Open a UAE company remotely

Pauline Familara
Pauline Familara
Administrator
19 August 2023
Open a UAE company remotely
Content

Citizens of countries with high taxes and economic instability increasingly resort to starting a business in the UAE. Dynasty Business Adviser assists such businessmen with company registration. We register the business of foreign investors practically without their participation — a personal visit to the Emirates is needed only to open a bank account, which is a requirement of the country’s banking institutions. During the pandemic and border closures, we developed an algorithm allowing you to remotely open a company in the UAE. Today, such a service can be in demand if you want to start a business in the Emirates as soon as possible.

Benefits of Opening a Company in the UAE Remotely

Registration of a company in any of the seven emirates of the UAE provides foreign investors with the following advantages:

  • 100% ownership without a local partner — today, such an opportunity is available for conducting most types of business, regardless of the company’s localization.
  • Complete confidentiality of the primary beneficiaries since the register of shareholders of legal entities is closed.
  • Lack of automatic exchange of tax information according to the CRS standard with the regulatory authorities of other countries for residents of the UAE.
  • Zero rates on most corporate taxes — today, only companies with a taxable income of more than 375,000 dirhams per year must pay 5% VAT and 9% federal corporate tax, introduced only in June 2023.
  • A reliable banking system with no state currency control and the ability to open multi-currency accounts.
  • Absence of export-import fees and duties.
  • Unhindered export of capital and profits.

Your decision to open a company in the UAE remotely, with the help of Dynasty Business Adviser specialists, will allow you to:

  • Save the money you would have spent on flights and accommodation in the Emirates for the paperwork period.
  • Save time because paperwork is a laborious process, and you can do more important things by entrusting the entire organizational part to qualified performers.
  • Open a corporate bank account without personal presence.
  • Start activities in the UAE as soon as possible.

Services for Opening a Company Remotely

We have prepared a unique package of services that will help you open a company in the UAE remotely. This package includes the following:

  • Advising clients on the choice of the type, legal form of the company, and place of registration — on the mainland or in the free zone — already about 50 in the UAE.
  • Collection, legalization, and submission of documents for legal entity registration and obtaining the necessary licenses.
  • Obtaining a certificate of registration, statutory documents, and licenses and sending them to the customer.
  • Assistance in opening a corporate bank account without the personal presence of the owner.
  • Additional services — registration of resident visas for directors of the company and members of the investor’s family, registration of tax residence status to avoid double taxation.
  • Annual renewal of licenses.

Remote Registration Process

The procedure for registering a company in the UAE includes the following steps:

  1. Consultation with Dynasty Business Adviser specialists. We will help you choose the type of company and emirate and tell you what documents you need to send to our email address.
  2. Collection and verification of the primary package of documents. Whether you want to open a new company in the UAE remotely or a branch of an existing company, as well as on the emirate, free zone, and the legal status of shareholders (individuals or legal entities), the documents may differ significantly.
  3. Legalization of documents provides for translation into Arabic or English and official certification. The following authorities must certify the translation of documents:
  4. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country of registration of shareholders.
  5. UAE embassy in the country of permanent residence of the company founders.
  6. UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  7. Filing an application for company registration along with the initial package of documents.
  8. Registration of licenses after receiving a registration certificate and the company’s statutory documents. Renting an office and obtaining permits and approvals is necessary to obtain licenses.
  9. Getting a Company Establishment Card for the company and resident visas and Emirates ID (national identity card) for shareholders, directors, and employees.
  10. Opening an account in the Swiss online bank CIM Banque or payment systems. This does not require your presence. In the future, during the first visit to the UAE, this account can be reissued to a corporate account in any bank in the country. We will help you prepare the documents and apply for opening a company’s current account. Our specialist will accompany you during your visit to the bank.

Upon readiness, we will send you all registration documents, resident visas, and licenses, send you step-by-step instructions for making payments, and will provide other consulting support.

Company Types and Locations

The UAE is a federal state which includes 7 emirates. You can start a company in the UAE remotely in any free zone or outside it. Three types of companies are available for registration here, and each can today be 100% owned by a foreign owner (with rare exceptions).

Offshore Company

The main advantages of an offshore or international (IBC) company:

  • No taxes — a 0% rate is provided for personal and corporate taxes (including VAT), except the tax on real estate purchases (4%).
  • The ability to engage in any international business and choose 5 activities.
  • A simple, fast, and inexpensive registration procedure — it is possible to open an offshore company in the UAE remotely cheaper than other types of companies within up to 3 days (1-2 weeks in the emirate of Dubai);
  • The high reputation of offshore companies in the UAE.

The disadvantages of offshore companies in the Emirates include the following:

  • Ban for doing business within the country and receiving money transfers from companies registered in the UAE.
  • Inability to obtain a resident visa and rent an office. An offshore company can only have a legal address in the UAE.
  • Limited locations for offshore registration. You can remotely open an international company in the UAE only within 3 free zones: RAKIA (Ras Al Khaimah), AFZ (Ajman), and JAFZA (Dubai).

Onshore Company in the Free Zone

A foreign investor can register a company in the free zone of any emirate if the relevant activity is allowed by its administration. There are two types of such companies: Free Zone Establishment with one founder and Free Zone Company with 2 or more shareholders. They can operate only within the FEZ, where they are registered and do international business. The main advantages of such companies are the following:

  • The possibility of obtaining resident visas.
  • The availability of renting a physical office within the free zone.
  • Access to the local labor market and cooperation with companies registered in other free zones.
  • The possibility of avoiding double taxation when obtaining tax residency status.

Opening a company remotely in the UAE Free Zone will cost more than offshore, but it also has more opportunities. The disadvantages of such companies include the following:

  • The need to choose a free economic zone based on the list of allowed activities.
  • Inability to participate in public tenders.
  • A ban on activities outside the free zone without an intermediary — it can only be a local company.

Local (LLC) Company

The most significant opportunities for doing business in the UAE have a local (mainland) company. Today it can be 100% owned by a foreign investor. The requirement for the obligatory presence of a local partner from UAE citizens with a 51% stake remained only for oil and gas production and processing, banking, insurance, and hotel business activities.

Opening a local company in the UAE remotely is the best choice for foreign investors today, giving them the following advantages:

  • The ability to conduct business throughout the country and abroad.
  • A wide range (more than 2000) of available activities.
  • Lower operating costs since buying and renting real estate and utilities are cheaper on the mainland.
  • The possibility of obtaining resident visas and tax residency status.
  • Access to participation in tenders held by the state.
  • Various organizational and legal forms include a branch of a foreign company or a holding company.

Our article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you want to open a company in the UAE remotely, consult Dynasty Business Adviser specialists at the numbers listed on the website by contacting us via Skype or email!

Sources
  • Miniaoui, Héla, ed. Economic Development in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: From Rentier States to Diversified Economies. Vol. 1. Springer Nature, 2020.

  • "UAE central bank raises base rate on overnight deposit facility by 25 basis points". Reuters. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.

  • UAE Economy on the CIA World Factbook.

Frequently asked questions

How to Open a Company in the UAE Remotely?

To open a company remotely in the UAE, you need to contact Dynasty Business Adviser specialists, collect documents and send them to our office in Dubai. After receiving a registration certificate, you must open a current account in an online bank and payment system. During your first visit to the Emirates, we will help you re-register an account with any bank in the UAE.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a Company in the UAE Remotely?

The cost of remotely opening a company in the UAE depends on its type, location, number of shareholders, residence visas, and other factors. It is individual in each case. You can find out the exact price after consulting with our specialist.

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