Insights & guides

Service fees from AED 3,999; government and free-zone fees are separate, at cost. The number that catches people out is year two.

One question still settles most setups: are your customers inside the UAE or outside it? Getting this wrong usually means a new incorporation.

Once free zone is the right structure, shortlist by activity, visas, office and cost shape — not by brand fame or the cheapest licence headline.

Default path: licence, investor/partner residence, Emirates ID, banking in parallel — Golden Visa is a fork. Service fees AED 3,999/4,999/7,999; authority fees at cost.

It is a renewable residence permit, not citizenship, not a tax status, and not something a company registration hands you automatically.

Company-tied investor/partner residence is not an automatic Golden Visa. Choose the path by goals and eligibility — service fees AED 3,999/4,999/7,999 only; no visa guarantee.

Prepare a consistent substance file, match a bank, interview, then activate — assistance only, no approval guarantee. Pair with the rejection guide.

The reasons a bank account application fails are usually set at incorporation.

Timing depends on review by the competent authority; Lexoford gives an estimate after checking the documents.

Licence timing depends on jurisdiction and review; medical, Emirates ID, and most bank openings still need UAE presence — often one trip.

He thought the hard part would be whether his employer agreed. By the time the proposal was finished, that had become the least important of six questions.

Verify UAE trade licence, insist on an itemised service-vs-authority fee split, and pay only to a corporate account — then screen the five red flags.

Individual shareholders usually start with a passport scan and photo; corporate shareholding adds attestation. Activity selection is the hard part.

Licence renewal, premises, visas, books, VAT and CT — lean single-person often ~AED 20,000–35,000 from year two (indicative).

Not zero-tax by default — CT 0%/9% bands, QFZP conditions for free-zone 0%, VAT separate. Service fees AED 3,999/4,999/7,999 only; not tax advice.

All-in stickers often blend service and government fees. Use this checklist to compare Lexoford’s AED 3,999 / 4,999 / 7,999 service-only tiers against itemised quotes.

Licence ≠ done — CT/VAT awareness, books, banking kickoff, and visa/medical/EID sequencing. Service fees AED 3,999/4,999/7,999 only; not tax advice.

Match residence capacity to people who need it now — Lexoford AED 3,999 / 4,999 / 7,999 map to licence + 1 / licence + 3 + Small Business Relief (SBR) eligibility check / licence + 5 + CT + VAT; ERP included with Premium; gov fees separate; no visa guarantee.

Same activity, different emirates — decide on fit, mainland need, office, banking practicality, visas, and cost shape. Service fees AED 3,999/4,999/7,999 only. Lexoford does not rank emirates or free zones; it matches them to your activity, visas and budget.

Lexoford in one page: Trade Licence 2651822.01, RAG Tower office, what Lexoford does, what it charges, and what it never guarantees. Not a law firm.

Yes, for most activities, with no Emirati majority partner. Strategic-impact sectors still need regulator approval. Ownership does not guarantee a bank account or visa.

A flexi desk often meets the office rule for small service companies. Activity, visa count and bank checks decide when you need dedicated space.

Usually yes, after your own residence visa, if you meet income and housing rules. Each dependant is a separate application; immigration decides.

Freelance permit if you sell your own skills and will not hire. Company licence if you want staff, partners, more visas or to trade goods.

Licence form, premises and visa allocation for eight jurisdictions, each row tied to an official source. No zone package prices. Service fees AED 3,999 / 4,999 / 7,999 only.

Official Ministry of Finance and FTA dates, including the later provider-deadline amendment. No outcome guarantee.

UAE VAT registration thresholds for new companies: the AED 375,000 mandatory threshold, the AED 187,500 voluntary threshold, free zone vs mainland, and non-resident rules. Official sources.

Cabinet Decision No. 109 of 2023 on beneficial owners: which UAE companies it covers, who is a beneficial owner (25% test), the 60-day and 15-day register rules, and exemptions. Official sources.

Before your UAE company hires its first employee: paying wages through the Wage Protection System, the unemployment insurance scheme, and the health insurance requirement for residence permits. Official sources.