A renewable residence visa
Your UAE company sponsors your own investor or partner visa, with the Emirates ID and medical handled as part of the process. You do not need to be in the UAE to start it.
Relocating to the UAE
UAE Licence from AED 7,500
A UAE company licence is the simplest route to a UAE residence visa — and to everything that comes with it: sponsor your family, invoice clients anywhere in the world, and pay no personal income tax. ACOUP handles the licence, the visa and the paperwork from wherever you are today.
0% personal income tax
Sponsor your family
Handled remotely, start to finish
AED 7,500UAE trade licence, starting from
0%Personal income tax in the UAE
FamilySponsor your spouse and children
100%Foreign ownership, no local partner
Why people move
What a UAE licence actually gives you
Most people setting up a UAE company from abroad are weighing more than the licence itself — they are weighing the residency it unlocks, and what that changes for their family and their work.
Sponsor your family
Once you hold residency you can sponsor your spouse, your sons under 25 and your unmarried daughters. The official threshold is a minimum salary of AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation.
A freelance or professional permit
If you work for yourself rather than building a company, several free zones issue a freelance permit that also carries a residence visa. We will tell you which fits your activity.
Clients anywhere in the world
A UAE licence is built for international trade: invoice clients in any country, bank in the UAE, and hold 100% of the company with no local partner.
Residency that survives time abroad
Most residents lose their visa after 180 continuous days outside the UAE. Investor visas are listed among the exempt categories, which matters if you will keep travelling.
Healthcare and schooling
Residency brings access to the UAE’s private healthcare network, with health cover required for residents in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and to British, American and IB curriculum schools.
Visa eligibility, family sponsorship and the conditions attached to each route are set by ICP and GDRFA and depend on your own circumstances. Thresholds and rules change — we confirm the current position for your situation before you commit, and nothing here is a guarantee of approval.
The offer
A UAE trade licence from AED 7,500
The quickest, lightest way into the UAE market: 100% foreign ownership, a flexi-desk address and a licence you can trade internationally on. Here is exactly what the starting package covers, and what moves the number.
What the starting package covers
- UAE trade licence issuance
- Trade name reservation and initial approval
- Incorporation documents and share certificates
- Immigration establishment card with the licensing authority
- Flexi-desk registered address
- Corporate bank account assistance
- A dedicated setup advisor from day one
AED 7,500Licence only — government fees and residence visa costs are quoted separately
Get a Quote
What changes the price
- Which free zone you register in — each authority sets its own licence and registration fees
- Your business activity, and whether it needs an external approval
- How many residence visas you need, and the medicals and Emirates ID that come with each
- Premises: a flexi-desk is the lightest option, an office or warehouse costs more and raises your visa quota
- Whether you add corporate tax registration, accounting or payroll from the start
A free zone company does not register with MOHRE. Your employment contracts are issued under the free zone authority’s own rules, and visas and the establishment card are processed through the zone and ICP. MOHRE applies to mainland companies.
Need to sell to customers inside the UAE rather than internationally? A free zone licence is not the right tool on its own — see mainland, free zone and offshore compared before you commit.
Company setup services
Everything you need to launch your UAE company
From choosing the right structure to opening your bank account, ACOUP streamlines the journey from paperwork to approvals.
Mainland, free zone & offshore formation
Guidance on the best legal structure, jurisdiction and licence type for your business goals. Compare jurisdictions
Trade licence issuance & renewal
End-to-end processing with the Department of Economy, free zone and other authorities.
MOA, legal documents & notarisation
Drafting and attestation of the Memorandum of Association, Power of Attorney and shareholder agreements.
Immigration & labour establishment cards
Corporate immigration files opened with the free zone authority or MOHRE, plus ICP, for visa and quota access.
Corporate bank account assistance
Coordination with local and international banks to open your business account.
VAT registration & Corporate Tax advisory
FTA registration, tax filing requirements and accounting alignment. Tax services
How it works
Your company setup journey, step by step
One advisor guides you through every approval, with a clear timeline agreed up front.
- 01
Free consultation
We understand your activity, ownership and plans, then recommend the right jurisdiction.
- 02
Name & initial approval
Trade name reserved and initial approval obtained from the licensing authority.
- 03
Licence & legal documents
MOA drafted and notarised, and your trade licence issued.
- 04
Government registrations
Establishment cards with MOHRE and ICP, bank account and VAT registration.
- 05
Visas & onboarding
Partner and staff visas processed so your team can start work.
Choosing a jurisdiction
Compare All Three
Mainland, free zone or offshore?
Each structure suits a different way of doing business, and the choice decides where you can sell, how many visas you can sponsor and how your profits are taxed. We help you choose based on your activity, your customers and your hiring plan.
Mainland
Licensed by the economic department of the emirate. Trades anywhere in the UAE, bids for government work, needs physical premises.
Free zone
Licensed by the free zone authority. 100% ownership, 0% corporate tax on qualifying income, mainland sales via a distributor or branch.
Offshore
Registered with an offshore registry. A holding and asset vehicle: no UAE trading, no premises, no residence visas.
General guidance only. Rules differ by emirate, free zone and business activity; your ACOUP advisor confirms the options for your company.
Why ACOUP
Why choose ACOUP for company setup and PRO support
Licensing experts and experienced government liaison, with fixed packages and one accountable contact.
Expert consultants
Legal and licensing consultants who know UAE company law and procedures.
Government liaison experience
Established experience with MOHRE, ICP, DED and free zone authorities.
Transparent timelines
Fixed service packages and clear timelines agreed before we start.
One point of contact
A single advisor for all your government dealings.
Built for growing businesses
Ideal for SMEs, startups, family businesses and foreign investors.
Optional add-ons
HR outsourcing, payroll, bookkeeping and tax compliance when you need them.
Who it's for
Setup and PRO support for every kind of business
Startups launching their first UAE company
SMEs expanding to new emirates or free zones
Family businesses restructuring or adding entities
Foreign investors entering the UAE market
Frequently asked questions
Company setup & PRO questions
Should I choose a mainland or free zone company?
It depends mainly on where your customers are and what activity you'll carry out. Mainland companies can trade directly across the UAE, while free zone companies suit international trade and specific sectors. Your ACOUP advisor recommends the best fit during the free consultation.
Can foreigners own 100% of a UAE company?
Yes, for most business activities, in both mainland and free zones. Some regulated activities still have specific ownership rules, which we check for you.
Do you help open a corporate bank account?
Yes. We coordinate with local and international banks and help you prepare the documents they require.
Can ACOUP handle our PRO work after setup?
Yes. Our corporate PRO services cover visas, labour quota, attestations, licence renewals and modifications on an ongoing basis.
How are your services priced?
We offer fixed service packages with transparent timelines. Share your requirements and we'll send a quotation after your consultation.
How much does business setup in Dubai cost?
It depends on the jurisdiction and the activity: mainland, free zone and offshore structures carry different licence fees, and visa quota, office requirements and approvals change the total. We price the licence, the visas and the PRO work as one written quotation so the number you see is the number you pay.
Optional add-ons
View all services
Run your new company with ACOUP
End-to-End HR ManagementHire-to-retire HR for employers
Payroll ServicesWPS, gratuity and EOSB
Accounting, Tax & AuditBookkeeping, VAT and Corporate Tax
Permanent Staffing, Outsourcing & EORBuild your team in the UAE
Employer of Record (EOR)Hire before your entity is ready
Business Process OutsourcingCall center, customer service and helpdesk
Launch your business the right way, with ACOUP
Avoid paperwork overload, confusing approvals and unpredictable government processes. ACOUP handles every step quickly, legally and efficiently.