Company Incorporation in the UAE.
Mainland or Free Zone.
Seamless Setup. Expert Compliance.
We handle company setup and incorporation, then stay on as your audit, corporate tax, and VAT partner - so compliance is never something you find out about the hard way.
Mainland, free zone, or offshore - which one fits?
Every UAE incorporation starts with this decision. Here's how the three paths actually compare, so you're not guessing before you call us.
| Mainland | Free Zone | Offshore | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign ownership | Up to 100% for most activities | 100% standard | 100% |
| Where you can trade | UAE-wide and internationally | Within the zone & internationally; mainland trade needs a distributor or extra approval | Outside the UAE only - no local trading |
| Physical office | Required | Flexi-desk to full office, zone-dependent | Not required |
| Visa eligibility | Yes, tied to office size/activity | Yes, tied to licence package | Not applicable |
| Typical incorporation time | 1–3 weeks | 2–15 working days | 3–7 working days |
| Best suited to | Local trading, government tenders, wide activity range | Import/export, consulting, media, tech, holding | Asset holding, international structuring |
What you'll need to get started
- Passport copies of all shareholders and directors
- Proof of residential address for each shareholder
- Passport-size photographs (white background)
- No Objection Certificate, if currently on a UAE employment visa
- Signed application forms and Memorandum of Association
- Business plan or activity description, for certain licence types
Full comparison, entity types, and the complete document checklist: see the company incorporation guide →
Company incorporation in the UAE, done by people who stay accountable for it.
Launch Pad handles company incorporation across all seven Emirates - mainland, free zone, and offshore - for first-time founders, overseas companies opening a UAE presence, and traders who need a licence structure that actually matches how they sell. Incorporation is the start of the relationship, not the end of it: the same team that registers your company is the one that files its Corporate Tax return, VAT, and annual audit two, five, ten years later.
Five services. One structure.
Each service sits on the one below it - audit, tax, VAT and compliance only make sense once the entity actually exists. Tap any stage to read more.
Built for how people actually enter the UAE market.
First-time entrepreneurs
Relocating and setting up for the first time, often against a visa or timeline deadline.
Start Your SetupOverseas companies
Opening a UAE branch or subsidiary of a business based outside the country.
Open a UAE BranchTrading & e-commerce
Import/export and online sellers who need a licence structure matching how they trade.
Get Licensed to Trade- VAT registered
- Audit ready
- Deadlines tracked
Most consultants stop at the licence.
That's exactly where the risk starts.
What usually goes wrong
How this is different
What "staying on" actually looks like.
Not a vague promise - an actual tracked view of what's due, filed, and coming up next, for as long as you operate.
- VAT filed on schedule, every period
- Corporate Tax return prepared ahead of the deadline
- Licence renewal flagged months in advance
- UBO register kept current, not forgotten
Illustrative example - actual filing dates depend on your company's formation date and activity.
One partner. Every emirate.
What setup actually involves.
Most quotes only cover the licence. Here's the fuller picture.
Every business is different - your exact cost is confirmed at consultation. See how to get started →
From first call to filed VAT return.
Consultation
We map your activity and timeline to the right jurisdiction and licence type.
Formation
Licensing, registration and approvals through to trade licence issuance.
Tax position
Corporate Tax and VAT registration assessed on your actual activity.
Ongoing partner
Filings and deadlines tracked for as long as you operate.
Straight answers before you commit to anything.
A mainland company is licensed through the Department of Economic Development and can trade freely across the UAE and internationally. A free zone company often allows 100% foreign ownership with a simpler setup, but may face restrictions trading directly within the mainland.
Registration is mandatory once taxable supplies and imports exceed AED 375,000 over 12 months, and optional between AED 187,500 and AED 375,000.
Start with the foundation. Stay for the build.
Tell us your activity, target emirate, and timeline - we'll map out the setup and everything that follows it.