Launch a Business in the UAE: a step-by-step checklist
12 steps from choosing a jurisdiction to your first payment — with the thresholds, deadlines and common mistakes. A 7-page PDF.
- ✓ Choosing between Free Zone and Mainland
- ✓ Documents for company registration
- ✓ Bank account: the KYC pack and timelines
- ✓ Visas for owners and employees
- ✓ Taxes: VAT, Corporate Tax, WPS
- ✓ A table of key figures and deadlines
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What's inside the checklist
Jurisdiction & Licence
Free Zone vs Mainland, activity codes and the full first-year cost, not just the licence price.
Structure & Financial Year
Shares, manager, MOA and the financial year end — your first tax period is counted from it.
Registration, Office, Visas
Licence and Establishment Card, flexi-desk or office, the residence visa chain and Emirates ID.
Bank Account
The KYC pack, compliance review time and the mistakes that get applications declined without an explanation.
Books & Employees
Bookkeeping from day one under IFRS, the monthly close, employment contracts, WPS and the EOSB liability.
Taxes & Deadlines
Corporate Tax, VAT and e-invoicing: thresholds, registration and filing dates, plus a table of key figures with the legal basis.
We support companies at every stage
From choosing a jurisdiction to your first payment — we handle the whole process.
The information on this page is general in nature and does not constitute individual legal or tax advice. Procedures and requirements may change — for guidance on your specific situation, please consult a specialist.