Business Setup in UAE Free Zones

In the entire territory of United Arab Emirates, free zones have been setup in all the seven emirates of UAE i.e. Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain, Abu Dhabi & Ras Al Khaimah. And other free zones like Zones Crop, Building Material Zone (BMZ), Heavy Equipment and Truck Zone (HETZ) have also been established in some parts of UAE. As we know that almost everyone nowadays dreams of setting up their business in a vast and resourceful country like the United Arab Emirates, therefore, investors are keen about knowing the procedure of company formation in UAE Free zone. Another reason behind the increasing popularity of Free Zones in UAE is the fact that when you develop company under a free zone, you need to pay less amount of tax and you can do hassle-free business as the human resources are easily available and accessible in the free zones.
You can also go about incorporating an offshore company in Dubai. The process of Business set up in UAE Free Zones is relatively simple and the requirements, costs, and time for freezone company formation in UAE depends upon the choice of free trade zone and the activities of the company to be started. There are more than enough premises for doing business- warehouses, offices, manufacturing facilities etc. and hence, company incorporation in UAE free zone can easily be done. Dubai is famous for free zones, onshore, and offshore businesses and they can be set up in different parts of this country. The Company registration in UAE Free zone can be done in places like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ajman. Further, in Sharjah, Hamriyah free zone can also be established so that the customers get all the required resources easily. On the other hand, all the facilities and modern essentials can easily be found here which enables all the investors to set up their free zone companies in UAE.

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Every aspiring entrepreneur who wishes to set up a business in the UAE dreams to be his own boss by having full control over his company. However, the foreign investors find the requirement of local sponsorship a turn off while forming a company on the mainland in the UAE. There are more than forty free zones spread over the seven emirates in the UAE that somehow solve this concern of the foreign investors by offering 100% ownership apart from providing added advantages like favourable taxation regime, total repatriation of capital, ultra-modern facilities, etc.

More importantly, the free zones in the UAE are governed by its own regulatory authorities and this boosts the entrepreneurial spirits of foreign business owners as the setup procedures are easier. Moreover, there are sector-specific free zones like DIFC, DSO, Dubai Media City, Dubai Healthcare City, Ajman Media City and Dubai Internet City, etc. that serve as an added attraction for foreign investors. Business setup consultants in Dubai, UAE recommend the investors to set up their company in UAE free zones to gain access to these benefits.

Why Should Foreign Investors Opt For Company Formation in UAE Free Zones?

The UAE government has set up free zones to attract foreign investments in large numbers and also diversify its economy from oil to trade, tourism and services. The free zones in the UAE maintain a reputation among the investors across the world and help in bolstering the economy of the country by encouraging more commercial business ventures, boosting foreign direct investment (FDI), enhancing the spirit of entrepreneurship, and generating more employment opportunities. The free zones like JAFZA, Ajman Free Zone, SHAMS in Sharjah, RAKEZ, KIZAD, Umm Al Quwain Free Zone, etc. have contributed significantly to the UAE’s economy. The following are some of the top reasons why the business setup in UAE free zones is important for foreign investors:

1. 100% Ownership, Total Control Over Business

The spirit of entrepreneurship gets uplifted only when the business owner can fully own the company he has started. The free zone company formation in UAE is a great blessing for the foreign investors as they can enjoy 100% ownership. Unlike the mainland business setup in Dubai or UAE, the investor doesn’t need to appoint a UAE national as a local sponsor who will hold at least 51 % shares in the company.

2. Total Repatriation of Profits Plus Tax Benefits

Registering a company in any of the free zones in the UAE provides foreign investors with the benefit of 100% repatriation of profits. The opportunity to take home the total earnings is highly beneficial especially for the branch company formation in the UAE. Except for the businesses in the Oil and Banking industries, the free zone companies are not required to pay any corporate taxes. However, the companies are required to register for Value Added Tax (VAT) if their total value of taxable supplies exceeds AED 375,000.

3. Easy Procedure of Company Formation in UAE Free Zones

The free zones are governed by a separate regulatory authority and this offers great flexibility for the investors during the process of business setup in UAE. The approvals in free zones take less time in comparison with the mainland company formation in Dubai or any other emirates. The investors need to ensure that all the documents are readily available with them and the documentation process could be finished easily if the companies hire the best business setup consultants in Dubai, UAE.

4. Modern Infrastructure

By setting up a company in the UAE free zones, the business owners can trade with the countries outside as they are not allowed to trade directly in the UAE market. The main business activities in the free zones are based on imports and re-exports and this demands the need from a highly developed infrastructure. The UAE free zones offer greater connectivity through the sea, air, and land and provide proximity to seaports, international airports, and crucial trading hubs.

Types of Company Structures Allowed to Set Up in the UAE Free Zones

Company formation in the UAE free zones come with the benefit of choosing the most efficient forms of legal structures available. Depending on the business activities and the licenses the investors hold the following types of companies can be incorporated in the UAE free zones:

1. Free Zone Company

A Free Zone Company (FZCO) typically has 2-5 shareholders

2. Free Zone Establishment

A Free Zone Establishment can be formed with a single shareholder

3. Branch

The UAE local companies located outside the free zone and the foreign companies can set up their branches in the free zones.

Types of Licenses Available in Various UAE Free Zones

The free zones in the UAE are known for providing investors with a variety of licenses to choose from. The licenses cover nearly all types of profitable industries in the UAE which facilitates a robust company registration in the UAE. The foreign investors who wonder about how to obtain a business license in the free zones must get professional assistance from the best business setup consultants in Dubai, UAE. The following are some of the major types of licenses in the UAE free zones. The following are some of the common licenses provided by various free zones in the UAE:

General Trading License
Service / Consultancy License
Trading / Commercial License
E-Commerce License
Education License
Industrial License
Freelance Permits
Manufacturing License

How to Set up a Company in the UAE Free Zones?

The UAE free zones follow the rules and legal procedures set out by the respective free zone authority which has to be followed to initiate the process of company incorporation in the UAE free zones. The investors who are not familiar with the legal procedures must consult with the reputed business setup consultants in the UAE to avoid unnecessary delays during company registration. The following are the steps to be followed for registering a company in the UAE free zones and it must be remembered that the requirements may vary from free zone to free zone.

1. Identify the Business Activity

The investors primarily have to determine the business activity you are planning to conduct and select the right free zone that allows the activity. Conduct thorough research on the activity and identify which free zone has the right facilities for the activity. The consultancies that provide the best business setup services in Dubai, UAE will be of great help to ward off any confusion about choosing the right free zone.

2. Determine the Legal Structure

Depending on the number of shareholders and the business activity the investors need to choose the legal structure which is most appropriate for the entity. The number of shareholders determines whether the company should be an FZCO or an FZE.

3. Choose a Trade Name

The next in the process of business setup in the UAE free zone is selecting the right trade name for the company. The investors need to follow the guidelines issued by the respective free zone authorities while choosing the company name.

4. Apply for Trade License

Depending on the activity, the entrepreneurs can choose the appropriate license for the free zone entity. The application to obtain the trade license can be submitted to the free zone authority through reputed business setup consultants in the UAE for quick completion of the company registration procedure.

5. Choose Office Space / Flexi Desk

The free zones provide co-working spaces or Flexi desks along with most of their license packages. For the companies with fewer employees, it is better to avail of the Flexi desk facility. The Flexi desk facilities are most appropriate for startups, e-commerce platforms, and freelancers. If the company has more employees, an office space with good facilities must be availed.

6. Register Company & Get License

The free zone authorities will verify the documents submitted and if all the paperwork is valid then the license will be issued. The company registration in UAE free zones can be completed in a short span of time and this is one of the reasons why most investors prefer to launch their businesses in the free zones.

Special Business Packages Investors can Avail for Business setup in the UAE Free Zones

The UAE free zones are at the forefront of offering innovative business solutions to the investors irrespective of their age group or gender. There are some free zones in the UAE that offer special company formation packages for young entrepreneurs and women. The RAKEZ free zone provides business setup packages for young entrepreneurs and women entrepreneurs at attractive rates. In fact, RAKEZ broke the ground by becoming the first free zone in the UAE to provide a special package for women entrepreneurs. Ajman Free Zone is also supporting the budding entrepreneurs by designing a special ‘Pioneer Package’ aimed at the young population.

Why Choose Jitendra Business Consultants?

The free zones in the UAE have played a critical role in attracting a large number of investors into the country with a slew of benefits including 100% ownership, highly developed infrastructure, and ultra-modern facilities. Free Zones in the UAE house more than thousands of companies that belong to different industries and play a huge role in bolstering the economy apart from creating employment opportunities. Since each free zone is governed by different regulations set out by the respective free zone authorities, the investors require professional assistance in complying with the regulations. This is where reputed business setup services in Dubai, UAE such as the Jitendra Business Consultants (JBC) comes handy for the entrepreneurs.

The investors need assistance with requirements such as company registration, license issuance, drafting of documents, visa processing and sponsoring of dependents, etc. JBC’s consultants are the best business setup consultants in Dubai and assist the investors with all these services. JBC comes to the rescue of investors who are unaware of the UAE labour laws, immigration laws, and facilitates a quick and smooth business setup process for them.