What the service includes
The UAE is one of the fastest-growing jurisdictions for Russian business, but the choice between DIFC, mainland registration and free zones directly affects whom you can work with, what taxes you pay and what banking compliance you go through.
We support company registration in Dubai, from selecting the best structure for your business objective to obtaining a residence visa and opening an account with a local bank.
Since 2023, the UAE has levied a 9% corporate tax on profit above a threshold, and whether a company falls within it or keeps a zero rate in a free zone depends on the type of activity and the structure of its revenue. This should be factored into the choice of zone at the outset, not discovered afterwards. Our Dubai office allows us to attend meetings with the bank in person rather than by video link: for account approval, a lawyer’s physical presence on the client’s side often proves decisive for the compliance department.
What the service includes:
Who it is for
The situations clients most often bring to us on this topic.
How we work
A fixed fee and a clear plan of action, agreed before work begins. The timeframes below are indicative and depend on the complexity of the case.
Choosing the structure
We analyse the business objective and select the best registration zone: DIFC for financial structures, a free zone for trading, mainland registration for the local market. Timeframe: 2-5 days.
Preparing documents
We prepare the document package for company registration and, where needed, for a residence visa. Timeframe: 3-7 days.
Registration
We support the registration process from filing the documents to receiving the company licence. Timeframe: 1-3 weeks.
Account and ongoing support
We help with opening an account at a local bank and with subsequent support on the company’s reporting. Timeframe: 2-4 weeks.
What you will need at the start
We confirm the exact list for your situation at the consultation. This is a guide so that you arrive at the first meeting prepared.
Key figures
Experience in this practice area specifically, not in practice as a whole.
Common mistakes
Choosing a free zone without regard to counterparties. A free zone is often chosen for the familiarity of its name rather than for whether the company will work with the local UAE market or only with foreign partners, and it emerges only after registration that serving local clients requires a local agent or another jurisdiction within the country.
Treating the bank account as a formality. Getting the licence is seen as the end of the process, yet UAE banks carry out a separate and often longer review of beneficial owners and the source of funds, and without a document package prepared in advance, opening an account can take longer than registering the company itself.
Not checking separate licensing in advance. Not every activity fits within the standard licence of the chosen zone. Handling certain categories of goods or digital assets, for example, requires a special permit, and discovering this after registration means reworking the structure retrospectively.
What you get
A registered company in the UAE. A licence and constitutional documents drawn up for the chosen zone and type of activity.
An open bank account. A working corporate account with a UAE bank that has passed a compliance review for the business profile.
Residence visas. A visa for the founder and, where needed, for family members and employees, linked to the new company.
A map of tax obligations. A clear understanding of whether the company falls within the 9% corporate tax and what reporting will be required going forward.
Related
Frequently asked questions
How does DIFC differ from mainland registration in the UAE?+
DIFC is a financial centre with its own independent legal system based on English law, whereas a mainland structure operates under local UAE legislation. The choice depends on the type of business activity.
Do I need to travel to Dubai in person to register a company?+
Most of the process can be done remotely; personal attendance is usually required only at certain stages of opening a bank account.
Does registering a company give the right to UAE residency?+
Yes, as a rule a residence visa is issued together with company registration, which is one of the practical advantages of such a structure.
How much does it cost to maintain a company in Dubai after registration?+
It depends on the chosen zone and type of activity, from licence fees to local office requirements; we go through this individually when selecting the structure.
Must the founder be present in person for registration?+
In many zones, formal registration can be completed under a power of attorney without a personal visit. However, opening a bank account and obtaining a residence visa generally still require personal attendance or video identification, and this should be built into the overall transaction timetable.
Can digital asset activities be carried on under an ordinary licence?+
No. Working with cryptocurrency and a number of other specialised activities requires a separate permit from the particular zone, and this must be clarified before choosing a jurisdiction, not after the company is registered.