Start my UAE company
Dubai free zone company setup for non-residents

Set up a UAE free zone company from anywhere

Your clients are in the Gulf, or you want a company the region takes seriously. A UAE free zone company is 100% yours, licensed without a trip, and pays 0% corporate tax up to AED 375,000. Pick the zone; its price passes through at cost.

The licence is set up remotely. Pick your country to see your path and the time in Dubai.
Start my UAE company Compare free zones
  • The zone's price at cost, plus AED 309
  • No visa needed for the licence
  • You only pay after you sign
100%Foreign ownership allowed in free zones
0%Personal income tax in the UAE
9%Corporate tax, only above AED 375,000 of profit
4Free zones compared side by side, prices at cost
01Where it lives

Which UAE free zone is cheapest for you?

Four free zones that suit founders abroad, each with its own package and rules. Every price is the zone's own, passed through at cost.

Answer two questions and the best fit lights up.

Do you want a UAE residence visa?
What will the company do?
Your year one with MeydanAED 12,500 to the free zone plus AED 309 to HeirsonAED 12,809
02How it happens

How to register a company in Dubai without moving there

Five stops from your answers to a licensed UAE company. Only the last one, the visa, is optional.

FZCO TRADE LICENCE ISSUED CORPORATE TAX TRN 000000000000000 AED You applyFree zone reviewTrade licenceTax registeredBank or visa
  1. Apply with HeirsonCompany name, owners, activity and your free zone. Passport copy and a photo; pay in crypto.
    You, about 15 minutes
  2. Free zone reviewWe submit your application and documents to the zone you chose.
    Heirson and the zone
  3. Trade licence issuedYour licence, certificate of incorporation and company documents, remotely.
    The free zone
  4. Corporate tax registrationEvery UAE company registers with the Federal Tax Authority within 3 months.
    Heirson
  5. Bank account or visaOptional. A residence visa and many banks need you in the UAE in person.
    You, if you choose
03What you keep

UAE corporate tax for free zone companies: what you'd really pay

The UAE has no personal income tax. Companies pay 9% only on profit above AED 375,000, and small businesses can claim relief.

Type your numbers to see yours.

0%Personal income tax
0%Corporate tax up to AED 375,000
9%Corporate tax above AED 375,000
About the free zone 0% rate. It applies only to qualifying income of companies that meet strict conditions, including real presence in the zone and audited accounts. Consulting, software and online selling usually don't qualify, so plan on the standard rates.

Where you live may still tax what you take out.

AED
AED
Corporate tax9% on profit above AED 375,000
Effective rate
Personal income tax in the UAEAED 0
Left in the company

04What needs a trip

Can you open a company in Dubai without a residence visa?

Yes. The company and its tax registration are remote. A visa is optional, and it's the step that needs a trip.

RemoteTrade licence

Applied for and issued without visiting the UAE.

RemoteCorporate tax registration

Online with the Federal Tax Authority, within 3 months.

In the UAEResidence visa

Entry permit, a medical test and Emirates ID biometrics. Optional.

Sometimes in the UAEBank account

Set up with you. A few UAE banks ask for a short visit; we tell you before you start.

Pick your country at the top to see your time difference with Dubai.

05Made for where you live

Run your UAE company from anywhere

Free zone companies can be 100% owned by people living anywhere. Here's how yours runs from where you live.

Eligibility
?

Open to founders in most countries

Free zones allow 100% foreign ownership. No UAE partner or sponsor needed.

Your free zoneMeydan

Non-Resident Licence, AED 12,500.

Residence visaOptional

Only needed if you want to live in the UAE.

Tax where you live

The UAE doesn't tax your personal income, but your own country may. Bring three questions to an adviser there.

What you get

What's included in your UAE free zone company setup

The free zone sells the licence. We handle everything around it, for AED 309.

  • Free zone applicationPrepared and submitted to the zone you choose.
  • Your documentsChecked and formatted to the zone's rules before they go in.
  • Corporate tax registrationWith the Federal Tax Authority, inside the 3-month deadline.
  • Beneficial owner registerFiled with the zone, with a reminder for any change.
  • Bank-ready document setLicence, incorporation papers and owner details in one place.
  • Renewal remindersLicence and tax dates in your calendar, 30 and 7 days before.
06The whole bill

Dubai company registration cost and fees, and how long it takes

Your free zone's package at cost, plus our AED 309, then your timeline and UAE dates.

AED 12,809Year one with Meydan: the zone's AED 12,500 plus AED 309 to Heirson
AED 299 a yearOur renewal, plus your free zone's own renewal fee
3 monthsDeadline to register for corporate tax, AED 10,000 penalty if late
How many owners?
Residence visa?

You can add one later if your free zone allows it.

When do you want to start?

Your timeline

    What it costs

    Free zone package at its published price, in AED and US$.

    UAE dates for your company

    Tax registration, licence renewal and your first tax return.

      Add a nominee to your UAE free zone company if you want one, never to hide an owner from banks or authorities. How nominees work.

      Nominee directorUS$620 a yearA licensed professional on the public record; you stay the owner
      Nominee shareholderUS$620 a yearHolds the shares on trust for you, with a declaration of trust you keep
      07Every year after

      UAE licence renewal and corporate tax dates

      A free zone company renews its licence every year and files a corporate tax return within 9 months of each tax year. Your first two years, by start month:

      Reminders 30 and 7 days before each date
      5%

      VAT, above AED 375,000

      Registration becomes mandatory once taxable sales pass AED 375,000 a year; optional from AED 187,500.

      15

      Days to report owner changes

      Anyone with 25% or more is a beneficial owner, kept on the zone's register.

      ?

      Tax where you live

      The UAE won't tax your income; ask an adviser where you live whether your own country will.

      UAE company rules people get wrong

      • Dubai has no corporate tax.Since 2023, 9% on profit above AED 375,000.
      • Free zone companies always pay 0%.Only qualifying income, under strict conditions. Consulting, software and online selling usually don't qualify.
      • No residency, no bank account.We set it up with you, and it almost always goes through. A few UAE banks ask for a visit; you'll know first.
      • Everything is online, including the visa.The licence is. The visa medical and Emirates ID biometrics happen in the UAE.
      • A free zone company can sell anywhere in the UAE.Mainland sales go through a licensed distributor or a mainland branch.

      Clients mostly in the US or Europe? Compare a Wyoming LLC or an Estonian company.

      Why the UAE

      Why set up a free zone company in the UAE

      0%Personal income tax for individuals
      100%Foreign ownership in free zones
      AED 375kProfit taxed at 0% before the 9% rate starts
      No ESREconomic substance reports were abolished
      When a UAE free zone is the wrong choice
      • Most of your customers are on the UAE mainland. A mainland company fits better.
      • You need a UAE bank account but can't spend time in the country.
      • You want the lowest yearly cost. Free zone packages cost more each year than a Wyoming LLC.
      Questions

      UAE free zone company questions, answered

      Not sure which zone? Compare all four, or open the application; nothing is submitted until you sign. For the 9% rate, the free zone 0% conditions and every deadline, read our UAE tax guide. Checking a UAE company before you deal with it? Our UAE company search guide shows which register to use.

      Do I need a free zone, or would a RAK ICC company do?
      If you don't need a UAE visa, a desk or customers inside the UAE, a RAK ICC offshore company is the leaner choice: no lease, no licence, AED 7,709 a year all in. Holding shares in other companies? See our UAE holding company guide. Weighing Asia instead? Read Dubai vs Hong Kong.
      Is a UAE free zone company an LLC?
      Yes. It is a limited liability company, named FZCO or FZ-LLC depending on the zone, and you can own all of it. What most people mean by a "Dubai LLC" is a mainland company licensed by the emirate's economic department, built for selling inside the UAE market. If your customers are abroad, the free zone company is usually the simpler, cheaper LLC.
      Can a non-resident set up a company in a UAE free zone?
      Yes. Free zones allow 100% foreign ownership, and the licence is issued without a visit. Some zones, like Meydan, sell a licence designed for owners living abroad.
      Can I open a company in Dubai without a residence visa?
      Yes. A visa is optional. Packages without one, such as Meydan's Non-Resident Licence or SHAMS's media package, let you own and run the company from abroad.
      Which is the cheapest free zone in the UAE?
      Of the four we offer, SHAMS's media package is the lowest at from AED 5,760, for media and creative activities. For other activities, Meydan's AED 12,500 Non-Resident Licence suits founders abroad. Always compare the renewal price too.
      How much does it cost to set up a company in Dubai?
      Your free zone's package, passed through at its published price, plus AED 309 to Heirson in year one and AED 299 a year after. With Meydan's Non-Resident Licence that's AED 12,809 in year one. Renewals and tax dates after that: UAE annual fees and filings.
      Do free zone companies pay corporate tax?
      Yes, they register and file like every UAE company. Profit up to AED 375,000 is taxed at 0% and above that at 9%. A separate 0% rate covers only qualifying income under strict conditions, which consulting, software and online selling usually don't meet.
      What is Small Business Relief?
      If your revenue is AED 3 million or less, you can elect to be treated as having no taxable income, for tax periods ending by 31 December 2029. You still register and file a return.
      When does a free zone company need UAE VAT?
      Only once your taxable sales pass AED 375,000 a year. You can register voluntarily from AED 187,500. The rate is 5%.
      Can I open a UAE bank account as a non-resident?
      Yes, in most cases. We set the account up with you and it almost always goes through. Some UAE banks ask for a residence visa or a visit in person; we tell you before you start, and an international account is an option too. The full picture: UAE company bank account for non-residents.
      Is there personal income tax in the UAE?
      No. The UAE doesn't tax individuals' income, but your home country may tax you on what you earn or take out of the company.
      Can a free zone company trade on the UAE mainland?
      Through a licensed mainland distributor or a mainland branch. Direct sales to mainland customers generally need a mainland licence.
      Is Heirson a UAE free zone authority?
      No. Heirson is a private company that prepares and submits your application to the free zone you choose, and passes the zone's package price through at cost.
      Ready when you are

      Your UAE company, licensed without a trip.

      Pick your free zone, pay its price at cost plus AED 309, and only pay after you sign.

      Start my UAE company Compare free zones
      UAE free zone companyLicence without a tripStart