Establishing a business entity in one of the numerous UAE Free Zones (FTZs) can be an attractive option for foreign investors and foreign trade.

All seven Emirates already have, or are developing, such economic zones.

There are over 20,000 companies in 21 Free Zones around the UAE.

The largest Free Zones, by number of companies, are the following:

• Jebel Ali Free Zone (6,000 companies)
• Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (3,900 companies)
• Dubai Airport Free Zone (1,300 companies)
• Dubai Media City (1,200 companies)
• Dubai Internet City (1,000 companies)

The procedures for establishing a business in a Free Trade Zone are usually very straightforward and can be completed in a short space of time, especially if there are no environmental issues involved.

Individual Free Zones may have specific requirements, but general steps are:

• Questionnaire from the relevant Free Zone Authority which will assist in assessing a company’s requirements
• License application, planning documents, and a consumer request for electricity
• Provisional approval and lease agreement
• Meetings with the authority to finalize details of the project

UAE free zones, with the number of zones increasing, their impact on the uae economy has deepened.

The Jebel Ali free Zone being the first free zone in the country has created the benchmark for regulations & incentives.

Its rapid growth has also provided a powerful economic inspiration to the other emirates, which have set up their zones to attract investment.

UAE free zones main mission is to be the free zone management, consultants and advisors of choice by providing world class, technically advanced, transparent and focused business services that allow our partners and clients to thrive in the global market.

Once a legal presence has been established in UAE Free Zone, the business will need to lease premises or land and acquire an operating license from the FZA.

Different types of licenses apply in the different types of free zone, however, in general companies with trade and industrial licenses can only conduct business within the Free Zone or abroad.

To sell their products in the UAE, a UAE official agent is required.

Services and products can be obtained from and within the UAE without an agent.

Other types of license available are service licenses (e.g. banking, insurance, air shipment etc) and national industrial licenses.

For the former the services offered must be the same as those stipulated in the parent company’s license in the UAE or abroad.

The share capital of a company applying for a national industrial license must be at least 51 per cent GCC and 40 per cent of the sale value of the product must be value added.

Uae free zones offers:

• Offshore centre in Rakia
• Company formation in DIFC, DMCC, DSC, DOZ
• Company formation in Dubai technology & research park
• General trading in dubai
• Dubai studio city free zone
• Company formation in building material zone
• Nominee shareholder services required in Dubai
• Dubiotech
• Rakia offshore
• Registered Agents with Rak offshore
• Dubai design center
• Dubai energy city
• Abu Dhabi ports city
• International humanitarian city
• Dubai international academic city
• Special purpose company at DIFC
• Tecom business park
• Rak media city

The main Uae Free Zones are the following:

• United Arab Emirates Free Zones
• Jebel Ali Free Zone
• Dubai Internet City Free Zone
• Dubai Media City Free Zone
• Knowledge Village Free Zone
• Dubai Airport Free Zone
• Hamriyah Free Zone
• Sharjah Airport International Free Zone
• Ras Al khaimah FTZ
• Abu Dhabi Airport Free Zone
• Ajman Free Zone
• Fujairah Free Zone
• Dubai logistics

Among these free zones we incorporate is the Ras Al Khaimah Free Zone Company.

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Company Formation UAE

1) Public Shareholding Companies

2) Private Shareholding Companies

3) Limited Liability Companies

4) General Partnerships

5) Limited Partnerships

6) Partnerships Limited by Shares

7) Shareholding Companies

Companies not taking one of these forms for Company Formation UAE are not legally recognized, and persons contracting in their name will be jointly and severally liable for the obligations arising from such contracts.

Exceptions apply only for companies located in a Free Trade Zone. There are also requirements determining minimal capital contributions, the number of directors and shareholders, and incorporation procedures.

Each entity must be registered and licensed with the UAE Federal Ministry of Economy and Commerce and with the appropriate authority in the Emirate in which its office will be located.

Furthermore, the law for company formation uae sets forth the general rule that participation of UAE nationals should never be less than 51 percent in any commercial enterprise. Some business forms and structures are generally not available to foreign investors, as will be elaborated below.

Public share holding company

Public shareholding company formation in uae is a company with a capital divided into equal negotiable shares. In such companies a shareholder’s liability is limited by the number of shares held by him.

Minimum capital required to form a public share holding company in uae is AED 10 million with a nominal face value of AED 1-100. Shares are registered in a share register and cannot be issued lower than the nominal value. All shares must have equal rights.

The Board of Directors must have a minimum of three and not more than twelve directors. The chairman, as well as a majority of the board, must be UAE nationals for public share holding company formation in uae.

Private Shareholding Company

Another company formation in uae is private share holding company. A private shareholding company must have a minimum of three shareholders. The minimum share capital to form a private share holding company is AED 2 million.

Shares may not be offered to the public. The Chairman and majority of the Directors in a private shareholding company must be uae nationals.

Limited Liability Company

This type of company formation in uae is widely accepted way to business. Under the Commercial Companies Law or CCL (Federal Law No. 8 of 1984 Concerning Commercial Companies as amended by Federal Law No 1 of 1984 and Federal Law No 13 of 1988, Federal Law No. 15 of 1998), foreign investors are permitted to hold up to 49 per cent equity ownership in UAE companies, 51 per cent of the equity must be held at all times by one or more UAE nationals.

This type of company formation uae can be formed by a minimum of two and a maximum of fifty persons.

Shareholder liability is limited to the value of shares held in the company’s capital.

The minimum capital required to establish a limited liability company is DH 150,000 in other emirates and DH 300,000 in Dubai.  Non UAE nationals may own up to 49 percent of an LLC.

The Companies Law provides that an LLC may engage in any lawful activity except insurance, banking and investment of money for others.

Partnerships

General Partners

General Partnership company formation in uae is a type of company where all the shareholders are jointly liable for the company liabilities to the extent of their assets. All the partners should be UAE nationals.

General partnerships are formed by two or more UAE nationals who are jointly and severally liable for its debts. Interests of a partner can be transferred as stipulated in the partnership agreement or with the approval of all partners.

Limited Partnership

A limited partnership is another type of company formation in uae which composed of one or more general partners who are jointly and severally liable for all of its debts, and one or more limited partners who are liable for the limited partnerships debts only to the extent of his capital contribution.

A partnership limited by shares has both general partners with unlimited liability and partners whose liability is limited by their shares in the capital. The capital must be at least DH 500,000 and has to be divided into negotiable shares of equal value.

Joint Ventures

Another company formation in uae is Joint Participation is a form of company consists of two or more partners for carrying out a single or multiple businesses by one of the partners in his own personal name.

This is a contractual agreement between a foreign party and a local party licensed to engage in the desired activity. The local equity participation in the joint venture must be at least 51%, but the profit and loss distribution can be prescribed.

There is no need to license the joint venture or publish the agreement. The foreign partner deals with third parties under the name of the local partner who – unless the agreement is publicized – bears all liability.

A joint venture is a type of company formation in uae where contract may be written or oral and not required to be notarized. Third parties can recourse only to the partners with whom they deal.

Structures Available to Foreign Investors

General – A foreign investor may chose to participate with up to 49 percent in a company formed in one of the structures open to foreign investors.

Despite the requirement that the majority of shares must be held by UAE nationals.

Branches – A foreign company may establish a branch in the UAE but a local sponsor or agent is required who must be either a citizen of the UAE or a company wholly-owned by citizens of the UAE.

A branch must be registered with the local chamber of commerce and the municipality. Since February 1990, branches of foreign companies (including those already in existence) are also required to register with the Ministry of Economy and Commerce.

International company (offshore) – the most common uses of Offshore Companies are for business and investment purposes in order to protect your assets by minimizing your taxes.

The minimum number of shareholders is one person and maximum is 50 persons and they can select their own minimum capital in order to set up the company. Name of the company must include the suffix Limited or Ltd to denote limited liability.

If you are looking for an offshore company in the Middle East, rak offshore is the cheapest.

Go back to home page.

Related posts

• UAE Free Zones (0)
• Company formation uae (5)

1) Public Shareholding Companies

2) Private Shareholding Companies

3) Limited Liability Companies

4) General Partnerships

5) Limited Partnerships

6) Partnerships Limited by Shares

7) Shareholding Companies

Companies not taking one of these forms for Company Formation UAE are not legally recognized, and persons contracting in their name will be jointly and severally liable for the obligations arising from such contracts.

Exceptions apply only for companies located in a Free Trade Zone. There are also requirements determining minimal capital contributions, the number of directors and shareholders, and incorporation procedures.

Each entity must be registered and licensed with the UAE Federal Ministry of Economy and Commerce and with the appropriate authority in the Emirate in which its office will be located.

Furthermore, the law for company formation uae sets forth the general rule that participation of UAE nationals should never be less than 51 percent in any commercial enterprise. Some business forms and structures are generally not available to foreign investors, as will be elaborated below.

Public share holding company

Public shareholding company formation in uae is a company with a capital divided into equal negotiable shares. In such companies a shareholder’s liability is limited by the number of shares held by him.

Minimum capital required to form a public share holding company in uae is AED 10 million with a nominal face value of AED 1-100. Shares are registered in a share register and cannot be issued lower than the nominal value. All shares must have equal rights.

The Board of Directors must have a minimum of three and not more than twelve directors. The chairman, as well as a majority of the board, must be UAE nationals for public share holding company formation in uae.

Private Shareholding Company

Another company formation in uae is private share holding company. A private shareholding company must have a minimum of three shareholders. The minimum share capital to form a private share holding company is AED 2 million. Shares may not be offered to the public. The Chairman and majority of the Directors in a private shareholding company must be uae nationals.

Limited Liability Company

This type of company formation in uae is widely accepted way to business. Under the Commercial Companies Law or CCL (Federal Law No. 8 of 1984 Concerning Commercial Companies as amended by Federal Law No 1 of 1984 and Federal Law No 13 of 1988, Federal Law No. 15 of 1998), foreign investors are permitted to hold up to 49 per cent equity ownership in UAE companies, 51 per cent of the equity must be held at all times by one or more UAE nationals.

This type of company formation uae can be formed by a minimum of two and a maximum of fifty persons. Shareholder liability is limited to the value of shares held in the company’s capital.

The minimum capital required to establish a limited liability company is DH 150,000 in other emirates and DH 300,000 in Dubai… Non-UAE nationals may own up to 49 percent of an LLC. The Companies Law provides that an LLC may engage in any lawful activity except insurance, banking and investment of money for others.

Partnerships

General Partners

General Partnership company formation in uae is a type of company where all the shareholders are jointly liable for the company liabilities to the extent of their assets.

All the partners should be UAE nationals. General partnerships are formed by two or more UAE nationals who are jointly and severally liable for its debts. Interests of a partner can be transferred as stipulated in the partnership agreement or with the approval of all partners.

Limited Partnership

A limited partnership is another type of company formation in uae which composed of one or more general partners who are jointly and severally liable for all of its debts, and one or more limited partners who are liable for the limited partnerships debts only to the extent of his capital contribution.

A partnership limited by shares has both general partners with unlimited liability and partners whose liability is limited by their shares in the capital. The capital must be at least DH 500,000 and has to be divided into negotiable shares of equal value.

Joint Ventures

Another company formation in uae is Joint Participation is a form of company consists of two or more partners for carrying out a single or multiple businesses by one of the partners in his own personal name.

This is a contractual agreement between a foreign party and a local party licensed to engage in the desired activity. The local equity participation in the joint venture must be at least 51%, but the profit and loss distribution can be prescribed.

There is no need to license the joint venture or publish the agreement. The foreign partner deals with third parties under the name of the local partner who – unless the agreement is publicized – bears all liability.

A joint venture is a type of company formation in uae where contract may be written or oral and not required to be notarized. Third parties can recourse only to the partners with whom they deal.

Structures Available to Foreign Investors

General – A foreign investor may chose to participate with up to 49 percent in a company formed in one of the structures open to foreign investors. Despite the requirement that the majority of shares must be held by UAE nationals.

Branches – A foreign company may establish a branch in the UAE but a local sponsor or agent is required who must be either a citizen of the UAE or a company wholly-owned by citizens of the UAE.

A branch must be registered with the local chamber of commerce and the municipality. Since February 1990, branches of foreign companies (including those already in existence) are also required to register with the Ministry of Economy and Commerce.

International company (offshore) – the most common uses of Offshore Companies are for business and investment purposes in order to protect your assets by minimizing your taxes.

The minimum number of shareholders is one person and maximum is 50 persons and they can select their own minimum capital in order to set up the company. Name of the company must include the suffix Limited or Ltd to denote limited liability.

If you are looking for an offshore company in the Middle East, rak offshore is the cheapest.

Go back to home page.

Related posts

• UAE Free Zones (0)
• Uae free zones (3)
• Ras al khaimah uae (2)
• Ras al khaimah investment authority (5)
• Ras al khaimah (9)
• Rak free zone (9)
• Incorporation offshore (20)