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Startup Roof

Guide

UAE company setup and business banking.

A plain-English starting point for founders, with official sources for each section. Last checked 12 October 2026.

General information only. This is not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and fees change: confirm with the relevant authority, bank or a licensed adviser before you act. Startup Roof has no partnership with any organisation named here.

Mainland or free zone

  • A mainland company is licensed by the economic department of an emirate (in Dubai, the Department of Economy and Tourism) and can trade across the UAE.
  • A free zone company is licensed by that free zone’s own authority. It can trade within the zone and internationally. Selling into the mainland usually needs a distributor, a branch, a separate licence or an applicable permit.
  • Each free zone publishes its own activity list and the legal forms it registers, such as FZ-LLC, FZCO or FZE. Check with the zone before you choose.

Sources (checked 12 October 2026)

Common free zones

  • Meydan Free Zone (Dubai): company formation across a wide range of activities.
  • IFZA (Dubai): professional, commercial and industrial licences.
  • DMCC (Dubai, JLT and Uptown Dubai): sectors listed on the UAE Government portal include commodities, tech, gaming, AI, e-commerce and financial services.
  • RAKEZ (Ras Al Khaimah): offers free zone and non-free zone entities.
  • Shams, Sharjah Media City (Sharjah): media, creative and content businesses.
  • DIEZ (Dubai): umbrella authority for Dubai Airport Freezone, Dubai Silicon Oasis and Dubai CommerCity.
  • Listing a zone here is not a recommendation or a partnership. Compare activities, legal forms, visa allocation and office requirements directly with each zone.

Sources (checked 12 October 2026)

Licence types

  • The Ministry of Economy and Tourism lists six mainland licence types: industrial, commercial, professional, tourism, agricultural and crafts.
  • Invest in Dubai lists eight types: industrial, commercial, professional, eTrader, dual, instant, SME and Intelaq.
  • Abu Dhabi’s Department of Economic Development lists seven types, including freelancer, virtual and Abu Dhabi trader licences.
  • Your business activity decides the licence type and the legal form, so choose the activity first.

Sources (checked 12 October 2026)

Steps

  • Choose your business activity.
  • Choose the legal form and jurisdiction (mainland emirate or free zone).
  • Reserve a trade name and get initial approval.
  • Prepare the Memorandum of Association where your legal form requires one.
  • Secure a registered address where required.
  • Apply for and collect the licence, online or at a service centre. Free zones usually issue licences within 14 working days after approval, per the UAE Government portal.
  • Then open a bank account, register for tax and apply for visas.

Sources (checked 12 October 2026)

Typical documents

  • Passport copies, plus visa or Emirates ID if you are a resident, for each shareholder and manager.
  • Licence application forms and the trade name reservation.
  • Memorandum or Articles of Association, where required.
  • Proof of address or a lease (Ejari on the mainland in Dubai), where required.
  • For corporate shareholders: attested incorporation documents and board resolutions.
  • Requirements vary by authority. The authority’s own checklist is the reference.

Sources (checked 12 October 2026)

Visas

  • Company owners commonly apply for an investor or partner residence visa through their licensed company. The licensing authority sets the visa allocation.
  • The UAE Golden visa (5 or 10 years) has categories for investors and entrepreneurs. The entrepreneur category asks for proof of an innovative or technical project and a letter from a business incubator or relevant authority.
  • Residence visas are handled by ICP or, in Dubai, GDRFA. Check current requirements on the official portals.

Sources (checked 12 October 2026)

Corporate tax and VAT basics

  • Corporate tax is 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above that (Cabinet Decision No. 116 of 2022).
  • All juridical persons subject to corporate tax, including free zone companies, must register with the Federal Tax Authority and get a Corporate Tax Registration Number. Individuals must register if their business turnover exceeds AED 1 million in a calendar year.
  • VAT registration is mandatory if taxable supplies and imports exceeded AED 375,000 in the past 12 months, or are expected to within the next 30 days. Voluntary registration is possible above AED 187,500.
  • Registration is done through the FTA’s EmaraTax platform. Deadlines apply.

Sources (checked 12 October 2026)

Business banking options

  • Traditional banks: most UAE banks offer business accounts and run their own KYC and eligibility checks. Expect to provide your trade licence, Memorandum of Association, shareholder IDs and proof of address.
  • Wio Business (Wio Bank PJSC, regulated by the Central Bank of the UAE): app-based business account; Wio says its Essential plan is for freelancers and small businesses.
  • Mashreq NEO BIZ: digital business account from Mashreq. Its Key Facts Statement asks for 100% individual ownership (no layered structures) and at least one UAE-resident partner or power of attorney.
  • Zand Bank: digital bank with an SME banking offer and online account opening for eligible businesses.
  • Clara (clara.co): digital company formation in ADGM and DIFC with cap table tools, plus a USD account offer for companies it manages. It is not a UAE bank account.
  • Every bank decides eligibility itself. Startup Roof has no banking partnership and does not arrange accounts.

Sources (checked 12 October 2026)

See also: public startup programmes · Disclaimer