Mainland · Free Zone · Offshore

Company formation in Dubai and the UAE

There are three ways to register a company in the UAE, and picking the right one saves you money and headaches for years. Kinzaad helps you choose — mainland, free zone or offshore — then handles the whole setup with a fixed fee and your renewal cost told to you up front.

The three routes

Choose the structure that fits your business

Each route has a clear best-fit. Here's the short version — tap through for the full detail, prices and process on each.

Side by side

Mainland vs Free Zone vs Offshore

The honest short version. For the full breakdown, read our comparison guide.

What matters to youMainlandFree ZoneOffshore
Trade directly in the UAE marketYes, anywhereWithin zone / via distributorNo
100% foreign ownershipYes (most activities)YesYes
Residence visasYes, scalableYes, limited by packageNo
Physical office requiredUsually (Ejari)Flexi-desk often enoughNo
Typical starting costFrom AED 15,000From AED 12,500From AED 8,000
Best forLocal shops, services, contractsGlobal trade, consulting, startupsHolding assets, IP, invoicing
How it works

From first call to trade licence in four steps

The process is broadly the same whichever route you choose — the paperwork behind the scenes differs, and that's our job, not yours.

1

Free consultation

We learn your business, budget and visa plans, then recommend the jurisdiction and licence that genuinely fit — even when it's the cheaper one.

2

Fixed-fee proposal

An itemised quote: our fee and government fees shown separately, plus the Year-2 renewal cost. No surprises later.

3

We handle the paperwork

Name reservation, activity approval, MOA and submission with the relevant authority. We do the government running around.

4

Licence, bank & visas

Your licence is issued, we open your corporate bank account and process your residence visas where applicable.

Answers

UAE company formation — common questions

Mainland, free zone or offshore — which one do I need?
It comes down to where your customers are. If you sell directly to the UAE public or bid for government and local contracts, choose mainland. If you trade internationally, consult or run an online business, a free zone is usually cheaper and simpler. If you only hold assets, IP or invoice from abroad and need no UAE visas, offshore fits. We compare all three against your real plans in the free consultation.
How much does it cost to form a company in the UAE?
Offshore starts from around AED 8,000, free zone from around AED 12,500 all-in (cheaper zero-visa zones from about AED 6,000), and mainland from around AED 15,000. Every quote is fixed and itemised, with government fees shown separately and the annual renewal cost told to you before you commit.
How long does UAE company formation take?
Most free zone licences are issued within 3 to 7 working days once documents are in order. Mainland licences generally take 5 to 10 working days. Offshore incorporations are usually complete within a few working days. Opening a corporate bank account is separate and takes one to four weeks.
Can a foreigner own 100% of a UAE company?
Yes. Free zone and offshore companies have always allowed 100% foreign ownership, and since 2021 most mainland commercial and industrial activities also allow 100% foreign ownership with no local sponsor required.
Can you set up my company if I'm not in the UAE?
Often yes. Many free zone and offshore structures can be incorporated remotely with notarised documents. You'll usually need to visit once for Emirates ID biometrics if you're taking a residence visa, and sometimes to sign at the bank.

Let's find your right structure

Book a free consultation and we'll recommend mainland, free zone or offshore based on your actual plans — then hand you a fixed-fee quote the same day, renewal cost included.

✆ CallFree Quote