000. Entityz offers transparent pricing with no hidden fees.

Can foreigners own 100% of a company in UAE?

Yes, foreigners can own 100% of a company in UAE. Free zones have always allowed full foreign ownership. Since 2021, mainland companies also permit 100% foreign ownership for most business activities under the Commercial Companies Law amendments.

How long does it take to set up a company in UAE?

Free zone company registration takes 1-5 business days. Mainland license takes 5-10 days. Visa processing requires 7-14 days. Bank account setup takes 2-4 weeks. Complete business setup typically takes 2-4 weeks total.

What is the difference between free zone and mainland in UAE?

Free zones offer 100% foreign ownership, 0% corporate tax up to AED 375,000, and duty-free imports but limit trading to free zone or exports. Mainland licenses allow trading anywhere in UAE, working with government clients, and have no local market restrictions.

What is the best free zone in Dubai for ecommerce?

The best free zones for ecommerce are: IFZA (most affordable, fast processing), Meydan (good for startups), Shams in Sharjah (budget-friendly), DMCC (premium, commodities), and Dubai CommerCity (dedicated ecommerce zone). IFZA and Meydan are most popular for online businesses.

Do I need to be in Dubai to start a company?

No, you can start a UAE company remotely. Most free zones offer complete online registration. Physical presence is only required for Emirates ID biometrics, visa stamping, and some bank account openings. Many entrepreneurs complete the initial setup without traveling to Dubai.

What documents are needed to start a business in UAE?

Required documents include: passport copy (valid 6+ months), passport-sized photos with white background, proof of address (utility bill or bank statement), NOC from current employer if UAE resident, and business plan for certain activities. Entityz assists with all documentation.

What is a UAE Golden Visa?

UAE Golden Visa is a 10-year renewable residence visa for investors, entrepreneurs, and exceptional talent. Eligibility includes: AED 2 million+ investment in property or business, successful entrepreneurs, or exceptional professionals in science, art, or sports.

How much is VAT in UAE?

UAE VAT is 5% on most goods and services. Businesses with taxable supplies exceeding AED 375,000 annually must register for VAT. Some items are zero-rated (exports, international transport) or exempt (residential property, local transport, financial services).

Can I get a visa for my family with a UAE business?

Yes, UAE business owners can sponsor family visas including: spouse, children (unlimited), parents (with salary requirement), and domestic helpers. Family visa costs approximately AED 3,500-5,000 per person and is valid for 2-3 years, renewable.

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UBO Declaration and Register

Every mainland and non financial free zone company must keep a real beneficiary register and keep it current. Most keep it once and never touch it again.

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Cabinet Decision 109 of 2023 on the regulation of the real beneficiary procedures came into force on 16 November 2023, replacing Cabinet Decision 58 of 2020, and it reaches corporate entities on the UAE mainland and in the non financial free zones. It requires each of them to keep a register of its real beneficiaries and a register of its partners or shareholders, to file the information with its licensing authority, and to keep both current. Companies usually do this once at incorporation and then stop. The obligation is continuing, so a share transfer, a new shareholder, a change of manager or a restructure upstream all have to flow into the register. Where ownership sits behind a holding company in another country, working out who the real beneficiary is takes more than reading the local licence.

Abstract geometric line drawing: an ownership tree of three tiers narrowing to a single node at the top, that node in teal, gold hairlines on dark navy.

Key Features

The real beneficiary identified properly through the ownership chain, which is the whole of the work when a shareholder is itself a company or sits in another jurisdiction
The register of real beneficiaries and the register of partners or shareholders both prepared, since the decision requires the company to keep both
Filed with your licensing authority in the form that authority accepts, because a free zone registrar and a Department of Economy do not ask for the same thing
Updated on a change rather than at renewal, since the obligation runs continuously and a stale register is the failure most companies do not know they have
You supply the shareholding structure to its top, the passports of the individuals at the end of it, and any shareholder agreements that affect control, which is what identifies the beneficiary

Benefits for Your Business

A register that is actually correct, including where ownership runs through a foreign holding company.
Changes reflected when they happen, not discovered at licence renewal.
Filed in the form your own authority accepts, first time.
One consistent answer across your licence, your bank and your auditor, who will all ask the same question.

General information, not legal advice. Real beneficiary obligations sit in Cabinet Decision 109 of 2023, in force since 16 November 2023 and supervised by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, read on 16 September 2026. Financial free zones operate their own regimes. What your company must file depends on its licensing authority, and we confirm that before filing.