How to open a company in Dubai in 2025: a clear plan with no fluff.
Why choose Dubai:
The UAE economy is steadily growing, tax burden is minimal, and the legal environment is transparent. Plus, it offers advantageous logistics and the status of an international hub. In 2024–2025, we saw a 35% increase in requests for company registrations: businesses are moving here for the long term.
1. Determine the type of company
Free Zone — optimal for international trade and e-commerce. Fully tax-exempt.
Mainland — access to the local market and tenders. Requires an office and at least one resident.
Offshore — more suitable for holdings and asset storage outside the UAE jurisdiction.
Case study: A client from Germany moved their brand to a Free Zone — First-trading-Holding FZ-LLC — from idea to launch in 14 days.
2. Choose a license
Trading — for trade, import/export.
Service/Professional — for services and B2B.
Industrial — for manufacturing, warehousing.
E-commerce — for online commerce via platforms.
Each type corresponds to different scenarios. For example, an E-commerce license is ideal for an AMZ business: it’s cheaper and faster.
3. Prepare documents
Passports, identification documents, resumes of the founders.
Proof of address (utility bill or lease agreement).
Business plan for Mainland.
NOC from sponsor (if moving from a tourist visa).
We’ve developed a standard template package — saving at least 3 days and 15% on costs.
4. Choose an office
Virtual office — from 1,500 AED/year, suitable for Free Zone.
Flexi desk (co-working) — from 4,000 AED/year, ideal for startups.
Offline office — from 25,000 AED/year, required for Mainland.
Our client in Abu Dhabi Media Zone saved 30% compared to the market by choosing a co-working space.
5. Submit documents and pay fees
In Free Zone — 12,000–14,000 AED (total expenses).
In Mainland — 18,000–25,000 AED due to government fees and office rental.
We guide the process from start to finish, delivering the certificate the day after registration.
6. Open a bank account
We negotiate with banks (Emirates NBD, ADCB, Mashreq), considering the visa and office.
Standard process — 7–10 days, expedited — 3–5 days. A client from Turkey (First Gulf Invest) got an account with minimal fees (from 2,000 AED) in 4 days.
7. Business launch and maintenance
Once you receive your license and bank account, you can start operating. However, after a year, it’s important to renew, handle reporting, and manage employee visas.
We offer maintenance packages (accounting, reporting, legal assistance) and assign a dedicated manager.
📎 Unique moments we’re proud of:
Our "Desk to Door" system: from presentation to a fully established company — you have a personal manager and 24/7 WhatsApp support with "Serif-level" assistance.
Automated deadline checks: reminders and automatic renewal submissions — nothing is missed.
Save up to 20% of your budget: optimized structures, connections with banks and zones, access to discounted rates.
📋 In summary: your path in numbers
Choosing a Free Zone takes about one day — we already have a price list and checklists for different zones, so the process is simplified.
Document collection usually takes 2–3 days, but we’ve cut the time by about 30% with templates and ready-to-use instructions.
Company registration in Free Zone takes 5–7 business days through the online portal and direct contact with zones.
Opening a bank account takes 5–10 days, depending on the bank and zone. Free Zone clients get their accounts faster.
Full business launch — from the first call to a ready license and account — typically takes 14–21 days with our "turnkey" support.
Result: Starting a business in the UAE is fast, reliable, and more transparent than it might seem at first glance. We guide you through every step — from selecting a Free Zone to obtaining your license and bank account.