First understand, then recommend, then implement.
We do not sell licences. We work out which structure fits your activity, your revenue and your family — and then have our local team implement it.
A first call with Exit Palm takes 15 minutes, is free of charge and happens by video or in Dubai. Afterwards you receive a written structure recommendation covering emirate, jurisdiction, licence type, visa plan, cost range and timeline. Only then do you decide whether we implement it.
Advisory at Exit Palm means a documented recommendation on your corporate and residency structure in the United Arab Emirates — not legal or tax advice, which is handled by licensed partners in Germany and the UAE.
Updated: 01/09/2026
The process
Five steps, in this order. No step is skipped, because each one carries the next.
First call — 15 minutes, free
By video or in person in Dubai. We listen: what you do, what the revenue is, who is moving with you, when you want to start, what is still open at home. At the end we tell you whether we can help — and if not, who can.
Analysis
We check your activity against free zone licence catalogues, substance requirements for 0 % qualifying income, visa needs and bankability. For tax and legal questions we bring in licensed partners.
Structure recommendation — in writing
Emirate, jurisdiction, licence type, visa plan, cost range, timeline. And what we deliberately do not recommend, with reasons. The document is yours, even if you decide against us.
Implementation by the local team
Licence, establishment card, entry permit, medical, Emirates ID, bank account. You get milestones and always know where your application stands.
Ongoing support
Renewals, health insurance, licence amendments, corporate tax registration. We track the deadlines, not you.
What we need before the call
Four details are enough so the call does not start with basics.
Your activity
What do you sell, to whom, from which country? That determines which free zone may licence you at all.
Order of magnitude
Annual revenue and profit, roughly. Corporate tax applies above AED 375,000 of taxable profit; Small Business Relief falls away above AED 3m of revenue.
Who comes along
Partner, children, employees. Each person means a visa and health insurance — and influences the choice of free zone.
What is unresolved at home
Shares in a German GmbH, property, running contracts, deregistration. German exit taxation under § 6 AStG belongs before departure, not after.
Questions we typically settle in the call
Free zone or mainland?
If you work internationally only, a free zone is cheaper and faster. If you sell locally, you need mainland — or a clean combination of both.
Is a licence without visas enough?
For a pure holding, often yes. If you want to live here you need a residence visa — without it there is no Emirates ID, no bank account and no tenancy contract.
How much substance is required?
0 % on qualifying income is tied to substance: people, premises, decisions made locally. A letterbox does not carry that structure.
When does a foundation make sense?
When wealth is to be ordered across generations, not merely taxed less. We assess that with partner law firms — and say so when it is too early.
What we do not do
We provide neither legal nor tax advice. For the German side — exit taxation, permanent establishment, double tax treaty — we work with licensed tax advisers and lawyers and involve them early, instead of passing on half-knowledge.
We do not promise deadlines as guarantees. Free zone licences are typically issued within a few working days and visas within weeks — but authorities decide, not we. A longer processing time does not change the price.
And we do not recommend a free zone because it pays us the highest commission. Whichever zone we propose, we justify it in writing.
Frequently asked questions
What does the first call cost?
Nothing. 15 minutes, by video or in person in Dubai. We do not sell anything in it — at the end you know which structure fits you and roughly what it costs.
Do I have to be in Dubai for the call?
No. Most first calls happen by video. Implementation requires an entry — the medical and biometrics for the Emirates ID can only be done on site.
Does Exit Palm advise on German tax?
No. We know the questions that arise — exit taxation, permanent establishment, the 183-day misunderstanding — and bring in licensed partners in Germany. They are the ones allowed to answer, not us.
Do I get the structure recommendation in writing?
Yes. Emirate, jurisdiction, licence type, visa plan, cost range and timeline as a document, including the options we advise against, with reasons.
What if I already have a UAE company?
Then we check whether it still fits: activity catalogue, substance for 0 % qualifying income, visa quota, renewals, corporate tax registration. Changing free zone or converting to mainland is possible.
How quickly can we start?
After the first call the structure recommendation usually takes two to three working days. A free zone licence is then typically issued within a few working days; visas follow within weeks.
Which language is the advisory in?
German, or English on request. Implementation is handled by a team of Emirati and long-term resident professionals — your point of contact stays the same.
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 at home first.