Are you planning to move to Dubai with your own company or would you like to relocate your existing business to the UAE? Rely on the German-speaking experts for successful business start-ups in Dubai!
With over 700 successfully realised company formations, we have the experience you need. Our personalised advice makes your path to Dubai plannable and legally compliant. Whether it's a Freezone company, Mainland company or holding structure - together we will find the optimal solution for your business model.
Dubai has established itself as one of the most important business centres in the world. The metropolis offers entrepreneurs an unbeatable global tax environment combined with state-of-the-art infrastructure and a business-friendly environment that is second to none.
When you set up your company, you will automatically receive a UAE residence visa - your key to an income tax-free life. This visa is issued for 2 years and can be extended indefinitely as long as your company exists.
Our specialised tax advisors from the DACH region will structure your residency exit in a legally compliant manner and with a minimal tax burden so that you can take full advantage of Dubai's tax benefits from day one
There are 2 main options available to you in Dubai, depending on your business model and target markets:
Ideal if you mainly work internationally or online.
Advantages:
The right choice if you want to serve customers in the UAE or participate in government tenders. Available as an LLC (Limited Liability Company) for trade and industry or as a Sole Establishment for service and consultancy.
Advantages:
| Criterion | Freezone | Mainland |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership |
100% Property Your Freezone company is 100% yours. No local partner, no sponsor - full control over your company. |
100% Ownership (as a rule) In almost all cases, Mainland companies are also part of 100%. A local partner is only required for very specific activities. |
| Taxation |
9% Corporate income tax 9% only on local UAE profits over AED 375,000 with the option of full tax exemption. |
9% Corporate income tax, 5% VAT. 9% only on local UAE profits over AED 375,000. 5% VAT on goods & services in the UAE market. |
| Share capital requirements |
No share capital required No deposit is required to set up a Freezone company. Share capital only exists on paper. |
No share capital required No deposit is required to set up a Mainland company. Share capital only exists on paper. |
| International business |
Worldwide without borders Unrestricted access to international markets. In addition, mostly complete exemption from import/export duties. |
Worldwide without borders Unrestricted access to international markets. In addition, mostly complete exemption from import/export duties. |
| Local VAE market |
Restricted access Business primarily within your Freezone and internationally. Restrictions apply to the local UAE market. |
Full market access Unrestricted access to the entire UAE market including government contracts - without intermediaries. |
| Profit repatriation |
100% of your winnings Capital and profits can be transferred abroad in full and without restrictions. |
100% of your profits (after tax) Capital and profits can be transferred abroad in full and without restrictions. |
| Visa options |
Up to 6 visas included Most Freezoness offer packages with 2-6 visas. Perfect for small teams and families. |
Theoretically unlimited As many employee visas as your business needs - depending on company size and office space. |
| Office requirement |
Virtual office is enough From Virtual Desk to Flexi Desk to your own office - you decide according to your needs. |
Physical address required Virtual office possible, but physical presence within the UAE required. |
| Location flexibility |
Within your Freezone Your business is tied to the selected Freezone - expansion to other Freezoness is possible. |
Everywhere in the UAE Free choice of location in all emirates - maximum flexibility for expansion. |
| Foundation period | 5 working days | 2 working days |
| Remote foundation |
✓ Completely without journey We take care of everything for you remotely. You sign digitally - created in just 5 working days. |
✗ Personal presence One journey required for signatures - but express incorporation in just 2 working days. |
| Account opening |
Hassle-free with our guarantee We guarantee the opening of business and private accounts - thanks to our banking relationships. |
Particularly simple Mainland companies enjoy the highest level of trust with UAE banks - fastest account opening. |
| Best choice for |
Online & International Online business, consulting, trading, international business |
Local & Regional Local services, trade in UAE, government contracts |
Our tip: Over 80% of our customers choose the Freezone - perfect for digital nomads, online entrepreneurs and international businesses. We recommend the Mainland option if you primarily want to serve customers in the UAE.
Still unsure? In a free initial consultation, we analyse your business model and recommend the best structure for you.
Dubai is one of the world's major economic powers and offers entrepreneurs a wide range of opportunities to start a new business or expand. The city has a modern infrastructure, well-educated professionals and a government that supports entrepreneurs to run their businesses successfully. So anyone starting a company in Dubai has many opportunities ahead of them.
For many people considering a company headquarters in Dubai, questions arise regarding the Tax exemptionThe first step is to find out more about the challenges of setting up a business, living conditions in Dubai and other topics.
After more than 500 start-ups, we at "Dubai-Auswandern" know all about the advantages, challenges and steps involved in setting up a company in Dubai and we will give you a detailed overview here.
🌍 Low tax burden: There is no income tax in Dubai, only a newly introduced (2023) corporate tax of 9 % (note that there are special features to avoid this) and a low VAT of 5 %.
🌐 Large network: The city is an important commercial centre and offers access to an extensive network of business people and investors.
🏗 Modern infrastructure: Dubai is characterised by excellent transport networks, telecommunications infrastructure and proximity to important seaports and the airport.
💼 Three types of companies: Freezone, Mainland and Offshore companies can be established in Dubai (We can establish all types of companies), each with specific benefits and requirements.
📋 Easy incorporation process: Company formation in Dubai can be done within days, especially with support from us and our network.
🛂 Regulatory support: The Dubai government actively supports entrepreneurs in setting up and running their business.
🚀 Future opportunities: The city's diverse economic sectors and progressive attitude offer numerous opportunities for growth and development.


The global business centre Dubai offers many different advantages for entrepreneurs. Probably the best-known advantage is the low tax burden. This is because there is no trade tax, corporation tax or income tax in the metropolis. Only a small VAT of 5 % is payable. This allows entrepreneurs to maximise their profits and reinvest more in their business.
Another great advantage of setting up a company in Dubai is access to a huge network of business people and entrepreneurs. This is because the city is a major trading hub and a popular destination for international companies. Due to the large network, entrepreneurs in Dubai have greater access to potential investors and business partners than in other cities around the world.
In addition, the modern infrastructure in Dubai is another plus compared to other economic centres. The city has an excellent road network, a well-developed public transport network and a modern telecommunications infrastructure.
In addition to the most important airport in the entire Middle East, the Jebel Ali seaport is also located in Dubai. The free trade zones are also an important point that can be attractive for entrepreneurs. This makes it easier for companies to conduct their business and enables them to trade quickly and efficiently.
Another plus point is the availability of skilled labour. Dubai has well-trained and motivated professionals, which helps companies set up their businesses in Dubai with ease.
Finally, it is important to know that the government in Dubai is also a positive point for entrepreneurs. It also helps you to start and run a business. This is done through government programmes and other resources.
There are 3 different types of companies that can be registered in Dubai. These include Freezone companies, Mainland companies and Offshore companies.
A Freezone company is a type of establishment that can be registered in more than 40 different zones in Dubai. There, the companies are regulated by the authorities of the respective zones, receive various tax benefits and can do business internationally & locally. One of the most well-known Freezone Authorities in Dubai is the International Free Zone Authority (IFZA), with whom we have been working successfully for years and who has awarded us the "Gold Partner 2024" and the "Outstanding Performance 2023" award thanks to the satisfaction of our customers. Other Freezone areas include the Jebel Ali Freezone Authority (JAFZA), Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) and many more.
A Mainland company is a type of establishment that is particularly suitable for entrepreneurs who primarily want to serve customers in the Emirate of Dubai with their company. Mainland LLC companies usually have higher tax rates than Freezone companies, but they also have access to a larger market and customer base. Shareholders can be both individuals and foreign companies and an authorised local manager or director is required. Overall, this type of company can be compared to a German GmbH.
Offshore companies are companies that are registered in Dubai but do business outside Dubai. This allows you to benefit from tax advantages even though the company shares are 100% foreign-owned and you are not present locally. There are two emirates that are particularly suitable for setting up a company, namely Ras al Khaimah (RAK) and the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA). Neither income tax nor corporation tax is levied there.
Overall, it is advisable to work with an agency when setting up a company in order to immediately select the appropriate legal form and avoid problems that may arise later.
If you want to set up a company in Dubai, there are some steps you should follow. These include choosing the legal form, choosing the business, obtaining permits, choosing the company name, registering the company, obtaining licences and other optional steps.
Before you start setting up a company in Dubai, you need to decide on a legal form. As mentioned above, there are different types of companies that can be registered in Dubai, such as Freezone companies, Mainland companies and Offshore companies. Each of these company types has its own advantages and disadvantages that you should consider before deciding on one. The Dubai emigration experts will be happy to advise you on the selection and all other processes.
Once you have chosen a legal form, you also need to choose the business activity you want to carry out. Dubai has a variety of industries in which businesses can operate successfully, such as retail, finance, tourism, real estate and IT.
Once you have selected the type of company and industry sector, you will need to obtain a permit from the relevant authorities in Dubai. This process may take some time and it may be necessary to submit certain documents to obtain the permit.
Once you have received approval, you can choose the company name. It is important that the name is unique and not used by another company in Dubai. It is also important that the name can be written in Arabic and English.
Once the company name has been decided, the company can be registered. This process may take some time and it may be necessary to submit certain documents to complete the registration.
Once your company is registered, you will need to rent office space where you can register your business address. There are many different types of office spaces in Dubai, such as private offices, coworking spaces and serviced offices. (Note: if you are planning to start a business in Dubai with us, we will show you how to get a physical office address legally without much effort)
If you don't want to invest that much time & want to avoid mistakes, Dubai emigration experts can handle the entire process for you in record time (2 days for a Mainland company & 4 days for a Freezone company). Discover all the benefits of Dubai-auswandern, the official partner of all top Freezones in the U.A.E. Profit among other things from specialised tax advisors from the DACH region, a legal department directly from the U.A.E. and a Guarantee for opening a corporate & private account.
There are a variety of legal and regulatory requirements that must be met when setting up a company in Dubai. It is useful to distinguish between general requirements and requirements that arise when setting up a company with employees.
| Basic requirements | Freezone Company | Mainland Company |
|---|---|---|
| Physical establishment | Mandatory | Mandatory |
| Minimum capital contribution | Mandatory | Mandatory |
| Articles of association | Mandatory | Mandatory |
| Local contact for company formation | No | No |
| Visa | Freezone Company | Mainland Company |
|---|---|---|
| Visa needed? | No | Yes |
| Visa possible through the company? | Yes | Yes |
| Documents required | Freezone Company | Mainland Company |
|---|---|---|
| Business plan | Yes | Yes |
| Coloured passport copies of the shareholders and managing directors | Yes | Yes |
| Memorandum of Understanding | Yes | Yes |
| 2 years of audited financial reports for companies or letters of recommendation from the bank | Yes | Yes |
| Proof of address, for example by means of a consumption bill | Yes | Yes |
Anyone wishing to hire employees must also do the following:
It is important to familiarise yourself with the legal and regulatory requirements before setting up a company in Dubai to ensure that you meet all the requirements and avoid potential risks. The experts at Dubai Emigrate can help you avoid these risks. This is especially recommended if your company formation is a bit more complex and you want to hire employees.
There are many financing options for entrepreneurs who want to set up a business in Dubai. These include loans, grants and angel investors. There are also many funding programmes and resources provided by the government and private organisations to help entrepreneurs start and expand their businesses. Of these, here are 3 important funding programmes:
It is important to look for funding opportunities early on to ensure that you have enough capital to start and run the business successfully.
Overall, Dubai offers above-average opportunities when it comes to financing a business.


As with any business start-up, there are challenges to consider when setting up a company in Dubai. One of the biggest challenges is not setting up the company itself, but choosing the right company structure.
This begins with the choice of the right legal form, which must fit your own project. It continues with the determination of the company's activities, which should be implemented directly and correctly, as otherwise one can run into problems afterwards. This could concern, for example, the opening of the bank account.
In the case of setting up a Freezone company, the most suitable Freezone must finally be selected from 40 different ones. Not every Freezone is suitable for every business purpose and not all Freezoness offer the same advantages. We at Dubai-Auswandern recommend choosing only one of the 27 regulated Freezoness in Dubai. While these come at a slightly higher cost, they offer a much faster service compared to other Freezoness and there are fewer difficulties with subsequent processes, such as opening a bank account. For these reasons, our experts will only advise you on Freezones in Dubai if a Freezone company is the right choice for you.
Besides choosing the right company structure, cultural differences can also be a challenge, especially when doing business in Dubai as a foreigner. It is important to understand the culture and business practices of the country and adapt to the norms in order to be successful.
Bureaucracy can also be a challenge, especially when complying with legal and regulatory requirements. It is important to familiarise yourself with the country's laws and regulations and ensure that you meet all requirements to avoid potential risks.
To avoid serious mistakes here, you should work with us at your side. This will save you a lot of time and energy and you won't take any risks when setting up your company. Above all, Dubai-Auswandern takes the bureaucratic work off your hands and guides you through the entire start-up process.
Dubai has developed into an important business location and is therefore very attractive for entrepreneurs. Here is an overview of all the advantages of setting up a company in Dubai:
There are different types of companies that can be registered in Dubai such as Freezone companies, Mainland companies, Offshore companies. You should follow the steps below when incorporating:
All in all, it is clear that Dubai is one of the most attractive cities in the world for entrepreneurs and freelancers. Even the few initial hurdles in setting up a business should not deter you. By working with an agency, these can be effortlessly cleared away so that nothing stands in the way of a successful business start.
Not only our experts at Dubai-Auswandern see it that way, but also...
If you also want to benefit from a fast & uncomplicated company formation in Dubai, book a free initial consultation with an expert from Dubai-Auswandern now.


Over 700 self-employed people, entrepreneurs and influencers have already realised their business start-ups with our support and successfully emigrated to Dubai. Are you interested in a free initial consultation? Let's find out together how we can help you too.

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