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Business formation in Dubai since 2013

Business Setup in Dubai

Start your UAE company the right way — mainland, free zone or offshore. Benchmark guides you through licence type, jurisdiction, MoA drafting, visa allocation and bank account opening, with attestation and PRO support built in.

Business setup consultant preparing UAE trade licence in Dubai

Reviewed by: Attestation Specialist, Benchmark · Updated June 2026

What Does Business Setup Cover?

Business setup covers every step to get your UAE company legally trading — activity selection, jurisdiction (mainland, free zone or offshore), trade name reservation, initial approvals, Memorandum of Association, trade licence issuance, Establishment Card, corporate bank account and staff residence visas.

How the Process Works

Benchmark starts with a jurisdiction consultation to match your activity, ownership and visa needs to the right authority. We then reserve the trade name, obtain initial approvals, draft the MoA, submit for the trade licence and coordinate visa quota, medical, Emirates ID and bank account opening — with attestation and PRO tasks handled in-house.

Why Jurisdiction Choice Matters

Mainland allows unrestricted UAE trading and government contracts; free zones offer full foreign ownership, tax incentives and fast setup; offshore suits holding structures and international business. The wrong choice locks you out of key markets or forces expensive restructuring later — so pre-check matters.

WHEN YOU NEED IT

Who Uses Business Setup Services?

Entrepreneurs, SMEs and international corporates all use professional setup services to avoid rework and delays.

  • First-time entrepreneurs

    Solo founders and small teams launching their first UAE business — jurisdiction, licence and visa handled together.

  • Free zone company formation

    IFZA, Meydan, DMCC, JAFZA, RAKEZ and more — full foreign ownership and visa quotas.

  • Mainland LLC formation

    DED trade licence with local trading rights. Pairs with our PRO services.

  • Branch of foreign company

    Registration of a UAE branch of an overseas parent — requires attested corporate documents from the home country.

The Process

Four steps, handled by us.

Four coordinated steps from consultation to first invoice.

  1. 01

    Jurisdiction consultation

    We match your activity, ownership and visa needs to the correct mainland, free zone or offshore authority.

  2. 02

    Approvals & MoA

    Trade name reservation, initial approval and Memorandum of Association drafted and notarised.

  3. 03

    Trade licence issuance

    Trade licence, Establishment Card and Chamber of Commerce certificate obtained.

  4. 04

    Visas & bank account

    Visa quota, medical, Emirates ID and corporate bank account opening coordinated.

Documents required

Your document checklist.

Send us your activity and ownership plan first — we return the exact checklist for your chosen jurisdiction.

Shareholder passports

Clear passport copies of all shareholders and the appointed manager.

Business plan / activity description

Short description of activities so we can match the correct licence category.

Attested corporate documents (branch)

For branches of foreign companies — attested certificate of incorporation, MoA and board resolution.

Tenancy contract (Ejari) if applicable

Physical office / flexi-desk lease required for mainland and some free zones.

Avoid rejections

Top reasons documents get rejected.

Every one of these is preventable with a proper pre-check before submission.

  • Restricted activity

    Some activities need additional external approvals (KHDA, DHA, RTA, Ministry of Economy) that must be obtained before licence issuance.

  • Unattested branch documents

    Foreign incorporation documents used for a UAE branch must be attested through the home-country MOFA and UAE Embassy chain.

  • Shareholder ineligibility

    Certain nationalities and prior UAE labour bans block shareholder appointment — best caught before licence fees are paid.

  • Wrong jurisdiction for the plan

    Free zone licences cannot trade directly with the UAE mainland — mainland selection is essential for local B2C/B2B trade.

Fees & turnaround

Transparent pricing.

Government tariffs vary widely by jurisdiction, activity and visa count. Every quote itemises setup, visa and bank fees separately.

ServiceGovt. feeService feeTurnaround
Free zone company formation (2 visas) Free zone tariff On quote 5 – 15 working days
Mainland LLC formation DED tariff On quote 10 – 20 working days
Offshore company (RAK ICC / JAFZA) Authority tariff On quote 3 – 7 working days
Corporate bank account opening — On quote 2 – 6 weeks

  • Free zone company formation (2 visas)

    Govt. fee
    Free zone tariff
    Service fee
    On quote
    Turnaround
    5 – 15 working days

  • Mainland LLC formation

    Govt. fee
    DED tariff
    Service fee
    On quote
    Turnaround
    10 – 20 working days

  • Offshore company (RAK ICC / JAFZA)

    Govt. fee
    Authority tariff
    Service fee
    On quote
    Turnaround
    3 – 7 working days

  • Corporate bank account opening

    Govt. fee
    —
    Service fee
    On quote
    Turnaround
    2 – 6 weeks
WHY BENCHMARK

Business Setup That Handles Attestation and PRO Together

Most setup consultants stop at the trade licence. Benchmark also handles the attestation of your foreign corporate documents, the visa PRO tasks and the ongoing renewals — one relationship for the life of the company.

  • One team, no handoff

    Jurisdiction consultant, PRO and attestation coordinator all under one roof — no cross-vendor delays.

  • Attestation of branch documents

    Foreign incorporation certificates, MoA and board resolutions attested for UAE branch registration.

  • Transparent quote

    Setup, visa, medical, Emirates ID and bank fees itemised separately in the written quote.

  • Free pickup and delivery

    We collect signed originals from your address and deliver the licence and Establishment Card to you.

Frequently asked questions.

Tap any question to expand.

Mainland allows direct trade anywhere in the UAE and with government; free zones give full foreign ownership, tax incentives and fast setup but restrict direct UAE mainland trade. We advise based on your activity and market.

Offshore setup is fastest (3 – 7 days). Free zone typically 5 – 15 working days. Mainland LLC formation 10 – 20 working days. Bank account opening adds 2 – 6 weeks.

Yes — 2021 reforms allow 100% foreign ownership for most mainland activities. Some strategic sectors still require a local partner.

Yes — UAE branch registration requires attested certificate of incorporation, MoA and board resolution through the home-country UAE Embassy attestation chain.

Depends on jurisdiction, activity and office size. Free zones offer packages from 2 to 6+ visas; mainland visa count is driven by office square footage.

Yes — we coordinate with UAE banks, prepare KYC documents and support you through the compliance interview.