AECompany formation in the United Arab Emirates
Open a Freezone LLC in the United Arab Emirates in 7–14 business days, fully online. Fixed-price packages with the registered address and every document included.
Set up from wherever you live — we file locally on your behalf.
- Entity type
- Freezone LLC
- Timeline
- 7–14 business days
- Minimum capital
- None
- Corporate tax
- 0–9%
- Packages from
- $199 /year
All-in annual package
+ Government fees separate — paid at cost in your panel, no markup
See the full cost breakdown- Company formation & government filing
- Tax number (EIN / local tax ID)
- Registered agent for the year
- Registered business address
- Founding documents & operating agreement
- Business bank account guidance
Fixed price · Documents delivered digitally · No hidden service fees
Renews automatically each year
People who incorporate here
- Founders relocating and taking UAE residency
- Trading and logistics between Asia, Africa and Europe
- Digital businesses aiming at the free-zone 0% regime
- Consultants who want a visa alongside the company
Which company type to register in United Arab Emirates
Serbest Bölge LLC
No minimum in most zones100% foreign ownership, the fastest route, and the one that can qualify for the 0% free-zone regime.
Anakara LLC
No minimum for most activitiesNeeded when you will sell to the UAE local market or take government contracts. Not eligible for the 0% regime.
Opening a company in United Arab Emirates from abroad
- Ownership
- 100% foreign ownership in free zones, and for most mainland activities since 2021.
- Do you have to travel?
- The licence can be issued remotely. The investor visa cannot — Emirates ID biometrics and the medical test require one trip.
- Visa
- A free-zone licence normally comes with investor-visa quota. You only need it if you want UAE residency or a local bank account.
- Substance
- The 0% regime expects real activity in the zone. A pure mailbox will not survive review.
United Arab Emirates is one of the most popular jurisdictions for international founders. The standard company form is the Freezone LLC, and the whole process runs online with Yorkmark — government filing, registered address and digital document delivery are part of every package.
There is no minimum share capital requirement, and the headline corporate tax rate is 0–9%. Below you can see how the process works, what you need to provide, and what every package includes.
How incorporation works
Order your package
Choose a package online and tell us about the company: name, founders and activity.
We prepare and file
We draft the formation documents, file them with the local registry and set up your registered address.
Company registered
Registration typically completes in 7–14 business days. All documents are delivered digitally.
Bank, payments, accounting
We introduce you to banking providers, help connect Stripe or PayPal and can take over your bookkeeping.
What you need
- Passport or ID of each founder
- Proposed company name
- Short description of the activity
- Your contact details
Tax and yearly obligations in United Arab Emirates
- Corporate tax
- 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000, 9% above it.
- The free-zone 0% regime
- A Qualifying Free Zone Person pays 0% on qualifying income. It is conditional — the wrong revenue mix moves you to 9%, and mainland UAE customers usually do.
- VAT
- 5%, with registration compulsory above AED 375,000 of taxable supplies.
- No personal income tax
- The UAE does not levy personal income tax — but your own country of residence may still tax you.
Rates and thresholds are as published by the authorities and change from year to year. This is information, not tax advice.
Bank accounts and payments in United Arab Emirates
UAE banks require the shareholder in person, and effectively require the residence visa first.
Wio and Mashreq NeoBiz are the fastest of the local options once you have the visa and Emirates ID.
Without a visa, plan on an international EMI rather than a UAE bank. We will say so before you buy, not after.
What's included every year
One price. Everything to open and run your company — renewed each year.
- Company formation & government filing
- Tax number (EIN / local tax ID)
- Registered agent for the year
- Registered business address
- Founding documents & operating agreement
- Business bank account guidance
What it really costs, in full
Our service fee is $199/year — flat. The official government fees below are paid at cost in your panel; we never mark them up.
- Yorkmark service
- $199/year
- Official registration
- AED 12,900 one-time
- then, to the government
- AED 12,900/yr
- Estimated first-year total
- ~$3709
Meydan free zone starts at AED 12,500. Free-zone prices are entry-tier and change with activities and visas.
How it sizes up
The same numbers for the jurisdictions founders usually weigh against this one.
| Country | Entity | Timeline | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | Freezone LLC | 7–14 business days | $199 |
 United States | LLC · C-Corp | 3–5 business days | $99 |
 Singapore | Pte Ltd | 3–5 business days | $149 |
 United Kingdom | Ltd | 1–2 business days | $99 |
Frequently asked questions
Can I open a company in United Arab Emirates without living there?
Yes — every country we support allows non-resident founders; there is no citizenship or residency requirement to own the company. You provide your identity documents online and we handle the local filing and the registered address. Where a country needs an in-person step or a local director, its own section on this page explains it.
How much does it cost in total to open a company in United Arab Emirates?
The annual service fee is $199 — that covers our work: company formation, registered agent, a business address and the founding documents. Government registration fees are separate and paid at cost in your panel; we always show the exact amount before you pay.
How long does company registration take in United Arab Emirates?
7–14 business days, counted from the moment we have your documents. Most of that time is the registry, not us.
Do I have to travel there?
The licence can be issued remotely. The investor visa cannot — Emirates ID biometrics and the medical test require one trip.
How much tax will the company pay in United Arab Emirates?
0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000, 9% above it.
Can I open a bank account from abroad?
UAE banks require the shareholder in person, and effectively require the residence visa first. Wio and Mashreq NeoBiz are the fastest of the local options once you have the visa and Emirates ID.
What has to be filed every year?
The UAE does not levy personal income tax — but your own country of residence may still tax you.
Which company type should I choose?
Serbest Bölge LLC: 100% foreign ownership, the fastest route, and the one that can qualify for the 0% free-zone regime. Anakara LLC: Needed when you will sell to the UAE local market or take government contracts. Not eligible for the 0% regime.
All-in annual package
$199 /year