A holding company needs an account in its own name: see UAE corporate banking. If the holding sits in a free zone, UAE free zone fees compared lists what six zones publish for a licence.
▸ About this service
What this area covers: holding company in the UAE
Holding company is one of 5 parts of our “Company Formation” practice. It covers the full cycle from initial scoping to operational launch, run by a single named partner from our UAE practice.
What it is in the UAE: holding structure in a free zone or in an international financial centre (ADGM, DIFC).
▸ In detail
How we handle holding company
The “Holding company” project in the UAE is structured as a 4-stage process run by a single named partner.
A free zone company or a mainland LLC, licensed by the free zone authority or the emirate's economic department. The right zone, and a bank file prepared to the requirements of the specific bank.
The same desk that runs holding company handles your banking, bookkeeping, compliance and — where needed — your wind-down.INNOVA · Operating model
▸ Jurisdiction
Why the UAE
The UAE is a strategic hub with a 9% corporate tax, Free Zone relief on qualifying income, and residency tied to the company structure. We work with every key zone, know the real banking onboarding timeline, and know how to avoid getting stuck on KYC requests.
▸ 01 · Advantage
A reliable regulatory environment
Residency comes together with the legal entity. Corporate tax (CT) compliance is now a serious operational matter, not a formality.
▸ 02 · Advantage
Banking ecosystem
Tier-1 banks (ADIB, FAB, Emirates NBD, HSBC ME, Mashreq) can be opened with the right KYC documentation. Realistic timeline: 2–6 weeks. An account without the "right" document pack means another 3 months of correspondence.
▸ 03 · Advantage
Corporate tax 9% (0% on qualifying Free Zone income)
The real tax position depends on the structure — we model it before registration.
▸ 04 · Advantage
Local execution, one plan
UAE · one named partner
▸ Why us
Why INNOVA
What changes for you when INNOVA runs the project. If a company or a second jurisdiction is not needed yet, we will say so plainly.
01
Turnkey, without the extra hassle
One window and one contract: we take the task whole, handle everything on your behalf with our own team and trusted contractors, and you buy the result. From you we need decisions and signatures; we get in touch only when the next step depends on you.
02
We handle banks and regulators
A bank refusal, a registry query, a regulator's request, a stalled deadline: we answer, rework the file and resubmit at no extra charge for our work until the matter is closed.
03
We see it through
The partner who opens your project carries it through to the result, even when the process runs for months, and stays on afterwards: renewals, filings, changes to the structure. Where the law requires a licensed professional, we bring one in and remain answerable to you.
04
A boutique, personally involved
We have worked in international business since 2012. An experienced partner runs your project personally, and unusual structures are our field: where you hear “that can't be done”, we look for the lawful route.
05
Your affairs stay yours
Information about you, your structure, your beneficial owners and your deals reaches neither competitors nor third parties. Banks, registries and regulators receive exactly what the law or the procedure requires, and the contract says so.
06
Faster and more precise
We build the file around the specific bank's and regulator's requirements before filing. Experience means we get the work right straight away, where some firms need three attempts. A partner replies in writing within 24 hours.
▸ Process
How the work is structured
A 4-stage process led by a single named partner — from scoping to the operational hand-over.
01
Scoping
Activity, ownership structure, tax residency and banking needs
▸ Result: Recommendation: free zone or mainland, and which zone or emirate
1 dayStep 1 of 4
02
Structure design
Choice of jurisdiction and entity type for the specific objectives
▸ Result: Trade-name approval and licence application to the free zone authority or the emirate's economic department
2–3 daysStep 2 of 4
03
Filing and registration
The free zone or the economic department sets the timing. Published figures: Meydan within a day, RAKEZ 24 hours, ADGM approval within 10 business days, DMCC 2–3 weeks for the whole setup
▸ Result: Appointment of shareholders and directors or managers
1–21 daysStep 3 of 4
04
Post-incorporation
Residence visas and Emirates ID, Corporate Tax registration with the Federal Tax Authority (three months from formation for companies formed on or after 1 March 2024), bank account. Visa and bank timing depends on the authority and the bank
▸ Result: Registered office: flexi-desk or office space, as the licensing authority requires
VariesStep 4 of 4
▸ Information exchange
What we need from you · what you get from us
What we need from you to begin — and what you walk away with. We won't pester you with needless questions: we already have most of the answers.
▸ From you
What we need
→
- Proposed company name (1–3 options)required
- Beneficial owner ID + proof of addressall UBOs
- Director and shareholder detailsstructured form
- Description of the intended activity1 page
- Source-of-funds declarationfor KYB
- Power of attorney (for remote handling)notarised
▸ From us
What you receive
↓
- Certificate of incorporationoriginal
- Memorandum and articles of associationsigned
- Share register + share certificatesissued
- Tax / registration numbersregistered
- Registered-address agreement12 months
- Corporate kit (seals, registers)delivered
▸ Engagement formats
Four ways to work together
We don't quote a fixed price without understanding your situation — cost depends on the complexity of your case. Send a written request or book a paid consultation, then we pick the right format.
M/01
Consultation
A paid 30-minute video consultation with a partner. We discuss your situation, define the project scope, and propose a structure and timeline.
M/02
Written analysis
A written consultation with a full review of the business — tax positioning, structure options, jurisdiction comparison, banking path. Turnaround: 5 business days.
M/03
Operating roadmap
For complex situations — multi-jurisdiction structures, regulated activity, founder relocation. A full plan with stages, dependencies, deliverables and timing.
M/04
Direct execution
You know what you need — we execute. No advisory mark-up and no discovery phase.
▸ About cost The figure above is the lower bound for a typical scope. The exact fee comes in writing once we have scoped the task.
▸ Questionnaire
Fill in the questionnaire
Complete the online questionnaire: a partner studies your case and replies in writing within 24 hours.
Fill in the questionnaire
4 steps · a partner replies in writing within 24 hours.
→
▸ What happens next
A partner reads the questionnaire, replies in writing at the email you gave within 24 hours, then a written quote follows. Work starts after you accept it.
▸ FAQ
Frequently asked questions
The questions we're asked most often. If yours isn't here, a written request is the fastest way to get an answer.
Most “Holding company” projects in the UAE run 1–4 weeks start to finish. The fastest stage is document filing; the longest is post-registration onboarding (banking, tax registration). A single named partner runs the project throughout.
From US$ 1,800 · depends on jurisdiction. The lower bound is for clean, standard profiles; the upper bound is for complex ownership structures, multi-jurisdiction projects or regulated activity. A fixed quote follows once we have scoped the task.
In most cases, no. The entire process runs remotely under a notarised power of attorney. A handful of jurisdictions require an in-person visit (typically biometrics for a residence permit) — we plan those as efficiently as possible.
Free zones (FZE/FZCO) give you 100% foreign ownership, 0% corporate tax on qualifying income, and setup in 3–7 days, but they can't trade directly on the mainland without a local distributor. Mainland LLCs under a DED licence trade everywhere and bid on government tenders, and since 2021 they allow 100% foreign ownership across most activities. For holding and export structures, take a free zone; for work inside the UAE, the mainland.
Yes, in both formats. Free zone companies have always been 100% foreign-owned; on the mainland, Federal Law No. 26 of 2020 removed the mandatory 51% UAE-national stake for over 1,000 activities. The RAK ICC offshore also allows 100% ownership with no UAE residency requirement. Exceptions remain for certain strategic sectors.
A free zone trade licence takes 3–7 business days; DMCC states the whole process takes 2–3 weeks, and mainland DED licensing runs 7–15 days. The steps that follow — visa (5–10 days), Emirates ID (7–14 days), bank account (2–6 weeks) — stretch the total to 4–8 weeks. INNOVA runs the stages in parallel, not one after another.
Usually not — most jurisdictions require a registered address with an agent or office service. We provide it as part of the project for the first 12 months.
Yes. Changes to directors and shareholders are recorded in the register as needed. We handle this as part of ongoing administration.
▸ Jurisdictions
Holding company in other countries
The same service — in every jurisdiction we run. One desk, one standard.
