UAE Free Zone & Mainland Company Incorporation
Incorporate a DMCC, JAFZA or RAK ICC Free Zone LLC, or Mainland LLC. Non-resident directors accepted. 9% CIT applies to mainland profits above AED 375k.
What Company Formation includes in the UAE
What you receive
How it works
Useful materials
Where to register and how we differ
Company Formation in the UAE — frequently asked questions
Free zone companies (FZE/FZCO) offer 100% foreign ownership, 0% corporate tax on qualifying income, and fast 3–7 day setup, but are restricted from directly trading in the UAE mainland without a local distributor. Mainland LLCs licensed by the DED can trade anywhere, bid on government contracts, and since 2021 allow 100% foreign ownership in most sectors. For international trading and holding structures, free zones are preferred; for local UAE operations, mainland is required.
Yes, in both structures. All free zone companies have always been 100% foreign-owned. On the mainland, Federal Law No. 26 of 2020 eliminated the mandatory 51% UAE-national shareholding requirement for over 1,000 activities. Exceptions remain for certain strategic sectors. Offshore structures like RAK ICC also allow 100% foreign ownership with no UAE residency requirement. INNOVA advises on the optimal structure for each client's activity and tax profile.
Free zone incorporation takes 3–7 business days for the trade licence. DMCC can approve applications in as little as 5 business days. Mainland DED licensing takes 7–15 business days. Post-incorporation steps — visa stamping (5–10 days), Emirates ID (7–14 days), and bank account (2–6 weeks) — extend the full timeline to 4–8 weeks. INNOVA handles all steps concurrently to minimise elapsed time.
DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre) is a UAE federal free zone authority in Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai. With over 22,000 registered companies, it holds the "Global Free Zone of the Year" title from the FT's fDi Magazine for nine consecutive years. DMCC offers 100+ business activity categories, flexi-desk and premium office options, and direct access to Dubai's financial and commodities markets. Annual licence renewal starts at approximately AED 10,000.
Free zone setup costs range from AED 8,000–15,000 for a basic RAKEZ or IFZA trade licence, to AED 20,000–50,000 for a DMCC or ADGM licence, excluding office rent. Mainland DED licences typically cost AED 10,000–25,000. Government fees, notarisation, and visa costs add AED 3,000–8,000 per person. INNOVA provides a fixed-fee quote covering all government charges, registered office, and bank account introduction.