Setting up a company in the UAE’s Free Trade Zones
Affordable incorporation solutions with 100% foreign ownership, designed for doing business both within the Free Trade Zone area and outside the country.
There are over 50 Free Trade Zones dotted across 5 of the 7 Emirates. Companies in a FTZ can be totally foreign owned with no local involvement required, unlike Mainland Companies. Each specializes in supporting one or more licensed business activities and offers unique benefits, such as financial, geographic, facilities, labor and more. They are linked to large logistics centers, ports or airports and offer ready-made warehousing and offices, with exceptionally high-grade infrastructure and utilities. Many FZ represent budget solutions for setting up in the UAE.
Setting up a company inside a Free Zone provides unique business opportunities
Run a trading business
Conduct international trade, export, re-export, but sell goods in the local market of the UAE only through distributors.
Operate a manufacturing facility
Take advantage of duty - free import of raw materials, storage within the FZ, and export products outside the UAE.
Manage a service business
Provide a wide range of services to international contractors, including to the FTZ of incorporation.
Residence permit and tax domicile
Obtain a residence permit and the status of a tax resident (domicile) for shareholders, employees and their families.
Property and assets registration
All assets and real estate, including foreign ones, can be registered to the Free Zone company.
Global business operations
0% corporate taxes for international businesses provides genuine justification for setting up a FTZ company.
KYC (Know Your Customer) and CRS (Common Reporting Standard) standards, as well as ESR (Economic Substance Requirements) - the new reality of modern business - require you to confirm that Management and Control of your FTZ company rests in the UAE and not elsewhere. We can recommend effective solutions to achieve this within the parameters laid down by law.
SORP’s solutions for Free Zone company incorporation
Choosing the right zone and business model
We will pinpoint the right business activity and the license, and the best FTZ for achieving all your business goals.
Registering your Business
We tie up legal requirements quickly because of our strong cooperations with the licensing authorities as well as knowledge of the procedures.
Opening your bank account
We guide you through KYC compliance with assistance in your choice of leading UAE banks. SORP know-how gets things done quickly.
Prestigious legal address
Use our Business Center as your base for completing KYC procedures and while confirming ESR (Economic Substance).
PRO business support
We do the legwork to obtain visas for investors, employees and their families, renew licenses, permits and so forth.
Outsourced business processes
We provide integrated legal, tax, accounting and administrative services with full business support and a highly professional approach.
Unique features of doing business in the UAE’s Free Trade Zones
100% foreign ownership
A company registered in the FTZ can be fully owned by a foreign investor, without any requirements for a local partner or agent to be involved.
Many business activities supported
FTZs specialize in one or more business activities and the range of their options is wide, from investment consulting and healthcare to trade, logistics and more.
Deciding on location is important
Rent or purchase commercial, warehouse, industrial and office premises only in the FTZ of your incorporation – not elsewhere.
Business licensing
Free Zone licensing process is unique to each FTZ and depends on the type of business activity you are carrying on.
Visa conditions
The number of visas that a company can get depends on the size of the premises it occupies.
License renewal
Some Free Zones require submission of annual financial statements and audits in order to renew the business license.
Some important considerations when choosing a Free Zone for incorporation
Incorporation process
Infrastructure and logistics
Budgeting factors
Reputation matters. Banks have their own internal rating of each UAE Free Trade Zone, which they use to determine the relative reliability of companies registered there. That can make opening bank accounts in the future significantly easier. Contractors, too, are aware of the jurisdiction of incorporation. It follows that you should ideally focus on the premium zones if possible or open a Mainland Company instead, especially if you are planning to enter the domestic market.
Integrated solutions from SORP for professional business assistance to companies in the UAE
Business planning and the right model
We help you plan and implement a properly licensed business model and solid basis for operations. We will guide you in creating a retail network and accessing global or local markets.
Advice, consultancy and support
We will analyze the market, the competition and the relevant legislation. We will suggest the best locations for your business to ensure it can operate in the best and most productive environment.
Local nominee partner or agent
We will provide a restricted rights director and shareholder to exclude transfer pricing and for concealing the actual beneficiary of company. A waiver of rights is obtained in the Dubai court.
Obtaining tax residency status
Enjoy tax resident (domicile) status shielding you from CRS requirements for sharing your tax details and for preventing double taxation
International Tax Planning
We design optimized tax solutions for international business within the full scope of UAE legislation, drawing on our wide experience in this field
Confirmation of economic substance
We help fulfil proof of economic substance based on the registered location of your company, as well as localized decision making and management, and tax compliance.
SORP’s long experience guarantees the success of your operation in the UAE
Register a company in UAE Free Trade Zones
SORP Group experts will put together a professional and comprehensive plan to register your company based on your goals and with full business support services.
You can take the first step today towards creating a successful and profitable business!