FAQs
Business setup FAQs.
Answers to the questions founders ask most about setting up and running a company in Dubai.
Company setup.
It depends on your business activities, any approvals they need and how quickly your documents are ready. Your adviser gives you a timeline when you apply.
Yes. Free zone companies can be fully foreign-owned, with no local partner or sponsor.
No. You can own and run your company from abroad. You only need a UAE residence visa if you plan to live and work here.
Most new companies are set up as a Free Zone Limited Liability Company (FZ-LLC). If you already own a company, talk to an adviser about opening a branch.
No. A flexi-desk is included with every DHCC Free Zone license. You can move to a fixed desk or a private office as your business grows.
Yes. You can apply, sign and pay online. Some visa steps, such as the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics, take place in the UAE.
Costs and fees.
At DHCC Free Zone, a trade license starts from AED 12,500 a year, including a flexi-desk and up to 3 activity groups.
2 and 3-year licenses save 15% on the license fee. With a flexi-desk, a 2-year license is about AED 21,363 and a 3-year license about AED 32,044.
They are indicative. Your adviser confirms your final fees before you pay, including any approvals your activities need.
An investor visa is AED 4,000 and an employee visa AED 3,500, each with a visa allocation of AED 1,850 a year. Your company also needs an establishment card, at AED 2,000 a year.
We show every fee before you apply. Some regulated activities need approval from another authority, which may charge its own fee, and your adviser tells you about it upfront.
Business activities.
You can combine activities from up to 3 activity groups on one DHCC Free Zone license. Activities from more groups can be added for an extra fee.
Yes. You can add, remove or change activities as an amendment to your license, at renewal or at any time.
Often, yes, as long as the activities fit within your activity groups and approvals. Ask DHCC shows the group for each activity, and an adviser can confirm the combination.
Regulated activities, such as healthcare, education, media, some financial services and transport, need approval from the relevant authority. Ask DHCC shows the approving authority next to each activity.
No. Healthcare is one of many sectors. We license trading, e-commerce, consultancy, technology, media, education, financial services and more, across 2,000+ activities.
Visas and Emirates ID.
It depends on your license and workspace. Your adviser confirms how many residence visas your company can apply for.
Yes, if you meet the minimum salary or income and housing requirements set by the authorities.
You can start from abroad with an entry permit, but the medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics take place in the UAE.
It is your company’s registration with immigration. Your company needs one before it can sponsor any visa, and it is renewed every year.
They are linked. Your residence visa gives you the right to live in the UAE, and your Emirates ID is your identity card, which now also carries your residence details.
Banking and tax.
A Qualifying Free Zone Person can pay 0% on qualifying income and 9% on other income. Every company must register for corporate tax and file a yearly return.
It varies by bank and by business, and often takes a few weeks while the bank completes its compliance checks.
No. Banks need your trade license and company documents before they can open an account.
VAT registration is mandatory once your taxable supplies and imports pass AED 375,000 in 12 months. You can register voluntarily from AED 187,500.
No. The UAE does not tax personal income from employment.
Renewals and changes.
Start a few weeks before your license expires, so there is time to update documents and pay before the expiry date.
Late renewal can lead to penalties, and an expired license can stop visa renewals and other company services. Talk to us as soon as possible if your license has expired.
Yes. You can renew for 2 or 3 years and save 15% on the license fee.
Yes. You can add or change activities at renewal or at any other time, as an amendment to your license.
Start by talking to an adviser. Closing a company usually means cancelling visas and the establishment card, settling any liabilities and then deregistering the company.
Still have a question?
Ask a DHCC Free Zone business setup adviser. We’ll get back to you on WhatsApp, by phone or by email.
- Talk to a real adviser
- Every fee explained upfront
- Help with activities, visas and banking
Thank you, there.
A DHCC Free Zone adviser will contact you on WhatsApp soon.
Your reference: