Company
Free zone vs. mainland: which company form fits you?
Twelve criteria in one table — and a decision tree that brings clarity in 30 seconds.
Structured into the Emirates. Advised before incorporated.
0 % personal income tax, 9 % corporate tax, 100 % ownership — but only with the right structure. First we work out what fits you, then our local team implements it. Typically in days, not months.
0 %Income tax on salary, dividends and capital gains
9 %Corporate tax on profits above AED 375,000 — 0 % below
100 %Foreign ownership in free zones and nearly all mainland activities
7Emirates we set up in — from Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah
As of 09/2026. Sources: UAE Federal Tax Authority, GDRFA. Small Business Relief (revenue ≤ AED 3m) expires for tax periods ending on or before 31 Dec 2026. No legal or tax advice.
What we help with
One point of contact for everything between the decision and the Emirates ID — advised, planned, implemented.
Company
Company formation
Free zone, mainland or holding — which form fits your activity, budget and visa needs is the first thing we settle. You get the cost range through the first estimate.
Company setupVisa
Visas & residency
Employment, investor and Golden Visa for you and your family — from entry permit through medical and biometrics to the Emirates ID.
Visa typesBanking
Bank account
Personal and corporate accounts with a prepared KYC file. We know why banks decline and build the file so those reasons never apply.
Bank accountWealth
Foundation & corporate structure
DIFC and ADGM foundations, holding structures, substance. Together with licensed partner law firms in Germany and the UAE.
StructuringOngoing
Renewals & support
Licence, visas, establishment card, insurance — we track the deadlines and renew in time.
SupportHow we work
Advisory means: first understand, then recommend, then implement. Five steps, in this order.
1
First call
15 minutes, free of charge, by video or in person. We listen: activity, revenue, family, timeline, what is still open in Germany.
2
Analysis
We check your activity against free zone catalogues, substance requirements, visa needs and bankability. For tax and legal questions we bring in licensed partners.
3
Structure recommendation
In writing: emirate, jurisdiction, licence type, visa plan, cost range, timeline — and what we deliberately do not recommend, with reasons.
4
Implementation by the local team
Licence, establishment card, visas, Emirates ID, bank account. You get milestones and always know where your application stands.
5
Ongoing support
Renewals, insurance, amendments, tax registration. One point of contact stays.
Advised in English. Implemented by locals.
We advise in English — and in German or Arabic if you prefer. Implementation is handled by a team of Emirati and long-term resident professionals who know authorities, free zones and banks from the inside. That is why applications here typically take days, not months.
Typically days, not months. Free zone licence usually within a few working days, visas within weeks.
One point of contact. Based in the Emirates, reachable — on WhatsApp too.
One price, no add-ons. What the quote says is what applies — even when a step takes longer than planned.
The UAE Guide. Over 60 pages on everything that comes after the licence — with vetted contacts for doctors, tradespeople, lawyers and authorities. Not publicly available, bookable by clients.
Professional
Licensed partners, documented processes, no claims we cannot keep.
Structured
Every case gets a timeline with milestones. You always know where your application stands.
Advisory
We recommend the free zone that fits your activity — not the one that pays us the highest commission.
Fit for purpose
From a freelance permit to a holding with a foundation. As much structure as needed, as little as possible.
Not just Dubai. All seven emirates.
The right jurisdiction depends on activity, budget and visa needs — not on postcode prestige. We incorporate where it fits you.
| Emirate | Free zones & authorities | Typically for |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | IFZA, Meydan, DMCC, DIFC, Dubai Mainland (DET) | Consulting, trading, finance, holding, real estate |
| Abu Dhabi | ADGM, KEZAD, Masdar City, Abu Dhabi Mainland (ADDED) | Foundations, family offices, industry, energy |
| Sharjah | SHAMS, SAIF Zone, Hamriyah Free Zone | Media, manufacturing, logistics, cost-efficient licences |
| Ras Al Khaimah | RAKEZ, RAK ICC | Industry, holding structures, cost-efficient setups |
| Ajman | Ajman Free Zone, Ajman Media City | Small businesses, e-commerce, freelancers |
| Fujairah | Fujairah Creative City, Fujairah Free Zone | Media, consulting, trade via the east-coast port |
| Umm Al Quwain | UAQ Free Trade Zone | Simple trading and service licences |
First estimate: what will your structure cost?
A cost range in 60 seconds, based on our current price list. Not an offer — a starting point for the conversation.
- 1Choose an activity — from 55 options or describe your own
- 2Free zone, mainland or "not sure yet"
- 3Visas yes or no, and how many
- 4Estimate with breakdown — instantly and by email
What will your company do?
Choose the main activity. Yours missing? Choose "Other".
Why the Emirates — soberly considered
No sunsets. Six reasons as they would appear in an investment memo.
Tax at the personal level: zero
Salary, dividends and capital gains remain untaxed. The company pays 9 % on profits above AED 375,000 — 0 % on qualifying income for Qualifying Free Zone Persons.
Full ownership, no sponsor
100 % foreign ownership in free zones and in nearly all mainland activities. No silent partners.
A time zone between Asia and Europe
Singapore in the morning, Frankfurt in the afternoon, New York in the evening — without night shifts.
Common law in DIFC and ADGM
Their own courts under English law for foundations, holdings and contracts. Legal certainty international banks recognise.
Free movement of capital
No capital controls, no withholding tax on dividends paid abroad.
An administration built for entrepreneurs
Digital authorities, licence in days, visas in weeks. The infrastructure works with you, not against you.
From the guide
Tax
German exit taxation: the most expensive mistake when leaving with a GmbH
Why § 6 AStG has to be settled before departure — and which questions to ask your tax adviser.
Banking
Why banks in the Emirates decline — the five most common reasons
KYC is not a form, it is a story. What a clean file looks like.
Which structure fits you? That is what the call is for.
15 minutes, free of charge, by video or in person. Afterwards you know what it costs, how long it takes and what you need to settle in Germany first.