Overview
Licensed activity: Corporate Services Provider (7010.93)
A UAE company is only useful if it is legal, bankable, tax compliant and simple to run. Most formation problems appear later, at the bank, when the licence activity, the ownership chain or the business substance does not match what the company really does.
Vanguard designs the structure with the bank's compliance officer in mind. We recommend the jurisdiction and the activities that fit your business, coordinate the licence application with the relevant authority, prepare the UBO register and sequence the corporate account and investor visas behind it.
Licences are issued by the relevant free zone or economic department. Vanguard prepares and coordinates the application on your behalf and confirms each requirement against the authority's current rules.
Who it is for
- Founders launching a new company in Dubai or another emirate
- International groups opening a UAE subsidiary or branch
- Investors who need a holding company for UAE or overseas assets
- Consultants and professionals formalising their activity under a licence
- Owners restructuring a company whose activity no longer matches the licence
What we do
Jurisdiction Choice
A clear recommendation between free zone and mainland, with one primary option and one alternative, and the reasons for each.
Licence Activities
Activities chosen to describe what the company will actually do, including any special approvals, so income streams and the licence agree.
Formation Coordination
Name reservation, activity approval, constitutional documents, licence issuance and establishment card, coordinated on your behalf.
Bank and Visa Readiness
UBO register, structure chart and substance evidence prepared so the corporate account and investor visas can follow without rework.
How it works
- Private ConsultationWe map the business model, shareholders, expected income and where you will trade.
- Structure ProposalYou receive a recommended jurisdiction, activities and a structure chart, with a written quotation.
- Due DiligenceKYC on every shareholder, director and ultimate beneficial owner, as UAE law requires.
- Licence ApplicationName reservation, activity approval and documents submitted to the authority, with attestation where required.
- EstablishmentLicence issued, establishment card, office or flexi desk arranged, and Corporate Tax registration coordinated.
- HandoverLicence, constitutional documents, UBO register, structure chart and an annual compliance calendar delivered to you.
Documents typically required
- Passport copies of every shareholder and director
- Proof of residential address for each shareholder
- Proposed company names and a short description of the business
- Source of funds evidence for the share capital
- Corporate shareholder documents, where a company will hold shares
- Board resolution and attested documents for branches and subsidiaries
Requirements vary by nationality, structure and the policies of the relevant authority or institution. You receive a precise checklist after your consultation, and documents are shared through the secure client portal.
Timeline indications
- Structure and quotation
- Usually quick once the business model and shareholders are clear.
- Due diligence
- Depends on how complete the shareholder documents are and whether corporate shareholders are involved.
- Licence issuance
- Set by the free zone or economic department, and longer where activities need special approval or documents need attestation.
- Bank account and visas
- Follows the licence and depends on the bank's and the immigration authority's own review.
How fees work
Our professional fee depends on your situation and the scope of work. After a short private consultation we send a written quotation. Government fees and third party costs, where applicable, are separate.
Frequently asked questions
Should I choose a free zone or a mainland company?
It depends on where your customers are, the activities you need, your visa requirements and how banks view the zone for your sector. We compare the options for your specific business and recommend one, with an alternative.
Can I own the company in full as a foreign shareholder?
Full foreign ownership is available for most activities, in free zones and on the mainland, subject to the activity and to licensing restrictions. We confirm the position for your specific activity before you commit.
Will the company get a bank account?
We design the structure to be bankable and prepare the account opening pack, but every bank makes its own decision. We never promise an account.
Do I need to register for Corporate Tax?
UAE companies, including free zone companies, are generally required to register for Corporate Tax within the Federal Tax Authority deadlines. We coordinate the registration and refer tax positions to a licensed tax adviser.
Does Vanguard issue the licence?
No. Licences are issued by the relevant free zone authority or economic department. Vanguard prepares and submits the application on your behalf and follows it through.
Subject to eligibility criteria set by the relevant UAE authorities and banks. Approval decisions rest solely with the relevant authority or institution.