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.
Accounting and tax from day one
We keep the books and handle VAT and Corporate Tax for new UAE companies.
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.