Company Formation in Dubai and the UAE
Start a company in Dubai and the wider UAE. Structures, steps, timelines and what each route actually costs.
Company Formation articles
The Mistakes We See New Business Owners Make in Dubai
The errors that come back to us most often, what each one actually costs, and the question that would have prevented it.
Ali Jasim··12 min read Company Formation
What a Share Certificate Is in the UAE, and Why It Has to Stay Current
What a share certificate proves, the four moments it must be reissued, and what goes wrong when a company lets it go stale.
Ali Jasim··12 min read Company Formation
Your Certificate of Formation in the UAE: What It Is and Why the Bank Asks for It
What a certificate of formation is, how it differs from your trade licence, and the moments later on when somebody will demand it.
Ali Jasim··13 min read Company Formation
Investing in Dubai as a Foreigner: What the Rules Actually Allow
What foreigners may own in Dubai, how the residency link works and what the tax position really is. Rules and mechanics, not advice.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Company Formation
Types of Companies in the UAE: Every Legal Form Explained
LLC, sole establishment, civil company, branch, FZE, FZCO, offshore and foundation. What each form is and which one you need.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Company Formation
Business Setup in the UAE: The National Guide
Seven emirates, three jurisdictions, more than forty free zones. The complete national picture and how to choose between them.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Company Formation
Business Setup in Umm Al Quwain
The UAE smallest economy offers one of its cheapest licences. What UAQ Free Trade Zone actually gives you, and what it does not.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Company Formation
Business Setup in Fujairah: The East Coast Advantage
Fujairah sits outside the Strait of Hormuz on the Gulf of Oman. Why that matters commercially, and the three ways to set up there.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Company Formation
Business Setup in Ras Al Khaimah: The Whole Emirate Explained
RAK has a free zone, an offshore registry, ports and cheap industrial land. Which of the four routes fits which business.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Company Formation
Business Setup in Ajman and Ajman Free Zone
Ajman offers some of the lowest cost licences in the UAE within commuting distance of Dubai. What you get, what you give up.
Ali Jasim··11 min read Company Formation
The 10 Best Business Setup Consultants in Dubai (2026), Ranked Honestly
Dubai has hundreds of setup consultancies. Here are the ten worth your shortlist in 2026, what each is known for, and the questions that separate a good one from an expensive mistake.
Ali Jasim··5 min read Company Formation
How to Start a Business in Dubai in 2026: The Full Step-by-Step Guide
The complete 2026 walkthrough: choose a structure, pick activities, reserve a name, get approvals, and open your bank account, with realistic timelines and costs.
Ali Jasim··9 min read Company Formation
LLC vs Sole Establishment in the UAE: Which Structure to Choose
The real difference between an LLC and a sole establishment in the UAE: liability, ownership, who can hold each, and how to pick the right one.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Company Formation
How to Register a Company Name in Dubai: The Rules That Trip People Up
Reserving a Dubai trade name looks simple until an application gets rejected. Every naming rule, the reservation process, and how to avoid a rejected name.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Company Formation
Branch vs Subsidiary in the UAE: Setting Up a Foreign Company Office
A foreign company entering the UAE can open a branch or a subsidiary. The real differences in liability, ownership, and activities scope, explained.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Company Formation
100% Foreign Ownership in the UAE: What Changed and What Still Needs a Partner
What the 2021 ownership reform actually changed, which activities still need a local partner, and how to check where your business stands.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Company Formation
How to Get Initial Approval for a Dubai Business, Step by Step
Initial approval is the government's green light to proceed. Exactly what it covers, the documents needed, and what comes after it.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Company Formation
Memorandum of Association in the UAE: What It Is and Why It Matters
The MOA is the founding document of your UAE LLC. What it must include, how it is notarised, and the clauses that cause disputes later.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Company Formation
How to Add or Change Business Activities on Your UAE Licence
Growing beyond your original licence is common. How activity amendments work, what they cost, and the approvals that can slow it down.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Company Formation
Setting Up a Holding Company in the UAE: When and Why
A holding company owns other companies rather than trading itself. When it makes sense in the UAE, how it is structured, and what it costs.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Company Formation
How to Close or Liquidate a Company in the UAE Properly
Walking away from a UAE company without formally closing it creates real problems later. The correct liquidation process, step by step.
Ali Jasim··10 min readKnow your exact setup cost
Guides give you the lay of the land. The calculator gives you your number, itemised to the fils, from our real price book.