The right structure for your business in the UAE without friction

No. The setup runs entirely without prior UAE residency. As part of the process we apply for your investor or residence visa. That makes you a UAE resident and lets you open the business bank account. There is no requirement to live in the country permanently. You only need to enter the UAE at least once every 180 days to keep the visa valid.

We don't work with flat packages. Instead, we run a needs assessment and lay out every line item: trade licence, Establishment Card, visa, medical & biometrics, status change if needed, and our Firstgate service fee (from AED 12,000, depending on visa count). You pay only for what you actually need and see the full picture before you sign.

Austria and Switzerland each have a double taxation treaty with the UAE. Germany let its treaty expire at the end of 2021. For German founders, taxation therefore follows national law: what matters is moving your centre of life properly to the UAE (note the extended limited tax liability under § 2 AStG). Otherwise tax liability stays in your home country. We structure the setup correctly and work with tax advisors on both sides where needed.

Not across the board anymore. Since June 2023 the UAE levies a 9% corporate tax on company profits above AED 375,000 (around €90,000). Qualifying free-zone companies can still pay 0% on their “qualifying income”, but must meet certain conditions and register. Depending on your activity, a 5% VAT may also apply. We assess which structure gives your business model the best tax position.

It depends on the bank and your business model. Digital banks such as WIO are usually faster; with traditional banks such as Emirates NBD, Mashreq or ADCB, account opening after the licence typically takes two to four weeks. We cannot promise approval, that decision always rests with the bank. What we do is prepare your documents properly and guide you through KYC and compliance.

That depends on your audience, not on trends. A Free Zone typically suits internationally oriented business models such as consulting, SaaS or holding structures. You need Mainland if you sell directly into the local UAE market or want to carry out certain regulated activities. In both cases, 100 % foreign ownership is now possible for most activities. The best structure is the one that still fits your company in three years. That is exactly what we clarify in the intro call.

Most of it runs remotely, from the licence to preparing the bank account. Visa activation (medical & Emirates ID) usually requires a short trip to Dubai. We schedule that visit in advance so everything on-site is done within a few days.

Yes. As a UAE resident you can sponsor your immediate family: spouse, children under 18, and on request also parents. Requirements are a minimum income (typically AED 4,000–10,000/month depending on the family setup) and health insurance for each sponsored person. We handle the entire process: Family Sponsor Visa, medical, Emirates ID and stamping per person, typically within 2–3 weeks after your own investor visa is live.

Your centre of life is where you actually live, work and have your closest personal and economic ties. For German founders, a clean relocation to the UAE means: deregistering in Germany, giving up the German home (or sub-letting cleanly), holding active UAE residency with an Emirates ID, a real housing situation in Dubai (tenancy contract, Ejari), and conducting your life on the ground (accounts, insurance, memberships). Mailbox residences do not survive a tax audit. We work with German tax advisors who document this transition cleanly, and with a UAE residency that supports a genuine centre of life.

Switzerland and the UAE have had a double taxation treaty (DTA) in force since 2011 that governs taxation between the two countries. Swiss citizens who properly move their residence to the UAE are generally no longer taxed in Switzerland, provided their habitual abode and centre of vital interests are genuinely in the UAE. Important: Swiss companies with UAE permanent establishments and vice versa are subject to specific rules. We work with Swiss fiduciaries and tax advisors for clean exit structuring.

Austria has had a DTA with the UAE since 2003, and the exit is clearly regulated for tax purposes. You give up your Austrian primary residence, deregister with the relevant authority and become a UAE resident with Emirates ID. Note: on departure, exit taxation may apply to certain assets (e.g. substantial shareholdings under § 27 EStG, employee stock options). Pensions from Austria generally remain taxable there. We recommend close coordination with an Austrian tax advisor in the departure year, and we handle the UAE side of the setup.

Ongoing support runs at a clear flat monthly rate instead of billable hours. Included: monthly bookkeeping, quarterly reporting, annual accounts, VAT filings (if registered), Corporate Tax return and FTA deadline monitoring. The exact price depends on transaction volume. We run a needs assessment before the contract so you know what you pay monthly. Unlike pure setup agencies, we see ourselves as your permanent accounting partner in the UAE, not a one-off service.