Foreign investors coming to the UAE can choose among the emirates they want to open companies in, but also among the various types of legal entities they can set up operations in. Dubai is one of the most prolific emirates of the UAE and it is also one of the reputable business centers in the world.
Those who want to open a company in Dubai can set up onshore companies with the purpose of completing activities in and outside the UAE. For this purpose, they need to comply with the requirements of the Company Law.
Below, our Dubai company formation specialists explain the requirements related to the creation of an onshore company. You can rely on us for complete assistance in registering an onshore company in Dubai.
Investors have the possibility to open three types of companies in Dubai:
Foreign investors may also choose to register an onshore free trade zone company in Dubai that is among the most common types of companies registered in Dubai because of the tax benefits it offers.
You can rely on our company registration advisors in Dubai for guidance on choosing the legal entity under which you can develop a successful business.
According to the Companies Law in Dubai, onshore companies may be incorporated under different forms among which limited liability companies, private and public shareholding companies. Foreign companies also have the possibility of registering branch offices or subsidiaries as onshore companies in Dubai. All types of onshore companies have different shareholding structure and share capital requirements as follows:
Licensing requirements are applicable to all types of companies.
We can provide you with information on all types of entities if you are planning to open a Dubai company.
Most of the times, businesspersons must choose between onshore and free zone companies when setting up a company in Dubai. There are several differences between these entities, and we mention the most important below:
Both types of entities have advantages and disadvantages, however, the Dubai onshore company is more suitable for large operations which can be completed in and outside the country. Also, an onshore company can take the form of a limited liability company, a legal entity popular in all countries in the world.
Foreign companies seeking to operate in the UAE can also set up onshore companies in Dubai under the form of subsidiaries and branch offices.
The opening of an onshore company in Dubai falls under the regulation of the Company Law and implies preparing several documents and filing them with the Dubai Trade Register. In order to incorporate an onshore company, a local or foreign investor must prepare the Articles of Association and appoint a local agent to complete the registration procedure with the Companies Registrar.
The following steps need to be completed upon the creation of an onshore company in Dubai:
If the company needs other special licenses and permits, these must be obtained with relevant authorities in the industry the company operates in. These must be recognized by the Dubai Government.
For guidance in registering an onshore company in Dubai, you can rely on our local consultants.
No matter the type of onshore company to be incorporated in Dubai, there are three types of licenses:
The Dubai trade license is issued for trading activities within the UAE market. The manufacturing or industrial license is released for onshore companies carrying out investment activities in the manufacturing industry and the professional licenses are granted for onshore companies, such as accounting services, educational and medical services.
Our company formation consultants in Dubai can offer detailed information on all licenses available for businesses in the emirate.
Please watch our video on how to open an onshore company in Dubai:
The registration of a company in Dubai provides many benefits to foreign investors, that is why the Emirate has flourished during the last few years. Among these benefits are:
Our company formation representatives in Dubai can offer more information on the particularities of onshore companies.
Dubai is one of the most appreciated business centers in the Middle East and it also accounts for a larger percentage of the UAE’s economy. According to various reports:
For onshore company incorporation, we invite you to contact our company formation agents in Dubai.