SHAMS, IFZA or RAKEZ — your UAE Free Zone company registered, licence issued, corporate bank account assisted. No UAE visit required. No local partner. No personal income tax. 100% foreign ownership.
Free consultation · response within 4 hours · no obligation
The UAE levies no personal income tax on salaries, dividends or capital gains. For founders relocating to the UAE or managing their business from there, this is one of the most tax-efficient structures available globally — especially relevant for high-income founders from India, the UK, Europe and North America.
Dubai and the UAE are among the world's top 5 financial centres. UAE companies gain access to Emirates NBD, Mashreq, RAK Bank, ADCB and a deep fintech ecosystem — plus global payment processors, Stripe, PayPal Business and international wire transfers with minimal friction.
UAE Free Zones allow 100% foreign ownership with no requirement for a UAE national partner or local sponsor. This changed for UAE mainland companies too in 2021, but free zones have always allowed it — full control of your company from day one.
A UAE Free Zone company licence makes the director and shareholders eligible to apply for UAE investor and partner residence visas — giving you the right to live in the UAE, open personal bank accounts, sponsor family members and access UAE infrastructure.
The UAE is the ideal base for businesses targeting the Middle East, North Africa, East Africa and South Asia. Dubai sits at the intersection of three continents with world-class logistics (Jebel Ali Port — largest in MENA), air connectivity (Dubai International — world's busiest international airport) and financial infrastructure.
UAE free zone companies benefit from minimal annual compliance obligations compared to European jurisdictions. There are no restrictions on repatriation of profits or capital — you can transfer funds freely from your UAE company to any account globally. UAE has 130+ double tax treaties protecting against double taxation.
All three free zones offer 100% foreign ownership, no minimum capital and no personal income tax. The right choice depends on your budget, business activity, banking needs and whether you want a Dubai address. Click any zone card for full details.
Mainland companies (licensed by the Department of Economic Development — DED) can trade directly with the UAE mainland without restrictions. Required for retail shops, restaurants, physical stores and businesses targeting UAE end-consumers. Physical office mandatory. Costs and requirements vary significantly by activity — available on request.
A CompanyVista specialist discusses your business activity, banking requirements, visa needs and budget. We recommend the right free zone (SHAMS, IFZA or RAKEZ), the correct activity classification on your licence and whether UAE Mainland is a better fit. Free, no commitment.
⏱ Day 0 — Free consultationWe send a detailed written quote covering CompanyVista's fee, all government fees, free zone charges and any Govt & Misc Charges specific to your chosen zone, activity and package. You pay only after reviewing and approving the full itemised quote.
⏱ Day 0–1 — Written quote within 4 hoursWe collect your passport copy, proof of address and any business-specific documents required by the free zone authority. Requirements are minimal — no notarisation or apostille required for most free zones. All submitted via our secure client portal.
⏱ Day 1 — Typically under 10 minutes from your sideCompanyVista submits your company formation application directly to the free zone authority — SHAMS, IFZA or RAKEZ. We manage the application, respond to any authority queries and track status. Most applications are approved within 5–7 business days for SHAMS, IFZA and RAKEZKEZ.
⏱ Days 2–5 — Free zone processingOnce approved, your UAE trade licence is issued by the free zone authority. CompanyVista delivers all documents digitally: trade licence, Certificate of Incorporation, Memorandum of Association, share certificates and a compliance calendar. Physical documents are dispatched by courier where required.
⏱ Days 3–7 — Documents delivered digitally and by courierIf you require a UAE investor or partner residence visa, CompanyVista assists with the visa application process — Entry Permit, Status Change (if in UAE), Emirates ID application and medical fitness test coordination. Visa processing typically takes 2–4 weeks from licence issuance.
⏱ 2–4 weeks after licence — if visa requiredCompanyVista assists with UAE corporate banking applications. UAE traditional banks (Emirates NBD, Mashreq, RAK Bank) require in-person branch visits or video calls for non-residents — we prepare your full application and advise on the right bank for your business profile. Fintech alternatives (Wise Business, Airwallex) offer faster remote KYC. Banking approval timelines vary from 1 week (fintech) to 4–8 weeks (traditional banks).
⏱ Fintech: 1–2 weeks · Traditional UAE bank: 4–8 weeksThe structural advantages of a UAE company are real — but they reward the right type of business and penalise the wrong fit. The businesses below see the strongest real-world benefit.
Here is exactly what CompanyVista will ask you for, and the genuine restrictions non-resident founders should know about before starting.
UAE Free Zone companies cannot sell directly to UAE mainland customers without a UAE mainland distributor or logistics agent. This is the fundamental difference between free zone and mainland licences:
If your primary market is UAE consumers, CompanyVista advises on mainland formation — available on request.
No hidden fees. Govt & Misc Charges vary by zone, activity, visa quota and package — always confirmed in your written quote at exact cost before any payment.
UAE banking requires more documentation than US or UK banking — especially for free zone companies. IFZA (Dubai address) consistently achieves higher approval rates than SHAMS or RAKEZ for traditional UAE banks. Fintech alternatives offer faster remote KYC.
UAE introduced 9% corporate tax on profits exceeding AED 375,000 (approx. $102,000) from June 2023. Profits below AED 375,000 are taxed at 0%. This applies to mainland and free zone companies unless qualifying for the free zone exemption.
Free zone companies earning "Qualifying Free Zone Income" — income from transactions with other free zones or international clients — may benefit from a 0% corporate tax rate. This requires maintaining economic substance in the UAE. CompanyVista advises on qualifying criteria during consultation — specialist UAE tax advice is essential.
The UAE levies no personal income tax on salaries, dividends, capital gains or personal income. This remains unchanged by the 2023 corporate tax introduction. For founders relocating to the UAE, this is one of the most compelling tax advantages globally.
UAE VAT is 5% — one of the lowest rates globally. Registration is mandatory when turnover exceeds AED 375,000. Free zone companies selling into the UAE mainland are subject to UAE VAT. International sales are typically zero-rated. FTA registration handled by CompanyVista from $299.
The UAE levies no withholding tax on dividends, interest, royalties or management fees paid to non-residents. This makes the UAE an extremely efficient holding company jurisdiction — profits can be repatriated globally without UAE tax leakage.
UAE has an extensive treaty network covering 130+ countries including India, UK, USA, Singapore, China, Germany, France and virtually all major economies. These treaties protect against double taxation on dividends, interest and royalties — very significant for Indian founders using UAE as a holding structure.
Tell us your business activity, preferred free zone and whether you need a UAE visa — we'll send a complete written quote covering every cost including Govt & Misc Charges. Free, no obligation.
The UAE is one of the world's most popular jurisdictions for company formation — combining 0% personal income tax, 100% foreign ownership, no minimum share capital and access to world-class banking with 130+ double tax treaties. Three free zones dominate non-resident company formation: SHAMS (Sharjah Media City), IFZA (International Free Zone Authority, Dubai address) and RAKEZ (Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone). CompanyVista's professional fee starts from $2,699 (RAKEZ), $2,799 (SHAMS) and $2,999 (IFZA), with Govt & Misc Charges additional and confirmed in a written quote at exact cost before payment.
IFZA is the most recommended free zone for businesses requiring strong traditional UAE banking access — its Dubai address is accepted by Emirates NBD, Mashreq and RAK Bank with significantly less friction than Sharjah or RAK-based licences. SHAMS is the preferred choice for digital businesses, media companies, consultants and e-commerce founders using fintech banking (Wise Business, Airwallex, Payoneer). RAKEZ has the lowest annual renewal cost ($1,800–$2,400/yr) and suits e-commerce and light industrial businesses. All three allow 100% foreign ownership, no minimum capital, no physical office and no UAE visit for formation.
UAE introduced 9% corporate tax from June 2023 on profits exceeding AED 375,000 — free zone companies earning "qualifying free zone income" from international or inter-free-zone transactions may be eligible for 0% tax, subject to maintaining economic substance. Personal income tax remains 0%. Free zone companies cannot sell directly to UAE mainland consumers without a mainland distributor — UAE Mainland (DED) licences are available from CompanyVista on request. UAE residence visas are available to directors and shareholders of free zone companies. CompanyVista registers companies in the UAE and 50+ other countries worldwide with the same team and no handoffs.
UAE Free Zone from $2,699 · SHAMS / IFZA / RAKEZ · 0% personal tax · 100% foreign ownership
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