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Corporate Mobility
The UAE lets founders set up in a Dubai free zone or on the mainland and sponsor themselves, their employees and their families for residence. Employee residence runs for 2 years; investors contributing AED 1,000,000 qualify for 5-year Green Residence, and AED 2,000,000 investors for the 10-year Golden Visa.
About United Arab Emiratesنبذة
Dubai is the UAE's leading hub for company formation. A company can be set up in a free zone, licensed by the free zone authority, or on the mainland, licensed by the Department of Economy and Tourism. Either way, once the company holds an establishment card it can sponsor residence permits for its owners, employees and their families. Costs fall into three layers: small, published government immigration fees; charges set by each free zone or by DET; and professional fees. XIPHIAS sets out each layer separately, and advises on corporate tax and on the Indian tax position before you move.
Strategic location connecting Asia, Europe and Africa, ideal for regional business operations.
No personal income tax; corporate tax is 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above.
The free zone 0% corporate tax rate applies only to the Qualifying Income of a Qualifying Free Zone Person.
Full foreign ownership in free zones and for most mainland activities, except the strategic-impact list in Cabinet Resolution No. 55 of 2021.
Sponsored employees receive 2-year residence; GDRFA processes residence permits in 48 hours.
Family sponsorship with a salary of AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation.
Green Residence (5 years) from AED 1,000,000 and the Golden Visa (10 years) from AED 2,000,000.
United Arab Emirates at a glance
Population
10 million
Capital
Abu Dhabi
Commercial Hub
Dubai
Language
Arabic, English widely used
Currency
AED (UAE Dirham)
Time zone
UTC+4
Climate
Hot desert climate, mild winters
Investment routesطرق الاستثمار
The processكيف نعمل
Choose a free zone or mainland structure and confirm the business activity.
Reserve the company name and obtain the trade licence.
Register the establishment card and, on the mainland, the MoHRE labour file.
Apply for the entry permit or status change.
Complete the medical fitness test and Emirates ID.
Receive the residence permit and sponsor family once eligible.
Eligibilityالمتطلبات
What it takes to qualify.
Valid passport and recent photographs.
Shareholder KYC documents and proof of address.
Trade licence, constitutional documents and establishment card.
Medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics.
Attested education documents for roles that require them.
Questionsأسئلة شائعة
United Arab Emirates, answered.
There is no single price. Government immigration fees are small: a GDRFA residence permit is AED 200 and a status change AED 500. Free zone charges vary by authority; DMCC publishes AED 1,015 for the application, AED 9,000 for registration and AED 2,020 for the articles of association, then AED 20,265 a year for a standard licence. Mainland DET fees are assessed per activity. The Golden Visa requires an investment of AED 2,000,000.
ابدأ الآن
Begin your United Arab Emirates application.
A senior advisor will map your route, costs and timeline — privately, and entirely off the record.