Business Setup
Set up in the UAE — mainland or free zone — the right way. UAE mainland, free zone, and offshore company formation — licensing, visas, bank account support, and post-setup Corporate Tax / VAT registration.
Why Business Setup?
The UAE is one of the world's most attractive places to do business — but the choice of where and how to set up shapes your tax, ownership, banking, visas, and growth for years. Mainland, free zone, or offshore; the right jurisdiction and activity; the correct licence — these decisions are easy to get wrong and costly to unwind. BIFI Partners gets them right the first time.
We provide end-to-end UAE company formation: helping you select the structure and jurisdiction that fit your business model, securing the trade licence and the right activities, and handling the documentation, visas, and bank-account introductions that turn a licence into an operating company. Because we are also a tax and accounting firm, we set you up with Corporate Tax and VAT in mind from day one — not as an afterthought.
Whether you are an entrepreneur launching in Dubai, a foreign company opening a UAE branch or subsidiary, or an investor choosing between free zones, we guide you through the options clearly, manage the process, and hand you a business that is ready to trade, bank, and stay compliant.
Mainland · Free Zone
Right Jurisdiction
End-to-End
Licence to Bank Account
Tax-Aware
Set Up for Compliance
Visas
Residency & Team Setup
Business Setup services in detail
Comprehensive coverage across every aspect of business setup — tailored for your business.
Mainland Company Formation
Setup of mainland LLCs and establishments through the relevant Department of Economic Development — ideal for businesses that want to trade across the UAE market and with government, with the broadest activity flexibility and (in most activities) full foreign ownership.
Free Zone Company Setup
Formation in the free zone that best fits your activity and budget — across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and the wider UAE — with 100% foreign ownership, streamlined setup, and, where conditions are met, the potential 0% Corporate Tax rate on qualifying income.
Offshore Company Setup
Offshore (non-resident) company formation for holding, asset-protection, and international-structuring purposes, with guidance on what offshore entities can and cannot do in and from the UAE.
Trade Licence & Activity Selection
We select the correct licence type (commercial, professional, industrial) and the precise activities for your business — a detail that affects your permitted operations, banking, and Corporate Tax treatment — and secure the necessary approvals.
Visa & Bank Account Support
We arrange investor and employee residence visas and Emirates ID processing, and introduce and support corporate bank-account opening — often the most challenging step — with properly prepared documentation.
Post-Setup Tax Registration
We complete your Corporate Tax registration and, where applicable, VAT registration immediately after setup, and put your bookkeeping and compliance calendar in place — so you start fully compliant rather than catching up later.
Our business setup process
Structure & Jurisdiction Advice
We analyse your activity, ownership, market, and tax position to recommend mainland, free zone, or offshore — and the specific jurisdiction and licence that fit.
Name & Activity Approval
We reserve your trade name and obtain initial approval for your chosen activities with the relevant authority.
Documentation & Licensing
We prepare and submit the incorporation documents, secure the trade licence, and complete establishment-card and related formalities.
Visas & Banking
We process investor and staff visas and Emirates IDs and support corporate bank-account opening with well-prepared documentation.
Tax Setup & Go-Live
We register you for Corporate Tax (and VAT where applicable) and set up your accounting and compliance, so you launch ready to trade and stay compliant.
Built for businesses like yours
Common questions about business setup
It depends on your business. Mainland suits companies that want to trade freely across the UAE market and with government, with broad activity flexibility. A free zone suits businesses focused on a specific sector or international trade, offering 100% foreign ownership, streamlined setup, and the potential for a 0% Corporate Tax rate on qualifying income if the conditions are met. We assess your model and recommend the best fit.
Yes. Free zone companies have always allowed full foreign ownership, and most mainland commercial and industrial activities now permit 100% foreign ownership as well (a limited list of strategic activities still requires local participation). We confirm the ownership position for your specific activity.
Many free zone setups can be completed within a week or two once documents are ready, while mainland setups and certain regulated activities take longer. Bank-account opening usually takes additional time and is often the longest step. We give you a realistic timeline for your chosen route and keep the process moving.
Yes. Bank-account opening is often the hardest part of setting up in the UAE due to compliance requirements. We prepare your documentation properly, introduce you to suitable banks, and support you through the process to improve the chances of a smooth approval.
Almost certainly for Corporate Tax — registration is mandatory for taxable persons, including most free zone entities, regardless of whether tax is payable. VAT registration becomes mandatory once your taxable supplies cross the threshold. We complete both registrations as part of setup so you start fully compliant.
Yes — this is a core strength. Through our sister firm EQX Partners in India, we support Indian businesses expanding to the UAE end to end: choosing the structure, forming the company, arranging visas and banking, and aligning the tax position across both countries.
Have a more specific question?
Ask our team directlyRelated services
Explore the rest of our tax and advisory services for businesses across the UAE and the GCC.
Ready to discuss your business setup needs?
Schedule a free consultation with our team. No obligation — just straightforward advice tailored to your situation.